During a recent layover in Tokyo’s Narita Airport, I rented a day room for four hours to get a snooze and a shower before heading off on my 17-hour journey from Japan to New York City. Oh, how I wish all airports had these available!
For about $10 per hour, I was given a bottle of water and a key to my own room. It was small but big enough for my purposes. I had a bed, blanket, and pillow and some space for my things, as well as a private toilet and shower with shampoo and conditioner.
My only complaint was that I could hear some of the airport noise outside the window. My recommendation would be to take earplugs with you. But it was certainly better to spend that private time relaxing than it would have been to sit in the terminal during those hours.
Also, the ability to shower just before my long journey allowed me to arrive in NYC feeling at least slightly fresher than I would have felt otherwise.
You can reserve a Narita Airport day room somewhat in advance, although you currently can’t pay online. The facility is easy to find in the airport, and you have to arrive within a half hour of your reserved time or possibly lose your room. If you prefer, you can just rent a shower, but those can’t be reserved ahead of time. It’s a great idea whose time has come, and other airports around the world should follow suit!
Melanie Votaw is the Publisher and Executive Travel Writer of LuxuryWeb Magazine. She has visited more than 50 countries on 6 continents and written for such magazines as Executive Travel, Just Luxe, Business Insider, South China Morning Post, Travel Mindset, and more. She is a member of the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association and the International Travel Writers Alliance. Melanie's photography has won awards, and she has also written 39 nonfiction books as either the author or ghostwriter.
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