Like most foreign visitors to Japan, Chiba is a prefecture I only paid mind in one situation: When I was arriving at or departed from Narita Airport. And in recent years, as more and more international flights have moved to Haneda, I’ve been spending less and less time at Narita to begin with.
At the same time, I’m always on the lookout for new day trips from Tokyo. And as it turns out, Chiba-ken is a veritable travel treasure trove, whether you crave nature, history, cuisine or culture.
Indeed, while I’m presenting today’s post as a Chiba day trip itinerary, it’s really several travel plans in once. There are many different places you can see in Chiba when coming for the day from Tokyo—which will you choose?
How to Get to (and Around) Chiba Prefecture
How you take a Chiba day trip from Tokyo will depend upon which one you want to take. For instance, both Mt. Nokogiri and Tateyama are served by the JR Uchibo Line, which runs along the west coast of Chiba’s Boso Peninsula. To visit Choshi, on the other hand, you can take the JR Sobu Main Line, which connects in Chiba to the Tokyo-bound JR Chuo-Sobu Line.
Of course, there are a couple of tips that can make your life easier, no matter where you go. For example, if you need to go to Chiba City, pay the small extra amount required to take the Narita Express and have the comfort of an assigned seat. Or, if you think you might visit multiple destinations, consider renting a car to give yourself maximum flexibility.
What to Do On Your Chiba Day Trip
Climb a mountain—or take a shortcut
In my mind’s eye, I always assumed that I would hike to the top of Mt. Nokogiri, which overlooks Tokyo Bay—and, on a clear day, has a view of Mt. Fuji. In practice, I happily rode the Nokogiriyama Ropeway to the top, even if I walked for about an hour between the Daikannon and Buddha statues at the top. If you come here by train, ride the JR Uchibo Line from Chiba Station to Hama-kanaya.
Take a bite of namero
You simply can’t make the journey from Tokyo to Chiba without trying namero. It’s effectively a fish tartare, made by mixing chunks of raw fish with a miso paste that infuses the perfect amount of savory flavor into it. This is available many places throughout Chiba-ken, though I personally loved my lunch set at Fisherman’s Cuisine in Tateyama (more on that city in a moment).
Go back to the Edo period
When I told a Japanese friend of mine that I was visiting Sawara, they thought I had misspoken. “You must mean Sa-kura,” one insisted, referring to another inland town in Chiba, where there are tulip fields and an un-crowded bamboo forest. Sawara, for its part, is famous for its canal, where Edo-era buildings along the sides give the impression of a time long since past.
Discover Narita beyond the airport
It might sound silly to take a Chiba day trip and then go to Narita of all places. But Narita City is home to more than just the airport. Among other attractions Narita-san Temple is sprawling and pictusque, in a way that belies its closeness to one of Japan’s main international gateways. Plus it’s on the way from Chiba City (where I recommend stopping to see the “suspended” Chiba Urban Monorail) to Sawara.
Watch the sunset behind Mt. Fuji
Chiba’s Boso Peninsula is pretty far from Mt. Fuji, but it’s an OK vantage point for the mountain, at least on a clear day. Most people head south to Tateyama, whether at Tateyama Castle or from the beach, but there are other options. If it’s very clear, the Byobugaura Cliff of Choshi City in Chiba’s far east is a good bet. Otherwise, i-Link Observation Deck in Ichikawa City (which is halfway between Tokyo and Chiba) is my favorite Fujisan view.
Are There Good Beaches in Chiba?
Combing through posts written by expats living in Tokyo, you’d think that Chiba was a beach paradise. Certainly, the Boso Peninsula has miles and miles of unbroken beaches, especially on its east coast. You can see this when your plane is taking off from or landing at Narita Airport. The question is what these beaches are actually good for—the answer might not be what you’re expecting.
If I were making a day trip to Chiba, I wouldn’t do it to swim or surf. The sand is too dark for my taste, the water too brown. In my opinion, the beaches of the Izu Peninsula (and Shimoda in particular) are much more conducive to actually swimming. However, if you simply want to enjoy the beauty of a coastal scene, I’d say that Chiba’s beaches are fine, even if they won’t rock your socks.
Other FAQ About Visiting Chiba for the Day
Is Chiba worth a day trip?
Chiba is definitely worth a day trip, though I recommend setting your itinerary in advance. Although the Boso Peninsula might look small on the map, it’s much too big to see in a day. Generally, you’ll want to focus on one coast of it or the other, or instead of its interior alone.
Is Chiba good for tourists?
Chiba is good for tourists in the sense that it hides many unexpected and fulfilling destinations. However, compared to central Tokyo, you might find its infrastructure lacking. This is why I often recommend that travelers to Chiba rent a car.
How much does it cost from Tokyo to Chiba?
Taking an ordinary train from Tokyo Station to Chiba Station costs just ¥660. However, if your schedule allows for its, I recommend waiting for a Narita Express. This costs more—¥1,420—but affords you the comfort of a reserved, assigned seat, not to mention a much faster, nonstop journey.
The Bottom Line
I hope this Chiba day trip itinerary is both inspiring and useful. For many of you, it will be your first time hearing about places like scenic Mt. Nokogiri, Tateyama with its views of Mt. Fuji or Sawara, a village whose canals and Edo-era architecture hearken back to Tokyo’s distant past. Others might have a sense of where in Chiba-ken to get, but are simply unsure of how to prioritize each place or, once you to, how best to go about getting there from Tokyo. Need personalized help integrating Chiba in your next trip to Japan? Consider commissioning a custom Japan itinerary, and let me sweat the details for you.
