As I’ve written about a lot recently, Tokyo’s neighboring Chiba prefecture is one of the most impressive discovering of my latter-day travels in Japan. In spite of being literally across Tokyo Bay from the capital, it is replete with destinations most travelers don’t know exist.
Indeed, while the most convenient way to start discovering Chiba-ken is on a day trip, this is not your only option. There’s enough to do and see here that you can easily stay a night or two, even if you aren’t flying into or out of Narita Airport (its most famous destination).
Which is not to say my Chiba travel guide dictates what shape your trip will take. I’m simply here to inform and inspire you!
Where to Stay in Chiba
I’ve often found myself disappointed when it comes to Chiba hotels. Not in the hotels themselves, so much, but in their location. On a recent trip, I thought I might stay near the coast in Tateyama and enjoy a relaxed weekend. However, with the exception of a few overpriced resorts and shady Airbnb-style properties, there are not really any accommodations there (or most other places in Chiba, as such).
The good news is that if you can get past the idea of staying in Chiba City (or in Narita close to the airport), the quality and selection of hotels is much better. This is true whether you choose a business hotel in central Chiba (such as the Daiwa Roynet Hotel Chiba Ekimae) or stay near Narita Airport, where higher-end (if old and a bit unloved) properties like the Hotel Mystays Premier Narita are more the rule.
Where to Go in Chiba
Mt. Nokogiri
For my money, Mt. Nokogiri is the most attractive single destination in Chiba, whether you hike to the top from Hama-kanaya Station, or ride the Nokogiriyama Ropeway instead. Once you reach the top, you have both a Buddha and a Daikannon carved into stone, as well as views across Tokyo Bay, including of Mt. Fuji on clear days.
TIP: If you want a view not only of Fujisan but of Tokyo more broadly, go instead to i-Link, a free observation deck in Ichikawa City, about halfway between Tokyo Station and Chiba Station.
Sawara
Sawara, meanwhile, is a canal town whose architecture and general feel hearken back to the Edo period. It isn’t huge, but to me this is advantageous, since it means you can spend more time exploring, or head off to greener pastures. If you come in May or June, make sure to Suigo Sawara Ayame Park, where more than a million Japanese irises bloom.
Narita and Chiba cities
Another place I always recommending to your Chiba itinerary is Narita City—and not just if you want to take pictures of planes taking off from and landing at Narita Airport. The most notable attraction here is Narita-san, a sprawling temple that’s home to two pagodas and a number of other sacred sites. Chiba City itself is also home to the fascinating, “suspended” Chiba Urban Monorail.
Tateyama
After traveling from Tokyo to Chiba City, few travelers head all the way south to Tateyama. If you do, however, a few notable attractions await. These range from Tateyama Castle, to various city beaches where you can see Mt. Fuji on a clear day. If you come here in May, you can enjoy the so-called “Diamond Fuji” phenomenon at sunset, which attracts local photographers from all over the Tokyo area.
Choshi
Conversely, although Choshi is much farther from Fujisan than Tateyama, you can see the mountain from here on a very clear day. I’m talking specifically about at Byobugaura, a cliff formation that makes for an excellent sunset spot. Choshi City is also a great starting point for the various beaches you find along the east coast of Chiba-ken‘s Boso Peninsula.
How Long Do You Need in Chiba?
As I detailed in another recent post, Chiba makes for a fantastic day trip destination. In spite of being just as convenient to Tokyo as Nikko or Kamakura, the places to visit in Chiba are less hyped and therefore more unexpected. The only downfall of coming on a day trip? You usually have to choose one or two places. Chiba prefecture is simply too sprawling to see “everything” in one day.
Herein begins the discussion of how many days in Chiba you should spend. If you plan to try to go “everywhere” on the Boso Peninsula, I’d recommend between two and three days. With two days, you’ll want to make sure you rent a car in order to compensate for occasional infrastructural deficiencies. Spending three days in Chiba, meanwhile, more or less means you can get around exclusively using public transportation.
Other FAQ About Visiting Chiba Prefecture
Is Chiba, Japan worth visiting?
Chiba, Japan is definitely worth visiting, though you will need to decide where in sprawling Chiba prefecture you want to go. For some travelers, riding the train to Chiba City and enjoying the bizarre Chiba Urban Monorail is enough. Others will want to enjoy the heights of Mt. Nokogiri, or the coastal vibes of Tateyama or Choshi.
Why is Chiba famous?
Chiba is famous primarily for being home to Narita Airport, which is one of Japan’s main international gateways. However, it also offers many destinations that are impressive in their own right, including the castle city of Tateyama, the Mt. Nokogiri hiking trail and Sawara, a town whose canals hearken back to the Edo period.
Where is the best view of the Tokyo skyline?
The best view of the Tokyo skyline is actually not in Tokyo at all. Rather, it’s from i-Link, a free rooftop observation deck in Ichikawa City, Chiba. To get here, simply ride the JR Chuo-Sobu Line (make sure to take the local service) from Tokyo train stations like Shinjuku, Akihabara and Ryogoku.
The Bottom Line
I hope you’ve found my Chiba travel guide useful. Some of you are looking for an out-of-the-ordinary day trip from Tokyo, in which case someplace like Mt. Nokogiri might be the best option, particularly if you go by train instead of renting a car. In other instances, you might stay a night or two under the quirky suspended Monorail in Chiba city, and use your base there to explore southern Tateyama, eastern Choshi and everywhere in-between. Want personalized assistance integrating this underrated prefecture into your next trip? Commission a custom Japan itinerary, and let me figure out the finer details for you.
