Fruits, vegetables and fresh seafood from all over Japan are available to purchase at this wholesale market in Narita, where hundreds of people shop every day.

Officially called Meishozan Toshoji Temple, Sogo Reido Sanctuary is a Shingon Buddhist temple constructed for the purpose of memoralizing those who died in battle when the shogun Saka-no-ue-no Tamuramaro subjugated the Emishi people of northern Japan around the end of the 8th century.

A range of exhibits on general Japanese history and culture are displayed at this national history museum in the town of Sakura west of Narita Airport.

Designed specifically for adults, Yamato-no-yu is a hot spring resort a short distance from Narita Airport, complete with both indoor and open-air natural hot spring baths, a sauna, spa treatment including reflexology and aroma therapy, and even a 9m indoor swimming pool and fitness gym.

Just a short ways from Shisui Premium Outlets shopping mall, Yuranosato offers a complete spa experience with natural hot spring water, including rotenburo outdoor baths, open-air shallow baths designed for a reclined soak, a Finnish style löyly sauna, massage, deep scrubbing, and more.

For the chance to see planes landing and taking off right before your eyes, few locations offer better views than this observation hill adjacent to Narita Airport’s Runway B.

If you can’t decide whether you want to do hanami (cherry blossom viewing) or watch planes take off and land only a short distance away, this park is for you, because in spring you can do both.

Bamboo shoots (take-no-ko) are a popular ingredient in Japanese cuisine, and in spring you can learn how to gather them yourself at the Shibayama Take-no-ko Plantation.

On any given night in July, if you’re lucky you may see fireflies fluttering about in the fields of Shibayama near Narita Airport.

Since the Edo period it has been a popular pilgrimage destination for worshippers throughout Japan, who come to ask Ofudo-sama, the God of Fire and main deity of Naritasan Shinshoji, to grant their wishes and keep away ill fortune.

Naritasan Omotesando Street leads up to Naritasan Shinshoji Temple, and is lined with traditional shops and restaurants.

Located on the Naritasan Shinshoji Temple grounds behind the main hall, expansive Naritasan Park has lovely walking paths, several ponds and a waterfall, and many flowering trees and shrubs that accent the seasons.

AEON Mall Narita is conveniently located close to Narita Airport and Naritasan Shinshoji Temple and is a good place to buy some souvenirs.

This large shopping center is located within walking distance of Narita-san Shinsho-ji Temple and Keisei Narita Station, making it popular with visitors who wish to combine shopping with a cultural tour.

With 120 international and Japanese brand stores, this is the top destination for shopping and fine dining for travelers using Narita Airport.

The museum’s collection extends from works by well-known artists such as Rembrandt, Monet, and Picasso to 20th century American artists such as Rothko and Pollock.

This giant store can be your one-stop shopping destination for just about anything and everything.

Every Thursday morning, free tea ceremony demonstrations are given with English explanations of the traditional customs and significance of many elements of this art form which dates back to the Heian Era.

Called shakyo, sutra copying is a form of meditation not unlike the chanting of a sutra.

If you’ve ever worn kimono before you know that few other things bring so much authenticity to the Japanese experience.

A daily tradition held since Naritasan Shinshoji Temple was founded in the 10th century, the Goma Fire ritual, also referred to as the Ogoma Kito prayer, calls upon the temple’s main deity of Ofudo-sama, the God of Fire, to grant worshipper’s wishes and protect them from bad luck.

Restaurant Fu-Wa-Ri serves an all-you-can-eat buffet with dozens of home-style Japanese and other dishes, giving you an authentic taste of Japan’s food culture.

Learn about Japanese Shinto traditions at Shisho Shrine, a small rural shrine with a history of over 350 years.

Dedicated to aviation, this fun and educational museum has both replica and real airplanes, clothing and equipment used by aviators, a real cockpit you can sit in, a DC-9 flight simulation experience, and much more.

For a limited time from March to April you can tour a strawberry greenhouse and enjoy a basket of fresh, local strawberries as you make your way to Shisho Shrine or on to Airplane Hill.

This outdoor observation area provides unobstructed views of airplanes taking off from Narita Airport and flying almost directly overhead.

Surrounded by beautiful rice paddies, Tako Town is famous for its delicious rice, which can be enjoyed with bento boxes on the banks of the Kuriyama River or in a dining area on the second floor of Roadside Station Tako Ajisai-kan.

Nichihon-ji Temple is an important temple of the Nichiren sect of Buddhism and is well-known as being home to the Nakamura Danrin, a school for monks.

Power-assisted bicycles are available for rent at Roadside Station Tako Ajisai-kan, and are a fun way to tour the Tako countryside.

Roadside Station Tako Ajisai-kan sits right on the bank of the Kuriyama River, and sells a variety of Japanese-style bento lunches, dango, tamagoyaki rolls, and of course the delicious Tako rice.

This small shop sells wagashi (Japanese sweets) made by hand using carefully selected ingredients, including fruits, vegetables and rice grown locally in Tako.

Tako’s Hydrangea Park spans both banks of the Kuriyama River and is a lovely place to relax.

Boso no Mura’s authentic Edo Period townscape has been used as a filming location for numerous Japanese period dramas, and it’s also the perfect place for visitors to dress up as ninja, samurai, or other famous characters from Japanese history!

The friendly staff at Cosplay no Yakata, located adjacent to Boso no Mura, will happily help you transform into a figure straight out of Japanese history.

Surrounded by a panorama of greenery, Yume Terrace uses only the freshest ingredients in its dishes, which vary seasonally.

Learn about Japan’s fermentation traditions at the Fermentation Market, which offers locally-brewed saké and a multitude of fermented products from all over Japan.

Travelers can pray for a safe trip at Kozaki Shrine, which enshrines Amano Torifune no Mikoto, the guardian deity of aviation, transportation and industry.

The wide Tone River and its green riverbanks add to Kozaki’s idyllic atmosphere, and fresh air is in abundance along the walking path that follows the river.

Locally caught unagi (freshwater eel) is grilled with a special sauce and served over white rice, and the delicacy’s reputation for being a good source of nutrition and stamina has made it a popular choice among visitors to Narita since the Edo Period.

The Flower Festival celebrates the birth of Gautama Buddha, who is said to have been born on April 8 at the foot of the Himalaya some 2500 years ago.

One of the largest drum festivals in Japan, the Narita Drum Festival takes place over two days and features many different performances.

This dance began as a celebration of the completion of Naritasan Great Peace Pagoda, constructed as a prayer for world peace and happiness for all people.

At this major summer event, ten huge floats and a sacred mikoshi (portable shrine) are pulled through the streets of Narita over the course of three days, with lots of folk music and dancing.

Prayer sticks (called gomagi) are burned in a consecrated bonfire, and afterwards brave worshippers can try fire walking.

At the Osame Fudo Fire Festival a great bonfire is made and all the wooden prayer sticks, votive tablets, and omamori good-luck charms of the past year are burned in this Buddhist goma (homa) ritual.

Held the day before the official start of spring, the Close-of-Winter Festival, or Setsubun festival, is a traditional event in which prayers are made for happiness in the coming year.

This festival is held in Naritasan Park, where hundreds of ume plum trees of both red and white varieties flower each year.

Countless antiques, dolls, glass art, and character merchandise are on display at the monthly Naritasan Shinshoji Temple Antiques Fair.

Tako’s Ajisai Matsuri (Hydrangea Festival) is held during Japan’s rainy season in June when the 10,000 hydrangea flowers growing along the banks of the Kuriyama River bloom in gorgeous blues, purples, pinks, and whites.

This traditional summer festival dates back to the Edo period. Festival floats from each neighborhood, including one built in 1839, are paraded around town to the sounds of lively music from taiko drums and flutes.

The Sakura Matsuri (festival) is one of Sakae’s biggest annual events, held when the green open space of Doramu no Sato, adjacent to Boso no Mura Prefectural Theme Park, is filled with beautiful pink and white cherry blossoms.

This matsuri is held at Boso no Mura Theme Park. During the day there are street performances and a small mikoshi portable shrine carried by children through the streets.

Held at Boso no Mura Theme Park, the Sakae Rice Festival is all about celebrating and giving thanks for the autumn harvest.

Ancient burial mounds (called kofun) were discovered in Shibayama, and excavations have dug up haniwa terracotta figures sculpted by people living here long ago, 150 of which are on display in the Haniwa Museum at Shibayama Nioson Temple.