NRT: The Jet Lag Club

Hello folks from Narita, Japan

I'd like to tell you about one of the best layover bars Narita has to offer - the Jet Lag Club!

Its located on
508 Kamicho, Narita
Tel: 080-5504-0340
http://www.jetlagclub.com/

The owner of the JLC, Vincent, was a flight attendant in his previous life, and after settling in Narita, opened up the JLC. What better theme than one that he is personally familiar with - International Air Travel.

I used Photoshop to mark up a map for you. It ought to get you close. The walking distance was a half mile.


(link to original Google Map)

The bus from the Hilton drops you off near the Narita local train station. You go up the stairs to the walkway and walk through the train station. After a few up escalators, it'll dump you out at street level. Bear right and go over the pedestrian overpass, and then when the road comes to a "T", go right onto "Green Streen." It's not the real name of the street, but everyone calls it that because it has green painted sidewalks. Wander on the Green Street until you come to the Jet Lag Club on the left.

Inside you'll be treated to a vast array of interesting airline memorabilia and artifacts. Order a pint of your favorite beer and let your eyes wander around. You'll find yourself spending a lot of time just checking out the photos and posters surrounding you.

Happy hour is from 4 to 8 and The Jet Lag Club has the best prices in town. A popcorn machine will help you forget that you're hungry (and that it's really 6am back home...)

Vincent has been constantly upgrading the pub, and it now sports a dance floor complete with techno lights and such. The DJ spins his magic on Friday and Saturday nights. On the other nights, enjoy a trip back in time to music videos of the 70's, 80's and 90's.

The Jet Lag Club does not serve food, but has made arrangements with Pa Pa's restaurant to have their food delivered. I'll be blogging about Pa Pa's soon. Just ask the bartender for a menu.

Vincent is proud to have made the Jet Lag Club the first non-smoking bar in Japan. As a non-smoker, I can appreciate that. Just step into one of the other smoking bars for a few minutes and the clear air of the JLC will be missed.

Enjoy your visit to Narita and take a minute to soak up the Jet Lag Club! You'll have a great time!

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Some More Photos -->
The Bar

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Rabble rousers, one and all...

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Just a few of the items in Vincent's vast collection:

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Lots of stuff for sale at the JLC. This is a neat bottle opener that you put over the top of the bottle and push down. Magically, the bottle top pops off! A great unique party item!

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More beers! (Notice the shapely stein...)

NRT: Imperial Palace East Gardens

Imperial Palace East Gardens

Now that the Narita bunkie trip is a 4 day, that might give y'all some time and incentive to get out and about the neighborhood of the hotel. In a short 35 minute walk's time, you'll find yourself in the grand park and fortress are of the Imperial Palace. I had read online that the East Gardens are free. Even though that did not include a newspaper, I decided to give it a shot. A tour of the Imperial Palace requires an internet reservation, so I figured I'd try to snag that one on my next Tokyo layover.

It's really easy to get there. Out of the ANA Intercontinental, hang a right. Turn right on Route 405 (Sotobori Dori) and after a few block, turn left on Route 301 (Uchibori Dori). This will take you past another cool little park called Hibaya Park, which is worth a walk through if you have the time. Optionally, you could just stay on the street the Hotel is on until you get to a moat.

If you are a jogger, you won't be alone jogging around the palace outer grounds. It's a very popular jogging location for the natives. (see this article)

Along the way (or return) stop by the Nijubashi Bridge, with the picturesque view of the Palace in the background.



The East Gardens park is free, but it has some odd hours. From Nov - Feb, it closes at 4pm (5pm Apr - Aug, 4:30pm all other months). The bicycle-riding guards will not let you stay a second longer. It's also closed on Mondays and Fridays. (see this Japan Guide article)

On the day of my trip, the sky was overcast, so the colorful fall foliage lost some of it photogenic lustre, but it was still a pretty sight.

I plan on taking the Imperial Palace tour next time. If someone has done that already, post a response here with your insights.

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The public square outside of the Nijubashi Bridge is huge and is home to many well manicured trees.

East Gardens Entrance Gate


Cluck liked the open spaces

NRT-Tokyo: Tsukiji Fish Market

On my last Narita layover, I walked down to the Tsukiji fish market. I had heard so much about it, and that it was on many 'must see in Tokyo' lists. The fish market opening is actually perfectly timed for a US visitor. It opens at around 3 am which is 3 pm for an East Coast US visitor. Face it, you'll really have to work hard to not be awake at this hour on our short layovers.

The Tuna auction, which I missed, starts at 5:20am. I heard that it was quite a sight, and I might try to catch it next time. Please post if you can add any info regarding the auction.

I decided to walk there which at 1.8 miles only took about 35 minutes at a leisurely pace. You could take the Ginza line, but it still involves a lot of walking and won't save you too much time.

It's easy to get there, but the lack of English street signs makes it a bit tougher. If you can, print out a map before you go. An iPhone may be a handy too. To walk there from the Intercontinental, I took the following route shown on the map below:


As big as this place is, you'd think that you'll have a huge sign saying "TSUKIJI FISH MARKET", but as far as I could tell, there wasn't any such sign. You'll have to go through one warehouse area that held produce items before getting to the heart of the fish market. So it kinda feels like you might be in the wrong spot, but fear not. Watch out for the turret trucks!

Once inside, just walk around and enjoy the sights, sounds and smells. The workers there won't pay much attention to you since they are very busy, but they are still friendly, and didn't mind having their picture after being asked.

Enjoy your tour!

Here are some of the shots I took:

Colorful Prawns

Octapus

Me

Fish Table

Warehouse

Turret trucks

Tuna

More Tuna

Carving up the tuna

Roe (fish eggs)

Crabs

Conch

NRT: Cluck Murdered!!

NARITA, JAPAN AP - A terrible tragedy occurred in Narita Japan on Sunday, June 13th. World famous actor and rubber chicken inpersonator 'Cluck' was brutally murdered at The Cage in Narita Japan. Cluck was initially reported missing, but a first sweep of the ultra classy karaoke bar revealed nothing. However, sadly his body was recovered moments later, savagely hacked into pieces. His head was never recovered, perhaps now a trophy for his murderer.

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A preliminary investigation attempting to find the perpetrator did not turn up any leads. However, in what was sadly to be Cluck's last photo, an unknown person posed with cluck and a bubbly Brit chick. This person, due to the look of disdain and jealousy in his face, is now considered a suspect. He is wanted for questioning but authorities have not been able to identify him.

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An attempt by fans to repair the famed latex icon failed, and he was promptly thereafter hoisted in tribute on a bottle of his favorite beer, Yebisu.

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A valiant worker at the cage offered her medical services in a last ditch effort to piece together Cluck, but that too was unsuccessful. It was decided that traveling as a 'FrankenCluck' would stain Cluck's revered worldwide image. He was laid to rest the next day. A cremation was planned, but after the first Narita Hilton Hotel fire alarm evacuation due toxic burning rubber fumes, that ceremony was promptly cancelled.

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Here are the rest of the shots from that fateful night.
As usual, the evening started off at the Jet Lag Club. The popcorn was exceptionally good today!


We had dinner at Ramen Bayashi. The soup again was awesome! Sal had the Ginger pork. Beth had fried rice. Excellent tastes all around!


And then it was off to The Cage for a wild night of Karoake. Little did we realize the somber tragedy that was to befall later that evening.
Opening Toasts

Doing it 'My Way'

A Lufthansa liebschen

Cluck's best James Dean

Cluck whispering the lyrics






Hey!

NRT: Flyer's Lounge

Stop on by the Flyer's Lounge for a great aviation themed getaway! The bar has the ambiance of a classic fighter pilot hangout, complete with chalk grafitti and aviation photos galore.

Apparently Flyer's has been a well known hangout for quite a while, but I happened to discover it quite by accident. On my visit to Papa's the other day, I noticed that on his little orientation map to find his place, it mentioned a bar called the Flyer's Lounge. Well, how could I pass up a name like that?

After dinner, I sauntered over and checked it out. I really liked what I saw and on my return layover (from Singapore) I talked my old buddy Steve Edgar into hanging out with me and grabbing the first cold pints of the night.

The prices were about average by Narita's standards. The TV's played continuous aviation related videos. There were a few crews in there already shooting down their watches, so be prepared with stories to tell...

Use the map below to guide your walk.

From the bus stop, take the overhead walkway and up a few escalators to get to the train station's street level. Exit the train station mostly straight ahead (maybe 20degrees left). Follow that road as it curves past the Japan Railway station and continue on it. The road is not as well lit as the other main drag, but it's a nice departure anyway. The Flyers Lounge is on the left marked by a street level lit white sign. Head on upstairs and enjoy!!

Tim

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A Toast!

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Bar Selection...

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Me and Steve