International Garden Hotel Narita review: Absolutely worth going out of your way for

I really enjoyed my stay at the International Garden Hotel Narita. It’s super clean, super cheap, and the staff is incredibly friendly. The 7-Eleven in the lobby made it especially convenient (and delicious) as well.

Being labeled as an “airport hotel” a bit of a stretch however. There are many other hotels located closer to Narita Airport than this one is.

A detailed review of my one night stay at the International Garden Hotel Narita

Prior to this visit, I had stayed at two other Hotels around NRT. The Nikko Hotel Narita was nice. The Tobu Narita Hotel was even better. This time, I chose the Garden Hotel for the sole purpose of trying something different. I’m glad I did!

Location

The International Garden Hotel is located about 25 minutes northwest of Narita Airport. Complementary shuttle buses drop off and pick up from both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 at NRT once every 30 minutes in the mornings and evenings. It switches to a once hourly schedule mid day.

Garden hotel Narita shuttle bus picking up at terminal 2 NRT — The shuttle bus has arrived! What you can’t see in this picture is me resisting the urge to give this driver a huge thumbs up for showing up *exactly* on time. He punctual. AF.

Garden hotel Narita shuttle bus seats and interior

Scott riding the Garden hotel Narita shuttle bus

Exterior of the Garden Hotel Narita airport — Although this picture seems slightly out of order (because I arrived at night in complete darkness), it’s actually *in order* because I need to show you a picture of the exterior (that I took the following day) before I go inside. I know. Being a thorough hotel reviewer can be confusing sometimes.

Garden Hotel Narita main entrance — OK. Back to the regularly scheduled sequence of events (in the order in which they occurred).

The lobby (and checking in)

There will be no mistaking this for a budget hotel the moment you walk through the main entrance. It’s extremely basic, and modest. It’s clean. Very well-maintained. And it smells nice too.

Lobby of the Garden Hotel Narita — Still no sign of any “garden” yet, but I remain optimistic.

I arrived just after 8 PM, and there was a bit of a wait to get checked in at the reception desk. It wasn’t long though, and they had me on my way less than 10 minutes.

Garden Hotel Narita reception desk — Pondering the choices I’ve made in my life that have led me to this exact moment. If I could go back in time and tell nine-year-old me that one day I’d be counting the exact minutes it takes to get checked into budget airport hotels, would he believe me?

Waiting my turn to get checked into the Garden Hotel Narita — Hell yeah he would. As a matter fact, I think he would be very impressed that it only took 2 minutes and 17 seconds. *“Sounds like a rad hotel!”*

Restaurants (and food)

There’s no need to worry about grabbing a bite to eat before leaving the airport. Not only is there a full restaurant located in the lobby, there’s also a 7-Eleven convenience store which is open seven days a week 7 AM to 11 PM. Woohoo!

7-Eleven convenience store in the lobby of the Garden Hotel Narita — Of course there’s a 7-Eleven here in the lobby. God I love Japan.

Garden Hotel Narita lobby restaurant — There’s also a full-service sit down restaurant here in the lobby (for those of you who wouldn’t be caught dead eating convenience store hotdogs). I don’t speak Japanese, but I’m willing to bet that “縁日本日開催!” translates to “F*CK 7-ELEVEN!” in English.

Getting to my room

This is a very busy hotel with small elevators, so it’s going to require a bit of patience getting to your room if you arrive during a busy time.

Garden Hotel Narita elevator — That split second before the elevator closes when you wonder if you should’ve grabbed a 7-Eleven hotdog (or two) before heading up to your room.

Scott riding the elevator up to his room at the Garden Hotel Narita — *“Sh*t!”*

Garden Hotel Narita guest room hallway — The most excellent moment in the history of the world for an epic “hotdog in a hallway” comment, and I blew it.

Garden Hotel Narita room 7263 — Oh well. Room 7263 is mine for the (hotdogless) night.

Room overview

I reserved a standard room with a king bed for just $73(US). It was probably the best deal I ever got for a hotel room in my entire life. No joke! The room was large, very recently renovated, and very quiet. No complaints from me.

Walking into my room for the very first time at the Garden Hotel Narita — *“Konnichiwa?”* Even in Japan (one the safest places in the world), it doesn’t hurt to politely ask the axe murderer to show himself before he decapitates you.

Garden Hotel Narita room overview — No axe murderers thank goodness. Just a really (really) nice room.

Garden Hotel Narita room size — Is this nice, or what? I’m not even mad at myself about the hotdog thing anymore!

Garden Hotel Narita King bed — Everything about this room (even this king size bed) is really simple. And nice. Nicely simple. Simply nice.

Side table and chair in my room at the Garden Hotel Narita — The axe murderer chair (because I’m certainly not sharing a bed with him).

Refrigerator in my room at the Garden Hotel Narita — An in room refrigerator! Room for about 22 hotdogs I reckon. **Pro tip:** hit the 7-Eleven before going up to your room.

Bedside table in my room at the Garden Hotel Narita

Bedside table with telephone, notepad, alarm clock, and light control switches

Hot water and tea in my room at the Garden Hotel Narita — Little packages of tea (and a hot water maker) is provided, but you’re gonna have to go downstairs if you want real coffee (and hotdogs).

Closet with ironing board, iron, shelves, and slippers in my room at the Garden Hotel Narita — The contents of the closet. Laugh at me all you want for reviewing budget airport hotels, but you’re the one who scrolled this far.

Trying on the slippers in my room at the Garden Hotel Narita — My failed attempt at showing you the complementary slippers. The timing was a little off, but I promise you that they were comfortable!

The view

One of the benefits of being located so far away from the airport is the fact that the view from your room will be greener than most other hotels around NRT. I had a pretty nice view from my window.

View from my room at the Garden Hotel Narita — Aha! That looks like a garden to me, so I guess the whole “Garden Hotel” naming thing checks out after all.

View of the parking lot from my room at the Garden Hotel Narita — I wonder how close they were to naming this the “Employee Parking Lot Hotel”?

The bathroom

Stepping into the bathroom for the very first time was a very clear reminder of this being a budget hotel. It isn’t very pretty IMHO, but it sure is functional.

Bathroom in my room at the Garden Hotel Narita — This might look like a run of the mill budget hotel bathroom, but…

Japanese style toilet bidet controls in the bathroom in my room at the paste — …then you remember you’re in Japan, and that your butthole is mere minutes away from getting the five star treatment.

Bathroom vanity and mirror in my room at the Garden Hotel Narita — Speaking of buttholes… *“Hey guys! I’m a hotel reviewer!”*

Bathtub and shower in my room at the Garden Hotel Narita — You wanna take a shower? Or a bath? Do both if you’re so inclined.

Showerhead in the bathroom in my room at the Garden Hotel Narita

Spigot in the bathtub in my room at the Garden Hotel Narita

Complementary toothbrushes and toothpaste in my room at the Garden Hotel Narita — “The handle of this toothbrush contains 35% inedible rice.” I know! I wasn’t expecting the bathroom to be all that exciting either.

Soaps and lotions in my room at the Garden Hotel Narita — **Pro tip:** make sure you take the conditioner, shampoo, and body soap with you as you step into the shower. I didn’t think this far ahead, and it was a very long (and frigid) reach over to the vanity upon realizing my mistake.

Pros and cons of staying at the International Garden Hotel at Narita Airport

Of all the Narita Airport hotels I’ve stayed at so far, the Garden Hotel had the the nicest room. I just didn’t like how far away it was from the airport.

Pros

My room was very nice. Not only was it large, it looked to be recently renovated as well.
A 7-Eleven in the lobby. I repeat: A 7-ELEVEN IN THE LOBBY.
It’s an extremely quiet property located in a very quiet part of town.

Cons

The shuttle bus ride to and from the airport is a minimum of 25 minutes each way.
The entire property looks a bit dated. You’re not going to win any Instagram points by posting pictures from this place.

International Garden Hotel Narita review: Absolutely worth going out of your way for

A detailed review of my one night stay at the International Garden Hotel Narita