Naritasan Shinshoji and Omotesando: Temple and historic street walk

Walk the roughly 800-metre approach from Narita Station to Shinshoji Temple through four street sections, including local eel restaurants, shops and main temple buildings.

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  • Chiba
  • Shrines, temples and parks
  • Day trips

A key feature of Naritasan Shinshoji Temple () is that the approach road () from the station is itself part of the visit. Based on official information from the Narita City Tourism Association and Shinshoji (checked on 2026-10-28), this article divides Omotesando into four sections and identifies important buildings in the temple grounds. The official pages do not give shop-by-shop opening hours or accessibility details within the grounds, so neither is included. Return to the Chiba travel guide.

Key points

  • Omotesando runs approximately 800 metres from Narita Station and has more than 150 restaurants and souvenir shops
  • It can be divided into four sections: station area and Hanazakicho; Kamicho; Nakamachi and Saiwaicho; Honcho and the temple-front plaza
  • Eel dishes are a local speciality
  • Shinshoji’s official grounds map lists the Great Main Hall, Great Peace Pagoda, Three-Storey Pagoda, Shakado and Komyodo, among others

Four sections of Omotesando

Section Features in official information
Station area and Hanazakicho Starting point of Omotesando; a blend of traditional Japanese and international elements; monuments and a statue of a kabuki actor near the station
Kamicho Neat streetscape with well-known wagashi shops, including shops selling yokan, a Naritasan speciality
Nakamachi and Saiwaicho Old inns and eel restaurants; atmosphere little changed since the Edo period; Narita Tourist Pavilion (a warehouse-style building) introduces the area’s history and tourism information
Honcho, Tamachi and temple-front plaza End of Omotesando; the Somon Gate (a large zelkova-wood gate) in front of the temple; official information also mentions kabuki-themed monuments and shop signs on the street

Kabuki and Naritaya

The official account connects Omotesando to the kabuki family of Ichikawa Danjuro. The first-generation Danjuro prayed at Naritasan for a child. After his son was born, he performed kabuki based on Narita Fudo and achieved great popularity. This gave rise to the name “Naritaya” and helped make Narita pilgrimages popular among ordinary people during the Edo period.

Shinshoji Temple grounds

Main buildings listed on Shinshoji’s official map:

Name Explanation
Great Main Hall, Great Peace Pagoda and Three-Storey Pagoda Names listed on the official grounds map
Shakado, Komyodo, Gakudo and Issaikyodo Names listed on the official grounds map
Shusse Inari, Shotoku Taishido and Ioden Names listed on the official map; goshuin for Ioden (Yakushi Nyorai) are handled at the Great Pagoda when crowded
Niomon, Somon, Amidado and Yakushido Names listed on the official grounds map
Calligraphy Museum and Naritasan Park Shown on the map without further explanation on the page

The official grounds map page does not list visiting hours, admission fees or the spatial relationships between buildings (the map is an image). Check Shinshoji’s official site before leaving.

Walking route

  1. Start in front of Narita Station and follow Omotesando for about 800 metres
  2. Eat at an eel restaurant in Nakamachi or Saiwaicho; official information does not list opening hours, so check individual shops
  3. Continue to Somon Gate before entering the grounds
  4. After your visit, walk back along the other side and explore the wagashi shops in Kamicho

Transport: Narita Station is covered in the Chiba transport guide; for Narita Airport to central Tokyo see Haneda and Narita airports to central Tokyo.

Sources