Travel to Narita: What to do on a layover in Japan

Missed connections are inconvenient, but you just gotta learn to make lemonade. When our Japan Airlines flight out of Ho Chi Minh City was delayed several hours, we inevitably missed our connection in Narita. This turned our layover into an overnighter. Initially, we contemplated buying a Narita Express ticket into Tokyo but soon learned Tokyo was not as 24/7 as New York City. We decided to stay put in Narita, opting for a short cab ride to downtown for a quick bite at McDonald’s. (I always like to see how other McDonald's from around the world differ in menu.)Instead, we entered an izakaya, which is best described as a Japanese pub, and did not regret our decision. We still tried to go to the McDonald’s afterwards but were turned away for having no yen. Protip: The McDonald’s in downtown Narita is cash only.The highlight of the night (and all my Japan trips) is stopping by a convenience store and picking up some onigiri, a rice ball wrapped in seaweed. Onigiri can be filled with all sorts of things (like plum, meat, or fish), but my absolute favorites are the spicy tuna and tuna with mayo. At about $1.50 USD a pop, they’re still my absolute favorite thing to eat in Japan. I’ve had onigiri made here in the U.S., and nothing compares.Have you had rice balls before? Which is your favorite?