Introduction to Chiba Prefecture
Chiba Prefecture is easily accessible from central Tokyo and has many popular day-trip tourist spots.
There are many recommended spots, from places to enjoy nature such as Mother Farm to popular theme parks.
Introducing some of Chiba’s unique gourmet foods and recommended sightseeing spots.Chiba Prefecture is easily accessible from central Tokyo and has many popular day-trip tourist spots.
There are many recommended spots, from places to enjoy nature such as Mother Farm to popular theme parks.
Introducing some of Chiba’s unique gourmet foods and recommended sightseeing spots.
Geographic location
Chiba Prefecture is located in the Tokyo metropolitan area and is easily accessible by train or car from central Tokyo. Facing the Pacific Ocean, the Boso Peninsula offers beautiful coastlines and scenic landscapes.
History
The history of Chiba Prefecture dates back to the Kofun period and was the setting for the Chiba clan and various warlords of the Warring States period. Chiba Castle, Sakura Castle, and other historical buildings convey the vestiges of this history.
Culture
Performing arts and museums flourish, and Buddhist temples such as Naritasan Shinshoji Temple are part of the culture. Local festivals are lively, and the pride of the Chiba people in their history is palpable.
Tourist attraction
Chiba Prefecture offers an abundance of sightseeing spots. From Hirosaki Castle and Shinshoji Temple to the beautiful coast of Boso, history and nature are in harmony.
Naritasan Shinshoji Temple
Naritasan Shinsho-ji Temple is one of the largest Buddhist temples in Japan, with beautiful architecture and a fascinating historical heritage.
Kamogawa Sea World
Kamogawa Sea World, a popular aquarium, is the first name that comes to mind when one thinks of the Boso Peninsula.The highlight is the orca performance with the magnificent Pacific Ocean in the background.
There are stores, restaurants, and a hot spring spa near the facility that can be used on a day trip, so it is recommended to enjoy them together.
Mother farm
An entertainment park where visitors can interact with a variety of animals such as sheep, cows, and alpacas, as well as seasonal flowers and plants.
On the expansive grounds, animal petting events are held daily, as well as seasonal taste picking such as strawberries and blueberries, an amusement park, bungee jumping, and other attractions for children and adults.
The ranch’s gourmet foods, such as soft-serve ice cream, which is a must when visiting the ranch, and Jingisukan, which has been popular since the establishment of the ranch, are excellent.
Umihotaru
Umihotaru is an offshore parking area on the Tokyo Bay Aqualine.
The 1st through 3rd floors are parking lots, the 4th floor is a shopping floor, and the 5th floor is a restaurant floor, with attractive facilities such as a footbath with a view of Tokyo Bay.
A wide selection of souvenirs is available, making it a good place to stop by during your trip.
Narita Yume Farm
In summer, beautiful sunflowers bloom all over the area, making it a popular spot for many generations to take pictures.
Visitors can experience various activities such as a trolley train, archery, and fishing.
It is a popular tourist spot as a playground where both children and adults can enjoy outdoor activities.
Naritasan Shinshoji Temple
Naritasan Shinshoji Temple is the head temple of the Chizan School of Shingon Buddhism.
It is a popular temple for Hatsumode, with many visitors coming from other prefectures.
In the precincts of the temple, you can also see nationally designated important cultural properties such as the three-story pagoda built in the Edo period (1603-1868).
There are also many stores along the approach to the temple, where visitors can enjoy souvenirs and gourmet food.
Yoro Valley
It embraces the famous Yoro Gorge hot springs, and is known for its azaleas and rape blossoms in the spring, river activities, fishing, and fireflies in the summer, and autumn foliage in the fall.
There are many places of interest in Yoro Valley, such as “Ozawamata Falls” and “Kobundo Cave”.The great nature, full of negative ions, is ideal for refreshing.
Kujukuri-hama
Kujukuri-hama, one of the largest sandy beaches in Japan, is located on the Pacific coast.
With easy access from the city center and many large beaches, the area is crowded with people in the summer.
When you visit, you must try the Kujukuri specialty, clams.
Food culture
Chiba’s culinary culture is a mix of fresh seafood and mountain produce, making the most of local ingredients. You can enjoy Kaisen-don (seafood rice bowl) and Boso beef.
Soy sauce and mirin
Chiba Prefecture is a major center of soy sauce production in Japan and boasts the nation’s No. 1 production volume. It is sold at roadside stations and is suitable as a souvenir.
Peanut
Approximately 80% of the peanuts produced in Japan come from Chiba Prefecture, with Yachimachi City leading the harvest. They are sold at various roadside stations in Chiba Prefecture and are also used in cookies and cakes.
Biwa (Japanese lute)
Chiba Prefecture is also known for its loquat production, ranking second only to Nagasaki Prefecture in terms of production value. The loquat produced in Chiba Prefecture is characterized by its large, fresh grapes, which are grown one by one in bags. In addition to the fruit, processed products such as jam and ice cream are also popular.
Namero・Sangayaki
Choshi Port, which has the largest domestic catch in Japan, lands a large number of sardines, mackerel, yellowtail, horse mackerel, and other fish. Among seafood dishes, “nameko”, a local dish from the coast of Chiba Prefecture, is one of the most well-known local dishes in Japan.
Namero is made by chopping horse mackerel, sardines, saury, etc., adding miso, green onion, ginger, etc., and beating it further. The word “Namero” is derived from the phrase “so delicious that it licks the plate. Sangayaki” is a dish of grilled abalone in its shell.
Katsuura Tantanmen
Soy sauce based soup with a focus on raayu. Onions are on top. Some chives and minced meat are also included. Despite its appearance, it is not that spicy, and even those who do not like spicy food can eat this ramen. Katsuura tantanmen was originally eaten by fishermen to warm their bodies after being cold at sea.
Takeoka-style ramen
Takeoka-style ramen utilizes dried noodles and the broth from the chashu (pork) stew as the ramen broth. It looks like a thick soy sauce ramen, but it is surprisingly light. Because it is based on the broth from the chashu pork, the flavor of the meat is concentrated in this delicious dish, making it easy to finish off the broth.
Activities
Chiba Prefecture offers a wide variety of activities.
Sea bathing
Chiba’s coastline is dotted with beautiful beaches where one can enjoy swimming and surfing.
Exploring the Boso Peninsula
Surrounded by nature, the Boso Peninsula offers hiking and sightseeing. Because it faces the sea, marine activities such as snorkeling, sap, diving, and surfing are popular.
Disney Resort
Chiba is home to the Tokyo Disney Resort, a popular tourist spot for families.
Baby carriage Experience
ATV experience is an experience of driving an ATV on mountain roads, grasslands, and sandy beaches. The thrill and exhilaration of driving on paths that are not easily traversed on foot is the attraction of this activity.
In the ATV experience, you usually drive the ATV yourself, but there are many tour plans that do not require a driver’s license, allowing those without a license to enjoy the experience without worry!
Circuit & Rental Kart Shop
Mobara Twin Circuit” is one of the most popular circuits in Japan and offers a wide variety of karts, from single-seaters and two-seaters to full-fledged machines suitable for experienced drivers. You can also enjoy time trials with friends.
Seasonal Recommendations
Chiba is a place where you can enjoy the changing faces of the four seasons. From cherry blossom viewing spots and summer sea bathing to autumn foliage spots and winter illumination, there is a wealth of activities recommended for each season.
Spring
Chiba has many cherry blossom viewing spots where you can feel the spring.
We especially recommend “Narita City Sakura-no-Yama”, which is located near Narita Airport and has been selected as one of the 100 best views in Chiba. It is a superb view spot where you can watch airplanes take off and land from under the cherry trees, and is well known by those in the know!
Another spot with beautiful cherry blossoms is Showa-no-mori Park, a vast park in Chiba City. The park is home to flowers, trees, and wild birds throughout the four seasons, and is especially famous in spring as a cherry blossom viewing spot where visitors can enjoy sitting on the grass.
Summer
Highlights include spots where you can enjoy summer sightseeing unique to Chiba, where many spots are close to the sea.
We recommend Maebaru Beach, where children and adults alike can enjoy the wide sandy beach and shallow areas, and Kujukuri Beach, where the magnificent nature created by the 66-km-long sandy beach and the sky is breathtaking.
Oyama Senmaida, with its beautiful old-fashioned terraced rice field scenery, is a place where nostalgic Japanese summers can still be enjoyed.
Autumn
Autumn is also the time for autumn leaves.
Yoro Gorge is a must-see spot for autumn foliage in Chiba. It is a beautiful spot with late autumn scenery that is at its best late in the Kanto region.
Naritasan Park also attracts many tourists for its autumn foliage. During this season, the beautiful autumn leaves reflected on the surface of the pond are intoxicating.
Winter
This is the season of illumination. Especially around Christmas, there are many spots to see!
Chiba Port Tower and Tokyo German Village will offer a romantic time. During the Christmas season, the Disney Resort offers a fantastic atmosphere.
Local Culture
Traditional agriculture and fishing are firmly rooted in Chiba Prefecture, and local festivals and events are held in a lively atmosphere. It is also a place where one can feel the warmth of the local people.
Kasori Shell Mound
The shell mounds were built between 4,000 and 5,000 years ago during the Jomon period, and consist of a doughnut-shaped northern shell mound with a diameter of 140 m and a horse-hoof-shaped southern shell mound with a diameter of 190 m. Around the shell mounds, traces of human life can still be seen. The area surrounding the shell mounds still shows signs of human habitation. Today, the area is maintained as the Kasori Shell Mound Jomon Ruins Park, and approximately 15.1 hectares have been designated as a Special National Historic Site.
Yagiri No Watashi
Ferry boats that ply between Shimoyagiri, Matsudo City, and Shibamata, Katsushika Ward, Tokyo, date back to the Edo period (1603-1868). At that time, there were strict regulations on entry and exit from Edo, but farmers who cultivated fields on both banks of the Edo River were able to come and go freely by boat. Today, the boats are open for sightseeing.
Sawara no Taisho Festival
The Sawara Grand Festival (Summer Festival and Autumn Festival) is designated as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage and a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Asset, and is known as one of the three major float festivals in Kanto, with a tradition of approximately 300 years.
Summer festival
The Summer Festival, a festival of Yasaka Shrine, features 10 floats pulled around the Honjyuku area, with the “Noji-mawashi” (a brave and spectacular kyokyokyokyokashi) and other performances performed on different days.
Usually, the festival is held on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays after July 10, from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. The pulling of the floats takes place over three days.
Fall festival
During the Autumn Festival (Suwa Shrine Autumn Festival), 14 floats are pulled around the west side of the Ono River. The festival is a great way to experience the town of Sawara, one of the three major music festivals in Japan, as the floats move through the streets of Sawara, Koedo, skimming the eaves of the houses as they go.
It is usually held on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday with the second Saturday in October as the middle day.
Narita Gion Festival
Naritasan and 10 gorgeous floats and stalls parade around the approach to Naritasan with lively sounds of musical accompaniment and vigorous shouts.
The event is usually held on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, most recently on July 7, 8, and 9.
Transportation
Access to Chiba Prefecture is very convenient, with Narita International Airport and the Tokyo Bay Aqua-line available. Trains and expressways are also well developed, making it easy to get to tourist centers.
Airplane
Narita International Airport is the gateway to Japan. Narita International Airport is the largest airport in Japan in terms of the number of passengers, the number of departing and arriving flights, the total number of destinations, the number of airlines that fly into and out of the airport, the number of airlines that use the airport as a hub, and the value of trade on international flights.
Railway
JR East, Keisei Electric Railway, and other private railways cover the Chiba area, and trains provide access from Narita International Airport to Tokyo and downtown Chiba.
Express Bus
Buses are also convenient for access to Chiba Prefecture. Buses are easily accessible from major neighboring cities such as Tokyo, Yokohama, Kawasaki, and Saitama. There are many buses in operation and they are very convenient. Narita Airport also provides access to urban areas and other major cities in Chiba Prefecture.
TYO-NRT [Official] Airport Bus Tokyo-Narita
Lastly
Chiba is a place packed with diverse attractions, fresh food, and seasonal delights. Chiba is one of the most attractive destinations for those who wish to enjoy Japanese culture and nature. We invite you to explore the charms of Chiba.