Flying into Narita, Japan was always an adventure. There really are guards outside the airport. We always stayed at the same hotel, the Radisson. It was in the middle of rice patties and neighborhoods, so we walked to the same restaurants and ate the same great food. No matter how tired I was on the "backside" of the clock, it felt like home. Most of the time it was like staying in a big dormitory. Going down to breakfast at the "Café" or into the "great suck-hole" known as "The Sport's Bar" was a staple of our visits. Walks to the Narita Temple or just down the street to Emaris/The Yellow Awning, The Crew Lounge, Bennihana's, and Yankee's were crew favorites.
I walked through the park to have morning coffee with my girlfriend Akiko. We would talk, or go shopping or drive around to see the "real" Narita.
That said, everything in my book about layovers in Narita is true. There were rapes at the hotel. Unfortunately, they were not publicized and we had to have our own "radar system" to walk through the dark halls at night.
I wish I had taken more photos when I was on layovers... you don't think you will forget things, but you do! These are oldies but goodies.
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