There comes a time in every traveler’s life when the best way to a destination is via an inconveniently timed connection through the Tokyo Narita Airport (NRT).
The last time this happened to be, I chose to spend the night at the Tobu Hotel. It’s the nearest hotel to NRT, and a darn good one of that.
Is it luxurious? Hell no. But it is comfortable and very convenient (two things a traveler needs the most).
A full review of my 1-night stay at the Tobu Hotel at Narita Airport
Don’t let the seemingly low rates of this hotel fool you. It’s a quiet, clean, and friendly property that offers a lot of bang for the buck (I mean Yen).
Location
I suppose it’s technically possible to walk to the Tobu Narita from either Terminal 1 or 2. I don’t recommend it though – unless you enjoy walking down narrow sidewalks, busy parking lots, and dark back alleys.
Instead, take the shuttle bus. It stops at both Terminal 1 and 2 every 30 minutes.
The lobby (and checking in)
I arrived at approximately 9 PM, and I was surprised by how busy the lobby was. It’s a popular choice among travelers I guess. Despite the crowds, I was able to get checked in quickly and efficiently. It took less than five minutes.
Getting to my room
I chose a 12th (top) floor room for my one night stay. Therefore, taking the elevator was my only option. I’m too old and lazy to take the stairs.
Room overview
Not only did I spend a little more for a top floor room, I opted for one of the largest rooms available. Remember – hotel rooms are generally smaller in Japan than they are in the rest of the world, so if you want a “normal” size room, be prepared to pay for it. Long story short: paying more was the right decision.
The view
One of the best things about choosing a top floor room was the view that I had of Narita Airport. It probably would’ve been better if the weather was good, but beggars can’t be choosers I guess.
Plane spotting from this room wasn’t very good if I’m being honest. I heard a lot of airplanes, but I didn’t see all that many.
The bathroom
The bathroom was extremely basic, but I’ll give it high marks due to the awesomely awesome toilet. I mean, any toilet that can do the wiping for me is a good one in my book.
Otherwise, it was OK. Water pressure (and temperature) was good, and everything was squeaky clean.
Pros and cons of staying at the Narita Tobu Hotel
If I wasn’t a total weirdo who likes to do hotel reviews, this would be the property I would choose every time I needed to stay near Narita Airport. It’s good. It’s not perfect though, so hopefully the pictures I just showed you were good enough to set realistic expectations.
Pros
It’s an incredibly convenient place to stay if you’ve got an early-morning flight out of NRT.
Everything is clean and very well-maintained.
It’s shockingly quiet for a hotel located in such a busy area.
Every staff member that I encountered seemed to bend over backwards to make sure that I was having a good stay.
Cons
It’s a somewhat dated property that would probably benefit from a facelift.
It’s also very popular, so be prepared to stand in line for everything (checking in, the restaurant, the airport shuttle bus, etc).