Museum of Aeronautical Sciences
The Museum of Aeronautical Sciences (航空科学博物館, Kōkū Kagaku Hakubutsukan) is an aviation museum located just outside of Narita Airport at the southern end of its main runway. The museum is of interest to both plane enthusiasts and non-enthusiasts alike with lots of aircraft on display, as well as simulators and other hands-on activities.
Inside the museum you can see full scale replicas of historic planes and components of modern planes such as the landing gear and engine of a Boeing 747. You can also try piloting a plane at one of the museum's life sized simulators.
Additionally, the museum's third floor has an outdoor observation deck with a view of the southern end of Narita Airport's runway, while the fourth floor has a restaurant, and the fifth floor houses an indoor observatory modeled after a flight control tower. Both observation areas and the restaurant have good views of planes taking off and landing.
On a yard in front of the museum there are over a dozen aircraft on display, predominantly smaller propeller planes and helicopters. Some of the aircraft can be entered.
Besides the museum's observation decks, there are multiple public viewpoints around the airport from where you can watch the action on the runway. The Sakura no Oka and Hikoki no Oka observation areas are located near the southern end of the runway close to the museum, while the Sakura no Yama observation area is at the northern end. Observation decks are also found on each of the airport's terminal buildings.
Getting there and around
Museum of Aeronautical Sciences
From the airport
The ride from the airport to the museum takes about 15 minutes, and there are two types of buses to select from: JR buses and Narita Airport Transport buses. JR buses depart from terminal 1 and terminal 2 about once every 1-3 hours, while buses by Narita Airport Transport depart about hourly from terminal 2, but less than half of them stop right at the museum (except on weekends and holidays when all stop at the museum); the other buses serve only the "Nanbu Butsuryu" (南部物流) bus stop from where it is still a 5-10 minute walk to the museum. The bus fare is 220 yen one way.
From the city center
Two JR buses per hour connect Narita Station with the Museum of Aeronautical Sciences (30 minutes, 540 yen one way). A discount ticket, which combines the bus round trip with admission to the museum is available for 1000 yen.
Observation areas
A small number of Narita Airport Transport buses connect Narita Airport with the Sakura no Yama observation area. The Hikoki no Oka observation area can be reached in a 15 minute walk from the Museum of Aeronautical Sciences, while the Sakura no Oka observation area is another 10 minute walk from there.
By taxi, it costs about 2500 yen to get from the airport to the Sakura no Oka or Hikoki no Oka observation areas and about 1500 yen to get to the Sakura no Yama observation area. All three observation areas offer free parking lots.
How to get to and around Narita
Hours and Fees
Hours
Closed
Admission
Questions? Ask in our forum.
Links and Resources
Hotels around Narita
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Waqoo NaritasanmonzenSet within 41 km of Showanomori Museum and 45 km of Shopping Mall SHOPS, Waqoo Naritasanmonzen offers rooms in Narita. Featuring a restaurant, the 5-star hotel has air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi, each with a shared bathroom. The property is non-smoking and is located 40 km from Kouinzan Honkouji Temple. The units in the hotel are equipped with a kettle. Waqoo Naritasanmonzen provides certain rooms with city views, and each room comes with a coffee machine. Guest rooms at the accommodation are equipped with a flat-screen TV with satellite channels and a safety deposit box. Guests at Waqoo Naritasanmonzen can enjoy a continental breakfast. Speaking English, French, Japanese and Chinese, staff will be happy to provide guests with practical guidance on the area at the reception. Chiba Museum of Science and Industry is 46 km from the hotel, while Nikke Colton Plaza is 46 km away. Narita International Airport is 6 km from the property.View on Booking.com -
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Wakamatsu HontenJust in front of the scenic Naritasan Shinsho-ji Temple, Wakamatsu Honten is a charming local property featuring large public baths and non-smoking Japanese-style rooms with free WiFi. Free shuttle service is offered to Narita Station (reservation required in advance). The ryokan also has s a souvenir shop and coin-operated laundry facilities. Decorated in a traditional Japanese style, all rooms come with a futon bedding, a seating area and green tea sets. A flat-screen TV and personal safe are also included, as well as yukata robes. Bathrooms are either shared or private, depending on the room type booked. All rooms are non-smoking. Wakamatsu Honten is a 15-minute drive from Narita International Airport and an 8-minute drive from Aeon Mall Narita. The Museum of Aeronautical Sciences is a 20-minute drive away. It is a 50-minute drive from Tokyo Disney Resort. For breakfast, the property offers a Japanese set menu. A Kaiseki dinner (Japanese special set) is available with advance reservation, and can be enjoyed in the shared dining room or in guests' private room. Guests can relax at the indoor public baths, which are gender-separated and operate from 15:00 - 10:00 daily. Luggage can be stored at the front office. Free WiFi is available at the lobby, as well as in the rooms.View on Booking.com -
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Hotel Nikko NaritaJust 10 minutes from Narita International Airport on the free 2-way shuttle, Hotel Nikko Narita features a seasonal outdoor pool, a 24-hour convenience store and 4 dining options. All rooms come with free WiFi. The air-conditioned rooms at the Nikko Narita feature relaxing colours and light wood furnishings, including a desk. A quadruple room is available for family stays. Guestrooms are fitted with a satellite TV, a fridge and an electric kettle with green tea. The en suite bathroom comes with a shower, bathtub and toiletries. Guests can relax with a massage in their room, and the front desk offers currency exchange, dry cleaning and luggage storage. Restaurant Serena looks out on a garden and serves a breakfast buffet with local and Western dishes. A Chinese menu is available for lunch and dinner at Touri, while Hokake serves authentic Edo-era sushi. Sunset Lounge pairs cocktails with night views of the airport. Hotel Nikko Narita is situated 20 minutes drive to Narita City and Naritasan Shinshoji Temple. An hourly shuttle service is available to and from Narita City. Hotel Nikko Narita also operates the shuttle service to and from Aeon Shopping Mall on designated hours.View on Booking.com -
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Narita Sando GuesthouseNarita Sando Guesthouse provides accommodation in Narita near Naritasan Shinshoji Temple and Naritasan Park. Narita Station and Keisei Narita Station is just a 5-minute walk. Free WiFi is provided. Free luggage storage is available on the ground floor. A shared lounge with a TV, microwave, complimentary water and tea is available. Tokyo Narita International Airport is 13 minutes by train from the property.View on Booking.com -
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Karin doo HotelSet within 12 km of Shisui Premium Outlets and 2.1 km of Naritasan Park, Karin doo Hotel offers rooms in Narita. With a shared lounge, the 2-star hotel has air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi, each with a private bathroom. At the hotel, all rooms are fitted with a desk and a flat-screen TV. Naritasan Shinshoji Temple is 2.5 km from Karin doo Hotel, while Narita International Culture Hall is 3.1 km from the property. The nearest airport is Narita International Airport, 9 km from the accommodation.View on Booking.com -
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International Garden Hotel NaritaA 15-minute drive from Narita Airport, Garden Hotel offers a 24-hour fitness centre and modern rooms with a flat-screen TV. Guests can make free use of the rooftop hot tub. Within a 30-minute walk from International Garden Hotel Narita are AEON Narita Shopping Centre and Naritasan Shinsho-ji Temple. JR Narita Train Station is located 2 km away. Rooms at Hotel International Garden are simply furnished and feature a traditional Shoji paper screen. They come with a private bathroom stocked with toiletries and a hairdryer. A breakfast buffet is offered at AVANTI, featuring a selection of both Japanese and Western dishes. An Italian menu is available during lunch and dinner. Facilities offered at International Garden include a laundry room.View on Booking.com -
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Richmond Hotel NaritaA 5-minute walk from Keisei-Narita Station and a 10-minute train ride from Narita Airport, the modern Richmond Hotel offers rooms with free Wi-Fi, an LCD satellite TV and video-on-demand movies. Free shuttles to the airport are available at a first-come-first-served bases. The shuttle service cannot be reserved.※From Airport to the hotel shuttlebus is out of servise. The air-conditioned rooms at Richmond Hotel Narita have calm colours. A fridge and electric kettle are provided, and the en suite bathroom has a bath and amenities. Room service is available. JR Narita Train Station is 500 metres from the hotel, and Shinsho-ji Temple is a 15-minute walk. The front desk is open 24/7, and has luggage storage and rental laptops. Free-use PCs are available. Featuring a red-and-black decor and modern lighting, Stella Restaurant serves Japanese/Western dishes. It offers a buffet breakfast, lunch sets and a-la-carte dishes for dinner.View on Booking.com -
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Meet Inn NaritaSet in Narita, within 12 km of Shisui Premium Outlets and 1.9 km of Naritasan Shinshoji Temple, Meet Inn Narita features a restaurant and a male-only public bath. Local points of interest like Sogo Reido Sanctuary -Toshoji Temple and Chiba Prefectural Boso-no-Mura are reachable within 5 km and 9 km, respectively. At the hotel, all rooms are air-conditioned and fitted with a desk, a flat-screen TV and private bathroom. The units will provide guests with a fridge. Meet Inn Narita offers a buffet or Asian breakfast. Naritasan Park is 2 km from the accommodation, while Narita International Culture Hall is 2.9 km away. The nearest airport is Narita International, 8 km from Meet Inn Narita, and the property offers a free airport shuttle service.View on Booking.com -
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Narita Tobu Hotel AirportNarita Tobu Hotel Airport is 10 minutes from Narita Airport via the hotel’s free shuttle. It features a fitness centre with a swimming pool, and offers rooms with free Wi-Fi. Guests can also unwind in the sauna and hot tub. The air-conditioned rooms at Narita Tobu Hotel Airport feature contemporary furnishings and include a flat-screen TV, a fridge and an electric kettle. Each room is fitted with comfortable double beds. The attached bathroom comes with a hairdryer and free toiletries. The hotel is a 10-minute bus ride away from AEON Shopping Mall and a 15-minute bus ride from Shinsho-ji Temple. JR Narita Train Station is 20 minutes away on the hotel’s free shuttle. Guests of Narita Tobu Hotel Airport can enjoy a buffet and a la carte meals including Chinese dishes at bright Oasis Restaurant, or sip an elegant drink at Compass Rose Tea & Bar Lounge.View on Booking.com -
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Toyoko Inn Narita Airport ShinkanLocated within 49 km of Shopping Mall SHOPS and 50 km of Chiba Museum of Science and Industry, Toyoko Inn Narita Airport Shinkan provides rooms with air conditioning and a private bathroom in Narita. This 3-star hotel offers free shuttle service, a 24-hour front desk and free WiFi. Private parking is available on site. At the hotel, rooms include a desk and a flat-screen TV. Every room is fitted with a private bathroom with a shower, free toiletries and a hairdryer. All units will provide guests with a fridge. A buffet breakfast is available daily at Toyoko Inn Narita Airport Shinkan. Narita International Airport is a few steps away.View on Booking.com
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