Opened in 2013, Sakai Premium Outlets is located in Iija, Sakai-machi, Inhachiman-gun, Chiba Prefecture, and is about a 15-minute ride on a highway bus from Narita Airport, so most of the clientele comes from foreign tourists, which makes it a very cosmopolitan place.
There are a wide variety of stores offering everything from brand names and sports brands to clothing, watches, and daily necessities, all at prices that are cheaper than those in the general market. There are also many services for foreign tourists, so even if you don't speak Japanese, you can enjoy shopping without worrying.
Indohatanuma, located in the northwestern part of Chiba Prefecture, is divided into Kita-Indohatanuma and Nishi-Indohatanuma, and is connected by the Indohatagetsu waterway, which looks like a stream valley. The lake is surrounded by a wide range of quiet mountains and forests, so you can look at the free mountain hiking map of Hinohan-numa and enjoy a break from the hustle and bustle of the city in the midst of nature.
There are also spots facing the lake where you can see Dutch windmills and tulips, such as Sakura Local Plaza. You can also enjoy a variety of outdoor fun and activities such as taking a sightseeing boat, renting a bicycle, and barbecuing while enjoying the sunset. To get to Kita-Infanuma, transfer to the Narita City Bus Kitauraga Line from the Keisei Main Line "Kotsu-no-mori" Station, get off at the bus stop of the "Jinbei Ferry Terminal" (approx. 28 minutes' drive), and then head toward Jinbei Park. To get to Nishi-Indohanuma, transfer to the Sakura City Loop Bus at Keisei Sakura Station, get off at the Furusato Plaza bus stop (about 7 minutes by car), and head toward Sakura Furusato Plaza.
Shinshoji Temple, one of the most visited temples in Japan, is about 15 minutes walk from JR Narita Station and Keisei Electric Railway Keisei Narita Station, and has become very popular among foreign tourists in recent years. There are numerous gourmet and specialty stores lining the approach to Shinshoji, and one of them, Souvenir Shop Shibaraku, is filled with Japanese decorations such as tilting dolls and lucky cats, so it's fun to just look at the store's decorations and merchandise.
A variety of souvenir items such as the mascot of Narita City in Chiba Prefecture, Unari-kun, and Hello Kitty related items can be found in the shop, so it is recommended that you visit this shop if you are looking for a place to buy Japanese souvenirs.
Nagamine Izumi is the only sake store in Omotesando, Naritasan. The well water used for sake brewing is of excellent quality and flavor, and the sake brewed is highly rated, making it a popular store that many people visit when they come to visit Shinshoji Temple. Inside the store, which sells local sake directly, there is also a take-away drink station that sells sake made with koji kanju.
There is also a sampling service where you can try a variety of local sakes, from refreshing and stimulating sake to full-flavored sakes, and after sampling, you can go to the display area in the store to see photos of how each type of sake is made, and the explanations are in English, so you won't have to worry about not being able to speak Japanese.
Narita's Shinshoji Temple is a temple where one can pray for the fulfillment of one's wishes through the practice of Gomasutra, and this store, Naritasan Omotesando Sabonsama, is the only one in Japan that sells Gomasutra-enriched soap, which is a popular product that has been covered by countless media outlets in Japan for its ability to encapsulate the prayers of the modern day in a bouncy Konjac jelly.
The "Ruyi Bao Zhu" themed ball-shaped konjac soap is quite Q-bouncy and smooth to the touch, with each color representing its own efficacy and blessing, and the smooth touch and scent are also very appealing, which makes it suitable to be bought as an accompanying gift for others.
The Naritasan Shinshoji Temple was built in 940 A.D. in order to pray that the rebellion caused by the military general Heisho Mon would be stopped as soon as possible, so that the chaotic world could be brought to peace, and the temple enshrines Fudo Myeongwang, who saves the people of the world with his wrathful face, and has been worshipped by many great men and women in the history of the world. The main hall, which is the most important place for prayer services, is open to the general public at Naritasan Shinshoji Temple.
In addition to the 58-meter-tall Heiwa Daito (Great Pagoda), which contains the creed of the leaders of various countries for peace, and the 25-meter-tall Triple Pagoda, which has beautiful carvings and is designated as an important cultural asset, there are many other historical buildings to admire. There is also a vast park with waterfalls and ponds in the area, so it is nice to take a rest in the park surrounded by flowers. Transportation is a 10-minute walk from JR Narita Station and Keisei Electric Railway Keisei Narita Station. From Narita Airport Terminal 2 Station to JR Narita Station, it takes about 8 minutes by car.
AEON MALL Narita is a large-scale shopping mall with 174 stores, including supermarkets, fashion stores, grocery stores, and various gourmet restaurants***, which provides a full range of clothing, food, housing, transportation, and entertainment. Many of the plazas in the mall hold special sales of Japanese food, concerts, and other period-only flash mobs from time to time. The Food Court, which has 12 restaurants, offers a wide selection of Japanese, Western, and Chinese cuisines, as well as ice cream, doughnuts, and other desserts. Incidentally, there is also a nursery and a children's section, so you can bring your little ones along.
Transportation is by direct bus from Keisei Narita Station, which runs every 15 minutes and costs 210 yen per adult, so if you're looking for a place to brush up on your time at Narita Airport, this is the place to come.
Located on the 2nd floor of AEON MALL Narita, "ASBee Narita Store" sells shoes of famous popular brands, including NIKE, adidas, CONVERSE, PUMA, SKECHERS, NEWBALANCE and other sports manufacturers, as well as casual shoes of Lee, Timberland, Red Wing and other brands. Business shoes, women's shoes and children's shoes are also sold here, and even ASBee-limited, Japan-limited and Japan-made goods are not a few.
Stylish Travel, located in Narita's Terminal 2, is a grocery store that sells a wide range of travel goods, such as specialty stickers, badges, keychains, and Narita Airport limited edition T-shirts, luggage, and eco-bags, so you can stop by again before you leave.