Naritasan Shinshoji: Narita Temple Trip and Layover Guide

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Researched guide · Checked on Oct 20, 2026

Naritasan Shinshoji is a large and historic Buddhist temple in Narita, just minutes from Narita Airport by train. It is one of Japan’s best-known temples for prayers, with a fire ritual (goma) held several times every day. With a long layover or an early flight, it is an easy half-day trip, combined with the old shopping street that leads to the gate.

About the temple

In 939, the warlord Taira no Masakado rebelled against the imperial court. By the emperor’s order, the monk Kancho carried a statue of Fudo Myoo (the fierce guardian deity) to Kanto and performed fire rituals for 21 days in Narita to pray for peace. When the rebellion ended, the statue would not move, and the temple was founded here with the name Shinshoji, meaning “temple of new victory”. In the Edo period, the temple became hugely popular with the people of Edo, helped by the kabuki actor Ichikawa Danjuro, whose family still uses the stage name Naritaya.

The goma fire ritual

The goma is a ritual in which a fire is lit before Fudo Myoo and wooden sticks are burned while monks pray. It is held every day in the Great Main Hall. Anyone may enter the hall and watch. The early morning ritual starts at 6:00 from October to March and at 5:30 from April to September, and more rituals follow through the day. Times change on some days, so check the official schedule.

• You do not need to book to attend.
• If you want your own prayer, apply at the goma reception on the day. Prayer fees start at ¥5,000.
• Visitors can also write a wish on a goma stick to be offered in the fire.

How to get there

From	Train	Time
Narita Airport (Terminal 2 station)	Keisei or JR	About 8 min
Ueno	Keisei limited express	About 65 min
Tokyo	JR Sobu Line rapid	About 75 min

From Keisei Narita or JR Narita Station, walk about 10 minutes along the temple approach street to the temple. Address: 1 Narita, Narita-shi, Chiba. See our Narita Airport to Tokyo guide.

Layover tips

• Leave enough time to return to the airport and pass security. Check your airline’s check-in deadline.
• Luggage: use the coin lockers or luggage services at the airport or station. See our luggage guide.
• The temple approach street has many shops and restaurants, so you can eat before your flight.

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