Chiba Prefecture

Chiba Prefecture is a region where history, nature, and modern entertainment blend exquisitely. Encompassing the beautiful Boso Peninsula, this area can be described as a miniature version of Japan due to its scale and diversity.

Its history dates back to ancient and medieval Japan. During the Kamakura period, the Chiba clan prospered, giving birth to many historical sites. The prefecture is also dotted with nationally renowned ancient shrines and temples like Naritasan Shinshoji Temple and Chiba Shrine, offering deep insights into history and culture.

Chiba's rich natural environment is another major attraction. Its coastline features scenic beaches with white sand and clear waters, while its inland areas boast deep forests and beautiful mountains. The prefecture also offers numerous observation decks and hiking trails with views of Mount Fuji.

In terms of entertainment, Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea attract many tourists from both Japan and abroad. These theme parks offer year-round enjoyment for a full day of fun.

Regarding food, Chiba is known for its local fresh produce like peanuts and eggplants. The prefecture is also renowned for its locally brewed sake and craft beer, making it a notable region for dining experiences.

Top 3 Tourist Attractions in Chiba Prefecture

1. Naritasan Shinshoji Temple

● Attraction

Naritasan Shinshoji Temple is known for its magnificent nature and traditional Japanese architecture, making it a must-visit spot. The vast temple grounds feature beautiful gardens that showcase the beauty of nature in each season, with particularly stunning cherry blossoms in spring and autumn leaves. These natural sceneries bring peace and tranquility to visitors.

The architectural style of Naritasan Shinshoji Temple deeply reflects Japanese tradition, with its grandeur and intricately detailed decorations leaving a profound impression on tourists. Key buildings like the main hall and the great main hall symbolize the greatness of Japan's history and culture.

Visitors can spend quiet time in various parts of the temple, touching upon Japanese spirituality and aesthetics. Participating in cultural events and festivals held throughout the year offers a deeper experience of Japanese traditional culture. Events like the New Year's first visit and Setsubun Festival provide valuable opportunities to feel Japan's religious traditions and community bonds.

● History

Naritasan Shinshoji Temple is known for its long history and cultural significance, having been established in 940 AD. It is said to have been founded by Kobo Daishi Kukai and has significantly contributed to the development of Japanese Buddhism since then.

Especially during the Edo period, Naritasan Shinshoji Temple flourished, attracting many worshippers and pilgrims and becoming a religious center. Many buildings constructed during this period remain grand today, deeply moving visitors. The temple has experienced numerous political and social changes throughout Japanese history, reflecting those times' changes.

Particularly famous for its Goma ritual, many believers visit the temple for disaster prevention and wish fulfillment. This ritual holds a significant place in Japanese religious culture, providing spiritual support to many people over the years.

The history of Naritasan Shinshoji Temple is an indispensable element in understanding not only Japanese Buddhism but also the overall Japanese culture.

● Access

• Address: 1 Narita, Narita City, Chiba Prefecture 286-0023
• By car: About 20 minutes from Narita Airport. Parking available nearby.
• By train: About 15 minutes on foot from JR Narita Station or Keisei Narita Station.
• By bus: Direct buses available from Narita Airport to Naritasan Shinshoji Temple.
• Google Map: Naritasan Shinshoji Temple (Google Map link)
• Official Website: Naritasan Shinshoji Temple Official Site

2. Daifukuji Gake Kannon

● Attraction

Daifukuji Gake Kannon is known for its beauty and spiritual atmosphere, nestled in the cliffs of a mountain. It is said to bring benefits such as healing illnesses, bestowing wealth, and ensuring victory, attracting many believers and tourists. Inside the temple, visitors can admire beautiful ceiling paintings depicting plants from southern Boso, highly valued for their artistic worth. Also, the view of Tateyama Bay from in front of the temple is exceptionally striking and leaves a deep impression on visitors.

The most notable feature is the vermillion Kannon Hall, clinging to a sheer cliff. This hall, built to protect the main deity, the Eleven-Faced Kannon Bodhisattva, is an awe-inspiring display of architectural skill. The hall, harmoniously built along the rock face, captivates visitors with its balanced beauty and is often a subject for photography. The view from the Kannon Hall is spectacular, offering a breathtaking panorama of the town below and Tokyo Bay.​​

● History

The history of Daifukuji Gake Kannon dates back to 717 AD (the Yoro period). In that year, it is said that Gyoki, a Buddhist priest, carved the Eleven-Faced Kannon in the natural stone of the mountain for the safety and prosperous fishing of local fishermen. Later, Ennin (Jikaku Daishi), a monk of the Tendai sect, built the Kannon Hall, establishing the temple. The transition to the current Shingon sect is unclear, but during the Edo period, the temple was granted a superior status by the Edo shogunate.

Daifukuji Gake Kannon has overcome historical trials. It suffered from fires, heavy rains, and the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, but was rebuilt each time. Extensive renovation work, including seismic reinforcement, roof retiling, and repainting, was carried out from 2015, and the temple reopened for worship in July 2016. This historic place has been a subject of faith for many people over the years and continues to offer its historical value and beauty to visitors.

● Access

• Address: 299-1861 Chiba Prefecture, Futtsu City, Kanaya
• By car: Parking available nearby.
• By train: About 20 minutes by bus from JR Uchibo Line Futtsu Station.
• By bus: Buses available from Futtsu Station to Daifukuji.
• Google Map: Daifukuji Gake Kannon (Google Map link)
• Official Website: Daifukuji Gake Kannon Official Site
  

 

 

 

3. Suigo Sawara and the Small Edo Streetscape

● Attraction

The Suigo Sawara and the Small Edo streetscape flourished to the extent of being called "better than Edo" during the Edo period. The area, which developed as a relay base for Tone River water transportation, is known as the town where Ino Tadataka lived. The streetscape, centered around the river, retains the Edo period ambiance.

A 10-minute walk from Sawara Station leads to the Onogawa River, where the "Important Traditional Building Group Preservation District" is located, allowing visitors to enjoy the beautiful waterside streetscape. In this area, wooden townhouses and merchant houses line up, offering a scenic view worth seeing. The tranquil streetscape of Sawara provides unforgettable scenes for visitors.

This region, known for its impressive traditional buildings, including imposing merchant houses built in the storehouse style, is still active with businesses that continue family trades, earning it the nickname "the living streetscape." The former residence of Ino Tadataka is a nationally designated historic site, where visitors can freely tour the Edo period shop and main house. Models of surveying equipment used by Tadataka are displayed, symbolizing his legacy seen throughout the town.

The "Toyohashi" bridge in front of the former residence of Ino Tadataka, colloquially known as "Jaa Jaa Bridge," is a tourist attraction, with its water dropping sound every 30 minutes, selected as one of the "100 Sounds of Japan to be Preserved.

● History

The history of Sawara can be traced back to ancient times, notably during the unification of Japan by the Yamato imperial court. The Katori Shrine and Kashima Shrine were of paramount importance as eastern front bases, as evident from the 927 "Engishiki" registry, which uniquely designated these two shrines as "Jingu" (grand shrines), granting them superior status. In the past, the area north of Sawara opened into an inland sea known as "Katori-no-ura," serving as a crucial transportation and logistics route during ancient and medieval times. A document from 1368, "Kaiho no Chumon" (Order of Sea Masters) from the Katori Shrine, records the shrine's authority over sea masters.

Even during the medieval samurai society (the Chiba clan era), early Sawara was a rural village centered around Katori Shrine but later developed into a region with urban functions, including trade and industry.

During the Sengoku period, a regular market called "Rokusai-ichi" was permitted on the Shinjuku side, marking the transition from subsistence to a commodity economy. This trend accelerated in the Edo period, bringing significant changes to commerce and distribution. The 1742 "Sawara-mura Sanshuku Ichiba Mise-chin-sho-jō" (Sawara Village Three Inns Market Rent Records) indicates lively trade with 68 vendors in Kami-shuku market, 77 in Naka-shuku market, and 27 in Shimo-shuku market. The town organization, which had five groups during the Rokusai-ichi era, expanded to 11 neighborhood associations in Honshuku and 14 in Shinjuku by the mid-Edo period, essentially forming the current town structure. The prosperity was backed by the eastward shift of the Tone River water transportation and the vast production and consumption area, including the "Juroku-jima" islands. The local saying, "If you want to see Edo, go to Sawara; Sawara Honcho is better than Edo," spread widely. The interactions with Edo were not only economic but also cultural, leading to the development of festivals like the Yama-guruma festival and the emergence of scholars like Ino Tadataka.

In the modern era, Sawara, which thrived on boat transportation and commerce, continued to prosper into the Meiji era and beyond, maintaining its boom until around the 1960s when transportation shifted to automotive shipping. Subsequently, the town gradually declined and lost its commercial significance. Until around the 1960s, regional goods were collected and shipped from Sawara Station by boat and car. The peak of cargo handling at Sawara Station was in the Taisho era, surpassing nearby areas. The commercial sphere during this period covered a radius of 30 km from today's Narita City to Kashima City, encompassing about 300,000 people. The town's center was along the Katori Highway and the Onogawa River until around the 1960s, then shifted to the station area, and now has moved to the new urban areas along the national highway.

● Access

• • Address: Sawara, Katori City, Chiba Prefecture
  • By car: Parking available nearby.
  • By train: A few minutes' walk from JR Narita Line "Sawara Station."
  • By bus: City loop buses available from Sawara Station.
  • Google Map: Suigo Sawara and the Small Edo Streetscape (Google Map link)
  • Official Website: Suigo Sawara Tourism Association Official Site