Naritasan Shinshoji Temple: 1 Unexpected Stop Before My Flight

Naritasan Shinshoji Temple is not what most people think of Narita, they think of one thing: the airport. Or at least I thought before making a short and unplanned stop.

That was certainly my impression. With a few hours to spare before my flight, I decided to leave the airport area and explore the town itself. I arrived at Narita Station with no real plan, slightly lost and unsure of where to go next. To be honest I had no idea I am going to visit Naritasan Shinshoji Temple.

Following the flow of people, I eventually found my way onto Narita’s main street, and that’s when the town started to reveal itself. The town center where also the main bus station is located is tiny, but cute, initially I went further in direction to the bus station and missed the main street, but the abundance of people guided me to where I needed to go – Naritasan Shinshoji Temple.

Monks walking along Narita Omotesando Street — I arrived without a plan and simply followed this street, curious to see where it would lead.

A Street Filled With Matcha and Eel

The first thing I noticed was the number of shops selling matcha products – something close to my heart and belly. Cafés, sweets, drinks, and souvenirs seemed to appear around every corner. Alongside them were restaurants advertising one of Narita’s specialties: eel. You can see eel skewers left and right, and it is hard not to give yourself to the temptation to taste this delight.

As I walked further down the Omotesando street, the atmosphere felt different from many parts of Tokyo. The pace was slower, the buildings more traditional, and the crowds less hurried. It felt like a place that many travelers pass through without ever really seeing. Actually if I didn’t take a leap of chance, fate or what have you, I wouldn’t discover this interesting spot just a jump away from the airport which for most of us is the end and very often only goal.

Matcha products displayed outside a shop in Narita — Matcha seemed to be everywhere, from drinks and sweets to souvenirs.

An Unexpected Discovery

At first, I thought I was simply exploring a pleasant old shopping street, the big sign Omotesando street gave it name away. Then the road opened up, and I caught my first glimpse of Naritasan Shinshoji Temple.

What surprised me wasn’t just the temple itself, but its scale. What I expected to be a single building turned out to be an entire temple complex with multiple halls, gates, gardens, and paths stretching across a large area. The stairs leading up to the main complex are plenty, but quite manageable. What you will see after is worth the extra leg day short stair climb.

Walking through the grounds felt like stepping into a different world only a short distance from one of Japan’s busiest airports. You can see monks, cats chilling and ladies in authentic clothing walking around, which imerses you even more the in authentic Japanese atmosphere of the Naritasan Shinshoji Temple.

Traditional architectural wooden tiles called Ema at Naritasan Shinshoji Temple — The more I explored, the more details I noticed around the Naritasan Shinshoji temple grounds.

Exploring Naritasan Shinshoji Temple

The temple grounds were far larger than I expected. Visitors moved quietly between the different buildings, while the scent of incense drifted through the air. I could take a few photos of cats chilling around the complex, showing the symbiosis between nature, faith and us, the human being.

Some areas felt grand and imposing, while others were surprisingly peaceful. I found myself slowing down, taking photographs, and spending far more time there than I had originally planned. Of course, because it is me I always had my sights on my watch, because I am the kind of person who needs to be hours in advance at the airport.

One of the things I enjoy most about Japan is how often these unexpected discoveries happen. What begins as a practical stop before a flight can turn into one of the most memorable parts of a trip. Did I have an idea that I was going to visit a place called Naritasan Shinshoji Temple – no, but I am happy I did as it impacted me a great bit?

Main temple building at Naritasan Shinshoji Temple — What I thought would be a quick stop turned into an afternoon of exploration at Naritasan Shinshoji temple

A Different Side of Narita

Before visiting, Narita had simply been the place where flights arrived and departed. After spending a few hours walking through the town and temple grounds, I saw it very differently.

The combination of traditional streets, local food culture, and the impressive temple complex of Naritasan Shinshoji Temple makes it worth visiting even if you aren’t catching a flight.

For travelers with a few hours to spare before heading to Narita Airport, I would strongly recommend leaving the station area and taking a walk through town.

You couldn’t escape tradition anywhere you looked around the Naritasan Shinshoji Temple.

Final Thoughts

What started as a few free hours before a flight became one of my favorite unexpected discoveries in Japan.

Narita reminded me that sometimes the best experiences happen when you step away from your itinerary and simply start walking. Somewhere between the matcha shops, the eel restaurants, and the vast grounds of Naritasan Shinshoji Temple, I found a side of Narita that I never expected to see and of course you can find more on the official Naritasan Shinshoji Temple website. If you have an hour to spare, or better a few hours, my advice will be to either start your arrival in Japan with this walk or if you are off to somewhere far from Japan, why not say your goodbyes in a typical Japanese environment along with some delicious matcha or eel.