Nikko Hotel Narita (NRT) review: how do they keep it so dang clean?

Fact: all the hotels surrounding Narita Airport in Japan are some of the best airport hotels in the world.

I recently stayed at the Nikko NRT during an overnight layover on my way to Vietnam. It was phenomenal. Especially considering that I paid less than US$100 for one of the largest rooms available.

A full review of my one night stay at the Nikko Hotel at NRT

Not that I don’t want you to read the full review, but…you don’t really have to read the full review. This is a fantastic airport hotel – and I pretty much guarantee that you’ll enjoy staying there.

But for those of you who need a little more arm twisting, continue on…

Getting there from the airport

Getting to the Nikko Hotel from any terminal at NRT is extremely quick and easy via the complementary shuttle bus. It runs every 15 minutes, and stops at designated pick up points (which are clearly marked in English). The ride from the airport to the hotel takes about 10 minutes.

Nikko Hotel NRT shuttle bus — How awesome is it when the shuttle bus to your hotel arrives just as you’re walking up to the bus stop? I knew this thing would be on time, but not *that* on time.

Not only was the bus squeaky clean and comfortable, it was punctual AF. I can only dream of airport hotel shuttle buses being this good back home in the US.

Note that you could probably walk to this hotel without much issue. There are sidewalks the entire way that look safe(ish) from cars and trucks.

Nikko Hotel NRT exterior and parking lot — As typical with most Narita Airport hotels, it looks a little sterile (and maybe a little jail like) from the outside. Sure is clean though!

Scott standing outside of the Nikko Hotel NRT — I have the right to remain silent. But I won’t, because this is a pretty awesome airport hotel (as I’m about to show you)…

Nikko Hotel NRT main entrance — Don’t worry about having to cross the road to get to the main entrance. This is Japan after all, and the driver of the car that hits you will at least apologize and drive you to the hospital.

The lobby (and checking in)

This is one of the largest and busiest hotels at NRT, so be prepared to stand in line during the check in process. For what it’s worth, the check in process was just a smooth and efficient as it was over at the NRT Tobu Hotel (located nearby).

Nikko Hotel NRT main lobby — The main lobby: every bit as squeaky clean and comfortable as the shuttle bus was. I like!

Nikko Hotel NRT reception desk — I also quite like how quick and easy it was to check in. I was slightly disappointed that the guy who checked me in didn’t even bat an eye at my confident pronunciation of “konnichiwa” though. I was practicing the entire bus ride over from the airport!

There are many shops and restaurants located with in the lobby. You won’t have to leave the property to pick up little things like snacks and toiletries. If it’s a full meal you want, the on-site restaurants are pretty good.

Getting to my room

Other than the long walk to find the elevators (they don’t make it easy), it’s a fairly simple process of getting to your room after checking in. The first thing you’ll notice: how quiet the place is.

Nikko Hotel NRT elevator advertisements — Rice never looks this good when I make it back at home. What am I doing wrong? I had a bit of time to think about it during the ride up to the 10th floor…

Nikko Hotel NRT guest room hallway — Maybe I’m using too much water? Not enough heat? Whatever. I’m digging the carpet up here on the 10th floor.

Nikko Hotel NRT room 1081 — “If I consider cooking rice in terms of minutes, I could break down 1081 minutes into hours. For example, 1081 minutes is approximately 18 hours and 1 minute, which could be a fun way to think about long-cooked rice dishes or slow-cooking methods…” (Welcome to room 1081 by the way).

Room overview

I paid extra for a larger room with two beds. It’s not that I needed the extra space, but it was too good of a deal to pass up. FYI, I paid less than $100US for the room I’m about to show you – even after taxes and fees.

Nikko Hotel NRT double bed room — Are budget airport hotels in Japan awesome, or what? This looks good!

Nikko Hotel NRT room overview — Not even the ORD Hilton is this nice. Or the Westin DTW. Or…basically most any other airport hotel I’ve paid less than $500 for.

Nikko Hotel NRT double beds — Eeny Meeny Miny Moe…I will sleep in the bed by the wall to avoid stubbing my toe (when I have to get up in the middle of the night to pee).

Nikko Hotel NRT room size — This is a big (basic, clean, bright, comfortable, quiet) room. I’m not even thinking about rice anymore!

Scott relaxing in Nikko Hotel NRT room — I know it may look like it, but I’m not. The chairs are comfortable.

Nikko Hotel NRT in room desk — A desk so nice that I actually feel guilty for not doing any work while I’m here. I am taking pictures for a dorky hotel review though, so I guess that counts.

Nikko Hotel NRT bedside table with phone, alarm clock, and lighting controls — Mission control. I was half tempted to pick up the phone just to practice my pronunciation of “Konnichiwa.”

Scott looking around inside Nikko Hotel NRT

Nikko Hotel NRT wall art — The wall art is especially nice IMHO. Clean. Stylish. And very Japanese.

Nikko Hotel NRT in room refrigerator — A mini refrigerator to hold…*calculating space*…seven bowls of rice. Make it five bowls if you want a small bottle of sake to go with it.

Complementary bottled water, a hot water kettle, and packages of green tea are included. Note that they don’t actually expect you to drink the bottle water though. As you can read on the label (see below), it’s for kettle use only. Don’t you dare use it for anything else.

Complementary bottled water, glasses, and tea kettle

The view

Based on its location, I don’t think there are any views from the Nikko Hotel that would be considered “phenomenal.” It’s a very clean (in very safe) area though, so it won’t be terrible either.

View from my room at the Nikko Hotel NRT — Not a bad view for a hotel next to one of the largest airports in the world. I loves me a neat and orderly Japanese parking lot!

The bathroom

My only complaint about the bathroom is that it looked like it hadn’t been updated in a very long time. That’s not to say that it wasn’t extremely clean and well-maintained though. It was far more than good enough IMHO.

Nikko Hotel NRT bathroom — No, it’s nowhere near as fancy as the bathroom you saw my review of the Royal Park Haneda Airport Hotel. It was just as clean though. Not a bad place to get naked (and gross).

Nikko Hotel NRT bathroom tub — Deep tub? Check. Motorized toilet? Check. God I love Japan.

Nikko Hotel NRT toilet — Japanese toilets will never not be interesting to me. Unfortunately, this was only a quick overnight stay (and I already had a poo back at the airport), so I didn’t get to put this bad boy to a full test. Such a shame.

Nikko Hotel NRT drinkable tap water — Only in Japan would I trust a sign like this.

Nikko Hotel NRT complementary bathroom amenities — I like the fact that they naturally assumed that I would forget my toothbrush (because I did). Arigatou gozaimasu!

Pros and cons

I can’t think of a single reason why you shouldn’t stay at the Nikko Hotel during an overnight layover at Narita airport. Airport hotels just don’t get much better than this IMHO.

Pros

It’s an incredible value for the money.
Everything was super clean and very well-maintained.
Based on how quiet it was, you’d never know that it’s located adjacent to one of the world’s busiest airports.
Having so many shops and restaurants on site is extremely convenient.

Cons

It feels a little outdated. In other words, it’s not going to win any design awards anytime soon.
It’s a busy place. Be prepared to rub elbows with fellow travelers at every turn.

Nikko Hotel Narita (NRT) review: how do they keep it so dang clean?