Brazil
Antarctica
Argentina
Bolivia
Chile
Colombia
Ecuador
Guyana
French Guiana
Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
Paraguay
Peru
Suriname
Uruguay
Venezuela
Germany
Austria
Belgium
Croatia
Denmark
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Finland
France
Greece
the Netherlands
Hungary
Ireland
Iceland
Italy
Luxembourg
Norway
Poland
Portugal
the United Kingdom
the Czech Republic
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
Bermuda
Canada
the United States
Greenland
Mexico
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
the Dominican Republic
South Africa
Egypt
Australia
Fiji
New Zealand
Papua New Guinea
Province · Kanto
Chiba
Narita Airport and Naritasan Temple, the Boso Peninsula, Mount Nokogiri, Kujukuri beaches and the canals of Sawara.
In the photo: Daihondo Hall of Naritasan Shinshoji Temple, in Chiba.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
The province
Get to know Chiba
Chiba lies east of Tokyo and covers most of the Boso Peninsula, between Tokyo Bay and the Pacific. The climate is mild, and the prefecture is known for peanuts and fishing. Narita Airport, one of Japan’s main international gateways, is in northern Chiba, and the Tokyo Disney Resort, in Urayasu, sits by the bay.
A few minutes from the airport, the city of Narita has the Naritasan Shinsho-ji Temple, founded in the 10th century, with large halls, a colorful pagoda and a park with ponds. The street that leads to the temple has long-established shops and grilled eel restaurants; the visit fits into an afternoon on arrival or departure.
Sawara, now part of the city of Katori, preserves a merchant district along a canal, with storehouses and houses from the 18th and 19th centuries, toured in small boats. Nearby, Katori Shrine stands in a forest of ancient trees.
On the southern peninsula, Mount Nokogiri has quarry-cut rock faces, a large Buddha carved into the rock at Nihon-ji Temple and a cliffside viewpoint. The Pacific coast has Kujukuri Beach, about 60 km of sand, and surf spots such as Ichinomiya. The Aqua-Line, a bridge and tunnel under the bay, connects Kisarazu to Kawasaki.
When to go
The climate is mild year-round, and the southern peninsula has flowers as early as January and February. Beaches and surfing are busiest from July to September. April, May, October and November are good for hiking Mount Nokogiri and for strolling through Sawara, which holds festivals with decorated floats in July and October. In winter, the clear skies often reveal Mount Fuji on the far side of the bay.
Getting there
From Narita Airport (NRT), the Narita Express reaches Tokyo Station in about 1 hour, and the Keisei Skyliner reaches Ueno in about 45 minutes; there are also buses to various neighborhoods. Chiba city is about 40 minutes from Tokyo by JR. The southern peninsula is served by JR Uchibo and Sotobo line trains and by buses that cross the Aqua-Line.
Your questions
Frequently asked questions about Chiba
How do I get from Narita Airport to central Tokyo?
By train: take the Narita Express to Tokyo Station in about 1 hour, or the Keisei Skyliner to Ueno in about 45 minutes. Airport buses serve many districts. Ordinary Keisei trains cost less but take longer.
Can I visit Narita during a long layover?
Yes, if you can enter Japan: Naritasan Temple is about 10 minutes by train from the airport, and a visit including the temple street takes two to three hours. Allow time for immigration and return with a comfortable margin before boarding.
How do I get to Mount Nokogiri?
By train on the JR Uchibo Line to Hama-Kanaya Station and then by ropeway to the summit. Visitors arriving by bay can use the Kurihama ferry, from Kanagawa, to Kanaya.
What is there to see in Sawara?
The district along the Ono canal, with storehouses and old shops; the Ino Tadataka museum, dedicated to the cartographer who made Japan’s first accurate map; and boat trips along the canal. In July and October, festivals carry decorated floats through the streets.
Beyond the guide
