Introduction
Are you looking for a place to stay near Narita Airport before or after a long flight? If you’re traveling with kids, you know the struggle of keeping them calm in a boring airport hotel.
Recently, I stayed at the “International Resort Hotel Yurakujo” with my 3-year-old and 1-year-old sons. This isn’t just a hotel—once you step inside, you’ll find yourself in a magical “Matsuri” (Japanese festival) world that feels like you’ve time-traveled to the Edo period!
International Resort Hotel Yurakujo
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“Yurakujo”: A Spectacular Japanese Festival Experience
The highlight of this hotel is the “Yurakujo” spa facility. As you pass through the footbath at the entrance, a stunning traditional Japanese townscape unfolds before you.
Right at the entrance, there’s a giant fountain where they hold regular shows. It’s surprisingly high-scale!
[Photo: In this picture, my eldest son takes center stage, but you can still see just how massive the fountain is!]
Time Travel to Old Japan: The Edo World
Stepping inside through the footbath felt like traveling back in time to the Edo period. What’s even better? Access to this incredible area was actually included in our hotel stay!
There was even a horse-drawn carriage—and the best part is, you can actually ride it!
A Unique Japanese-Style Kids’ Play Area
There was also a kids’ play area with a beautiful Japanese design. Even though we live in Japan, I felt like I was experiencing more of its traditional charm here than in our daily lives.
Worry-Free Bathing with Babies: Spacious and Well-Equipped
There’s a great variety of baths to choose from, including both indoor and outdoor options. Most of the baths are shallow, so they are safe enough for a typical 2-year-old to walk around on their own. This gave me so much peace of mind!
The bathing area was incredibly spacious and equipped with plenty of hair dryers—all free of charge, of course. There are also baby cribs available, so you can feel completely at ease even when traveling with a baby.
Note: Yurakujo is closed on Mondays, so please be sure to check your schedule!
The “Mala Tang” Soup: So Authentic I Drank 6 Glasses of Water!
You can enjoy dinner right inside the facility. They have plenty of kid-friendly options like fried chicken (Karaage) and Tonkatsu sets. Among all the choices, I decided to go with the “Mala Tang” (spicy Sichuan soup).
As a Japanese person, I thought I could handle a bit of heat, but this was on another level. I’ve never had it in its place of origin, but it felt like a truly authentic medicinal spice blend (Yakuzen).
Seeing me drink 6 glasses of water because of the heat, my kids were so worried! My eldest son told me, “Mom, drink some apple juice!” and my youngest even offered me his fried chicken on a fork.
Thanks to their sweetness, I managed to finish the whole bowl (lol). The flavor was amazing! If you’re a fan of spicy food, you definitely have to try it.
Tips for the Airport Shuttle Bus
The shuttle is a large sightseeing-style bus, and the kids were absolutely thrilled! We had a great time watching the sunrise and the planes during the ride. Since the bus is so spacious, in my experience, you don’t really have to worry about it being too crowded to board. But if the bus happens to be full, you’ll have to wait for the next one, so I recommend getting in line a little early during busy hours just to be safe.
Please note that the bus frequency is somewhat limited, and it takes about 20 minutes to reach the airport. It’s best to plan your schedule ahead!
You can check the bus timetable and boarding locations on the official Yurakujo website (the map is a bit small and can be hard to see, but it’s there!). Also, the front desk gave us a printed copy during check-in, which was very helpful.
On our way back, we landed at Narita at 20:00. Since we had no checked baggage (carry-on only), we managed to catch the 20:35 bus!
Summary
Whether it’s your first night in Japan or your last, “Yurakujo” makes it special. You can experience an authentic “Matsuri” atmosphere and relax in an Onsen right near the airport. Highly recommended for families who want to start or end their Japan trip with a smile!
International Resort Hotel Yurakujo
For more photos, guest reviews, and current rates, check these platforms:
There are many hotels near Narita Airport.
