A Small Ritual Before a Long Journey: Choosing to Shower at the Airport

Everyone spends their time at the airport differently.
Knowing they will be away from Japan for a while, many people likely head to a restaurant for one last taste of Japanese food or do some shopping for souvenirs.

My travels often take me to distant countries, including Turkey.
Part of it is the determination to visit far-off places while I still have the physical stamina to do so.
The flight times are long, and it is usually during the summer vacation season.
As a result, I am already sweating by the time I reach the airport.

By the time I finally arrive at the airport after transferring trains while dragging my carry-on case, my skin is already damp with sweat.
Even though a flight of over ten hours awaits me, I am already feeling a bit tired.
Being crammed into the cabin in such a state feels quite unsettling.

At one point, I learned that you can take a shower at the airport.
Washing off the sweat and feeling refreshed before boarding makes a world of difference in how I spend my time on the plane.
I felt that the fatigue of a long flight was already lighter before I even departed.

Since then, taking a shower at the airport has become my small ritual before traveling to distant places.

You might feel intimidated by the term 'shower room,' but all the necessary supplies are provided, so you won't have any trouble even if you arrive empty-handed.

Towels and amenities are provided, so you just need to show up as you are.

Note: While it seems there are shower and hot spring facilities at other airports besides Narita, I have only used the facilities at Narita Airport, so this information is specific to Narita Airport.

【Quick Memo on Facilities with Showers at Narita Airport】

☆Available before pre-departure procedures
【Shower Room】
・Terminal 1 (T1) Central Building 2F, before security check
7:00–20:00 (Last entry 19:30)
Usage fee is 1,500 yen for 30 minutes, and 750 yen for every 15 minutes thereafter
Note: Reservations not accepted

☆Available after departure procedures
【Refresh Room】
・Terminal 1 (T1) Central Building 3F (Area after departure procedures)
7:00–21:00 (Last entry 20:30)
・Terminal 2 (T2) Satellite 3F (Area after departure procedures)
7:00–21:30 (Last entry 21:00)
Note: A 'Refresh Room' is a nap room with a shower room that can be used after international departure immigration procedures
Usage fee is 3,000 yen for 1 hour for a single (1,500 yen for every 30 minutes thereafter) and 5,000 yen for a twin (2,500 yen for every 30 minutes thereafter)
Note: Reservations accepted

・Fully equipped with shampoo, body soap, towels, hair dryers, etc., so you can come empty-handed

・Terminal 2 also has showers inside a separate capsule hotel facility, with a price estimate of around 1,000 yen (please check with each facility for details)

・Terminal 3 has no facilities (please use Terminal 2 if needed)

I previously used the Refresh Room after finishing departure immigration.

My routine has become washing away all the dirt, makeup, and fatigue, and heading to the boarding gate feeling warm and refreshed.

When I head to the boarding gate feeling refreshed, the mood at the start of my trip changes in a mysterious way.
I feel that how I spend the following hours is different depending on whether I sit in my seat while still carrying the sweat of the day or if I sit down feeling completely fresh.

How do you spend your time at the airport?