Given that such a temple is something I’d barely give a look at if I was in Thailand, it is perhaps a little strange that I made such a big effort to see one in Japan. However, this  temple is not only unique for being Thai but it’s also located in the middle of nowhere, and the difficulty in getting there made it an even more appealing destination for me back in early August.

I’m sure many might question the idea of a 7-8 hour round trip from Tokyo (including 2.5 hours walking!) just to see a Thai temple but this place has been on my bucket list ever since I came across it a few years ago just by scouring Google Maps. Admittedly, once I found out how remote it was it always seemed like too much effort to go there but I finally got round to visiting it a couple of months ago, and ultimately loved the adventure.

Wat Paknam is located in Chiba Prefecture to the east of Tokyo. It’s address may be in Narita but it’s 11 kilometres north of the international airport so it’s not like you could just pop out to see it if you had a spare few hours before a flight or whatever. Furthermore, there is no train station nearby and buses don’t seem to go anywhere near it either.

A car is obviously the best way to get there but without that option the only choice was to just walk for 75 minutes south of Namegawa station which is a couple of stops north of Narita station on the JR Narita Line. I thought the temple would probably come into view much sooner than it did but there really was no sight of it until the last minute when it suddenly appeared amidst the area of fields I was in at the time.

The walk to get there was almost double the length of what it took five years ago to go to a Taiwanese temple in Saitama Prefecture on foot. Typically there was a short downpour pretty much as soon as I stepped on the premises but thankfully it didn’t last more than a few minutes.

A short walk from the entrance took me to the temple which not surprisingly is the largest of its kind in Japan. It is surely one of very few Thai temples in the country.

What I was unaware of at the time was that the temple was covered by sheets and scaffolding earlier in the year for rennovation. I have no idea when it finished but am very grateful that it was completed before my efforts in visiting.

It was a quiet and comfortable place that I had all to myself. It’s certainly no tourist hotspot but is just an authentic temple and Thai community centre. This is just a branch of the main original temple in Bangkok which was established way back in 1610. By contrast, this one in Narita opened in 1997.

Across from the main temple hall was a smaller one housing a couple of sizeable golden statues which were quite splendid and did remind me of some of the beautiful ones in Bangkok itself.

There is a lovely little pond and garden just behind the temple offering a slight change in atmosphere.

I was actually just about to leave the temple grounds when I saw a couple arrive on the scene and enter the hall via the front door which I hadn’t tried as I never knew it was the main entrance! I followed them indoors but didn’t stay too long as I didn’t want to disturb their peace.

When I did leave I was very satisfied with what I had come to see and the adventure in getting there and back. I took the slightly more scenic route back to the station which was quite wonderful and I realised I had been to Narita and then seen a Thai temple without having to even step on a plane!

• Wat Paknam is located at 294-1 Nakano, Narita, Chiba-ken. It is open everyday from 8:00 am till 5:00 pm.

Click here to read ‘Tokyo Daytripper: Narita-San Shinshoji Temple (Chiba)’

Click here to read ‘The Japanese Town Which Has It’s Own Local Rail Line’

Click here to read ‘Tokyo Daytripper: The Twin (Water) Towers Of Sakura City’

Click here to read ‘Tokyo Daytripper: Sakura Tulip Festival (Chiba)’