Cheap Sleeps: Narita

By Rachel Turner | Monday, Aug 11, 2008

Ladies and gents, I have found the transit hostel for you! If you’re looking for a place to rest your weary head after a night out in Tokyo and have a flight the next morning, bedding down in Narita is a good idea. It’s also the spot to stay after a late flight. While much of the accommodation choices in Narita are hardly “budget,” I have found one that is a true gem.

The Narita Airport Hostel is designed with transit travelers in mind. The owner and sole employee of the hostel, Yama, provides transport both to and from Narita Airport…for free. He will also pick you up or drop you off from any train station in Narita proper. After a late dinner in Tokyo, I arrived at the Keisei Narita Station past midnight. Yama was there waiting for me. I piled into his car and he drove for about 20 minutes to the hostel, through the countryside of Narita. The hostel is not conveniently located. There isn’t a restaurant or conbini anywhere near it. So, it’s really not the place to make your home base if you’re planning on traveling around Tokyo.

Yama’s hostel has only been open for a few months, so facilities are new and immaculately clean. After arriving at the hostel, I showered off and headed to one of the two communal “dorms.” You won’t find bunk beds here. The dorm rooms contain futons instead. Each futon is separated by a screen on either side, so you get the feeling of privacy. The next morning, I headed down to the communal kitchen for my free breakfast of toast, miso soup, and coffee. Afterwards, and right on schedule, Yama packed me into his car and drove me to Narita Airport. It was a seamless stay.

If you want to stick around for a day or two exploring Narita itself, the hostel will provide travel info and bike rentals. Ok, so you’re probably wondering how much all this service costs. One night in the futon dorm, free internet, free pickup and drop off, free breakfast, and an extremely accommodating host will set you back a mere ¥1800. This rock-bottom price is the lowest I have found in the Tokyo area. Next time you need to fly out of Narita early or arrive late, give the Narita Airport Hostel a try. Reservations can be made through www.hostelbookers.com

There are other options in Narita which are closer to city conveniences. The International Guesthouse Azure (http://www.azure-guesthouse.com/) is about a 10-minute walk from the JR or Keisei station. Dorm rates start at ¥3,000 and private rooms are ¥8,000 for two people. The guesthouse is close to bars and restaurants. You’ll pay for towels and internet, but the rates are reasonable. One other hostel, Backpackers Fuji (http://www.backpackers-fuji.jp/), is also worth checking out. A dorm bed will set you back ¥2,700, with free toast and coffee for breakfast. It’s located about 10 minutes on foot from the train stations.

I wouldn’t recommend Narita as a home base for your travels around Tokyo, since the commute to Tokyo station is about 90 minutes. But Narita is a good place to crash on your way to or from the airport. That’s it for this edition of Cheap Sleeps. If there is an area in/around Tokyo you would like to see featured in this column, post a message for me in the forum and I’ll put my detective skills to work. Till next time, sleep well!

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Rachel's articles have appeared in publications all over Japan. Check out her blog at www.amateurfatalist.com

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