Naritasan Shinshoji Temple
One of Japan's most visited temples — receiving over 10 million visitors a year. Founded in 940 CE, the Shingon temple complex covers 165,000 square metres with five buildings designated as Important Cultural Properties. The old town (Omotesando approach) still has unagi (eel) restaurants that have served travellers since the Edo period.
1.5–2 hours
Free
5:30–18:00 (Apr–Sep); 6:00–17:00 (Oct–Mar); Omotesando shopping street: 9:00–18:00
Year-round (New Year draws 3 million visitors)
Narita Station on JR Narita Line (from Tokyo Station, 75 min)
Location
Why Visit
- 1
Narita's main draw beyond the airport — 12 million annual visitors to this 1,000-year-old temple
- 2
The Omotesando approach has 20+ unagi (eel) restaurants that have served travellers since Edo times
- 3
The three-storey pagoda and main hall are National Important Cultural Properties
Local Tips
One of Japan's most visited temples after Senso-ji. The Naritasan Omotesando approach street is lined with excellent eel (unaju) restaurants — Narita's speciality. The temple grounds are substantial and beautifully maintained; the garden behind the main hall is largely missed by visitors. Arrive early if transiting through Narita Airport — the temple is 30 minutes by Narita Line from the airport.
Add to your AI itinerary
Let AI build a multi-day trip around this spot.
Advertisement
More in Chiba
Cape Inubosaki & Choshi Port
The easternmost point of the Kanto region — a lighthouse-topped cape where the Kuroshio Current meets the Oyashio Current, creating Japan's richest inshore fishing waters. Choshi Port is Japan's #1 sardine and saury landing port; the morning market sells fresh-grilled aji (horse mackerel) from open braziers on the harbour quay.
Isumi Railway — Rapeseed Blossom Line
A tiny rural railway of 26km running through the rice paddies and cedar valleys of inland Boso Peninsula. In spring, the entire right-of-way is lined with rapeseed (nanohana) blossoms between the stations. Heritage diesel cars painted in vivid colours pass cherry trees and plum orchards — the finest spring countryside train ride near Tokyo.
Kujukuri Beach
A 66km straight sandy beach — Japan's second longest — facing the Pacific Ocean on the Boso Peninsula's eastern coast. The consistent surfable waves, the wide open beach with no buildings on the ocean side, and the inoshishi (wild boar) that occasionally wander down from the coastal forest make this a wild Pacific experience.