Discover Chiba — From Naritasan Temple to Kamogawa Sea World

Chiba Prefecture is often overlooked by visitors rushing straight from Narita Airport into Tokyo — but it holds some of the most rewarding day trips in the Kanto region. From the 1,000-year-old Naritasan Shinshoji Temple just minutes from the airport, to the historic canal town of Sawara, the dramatic cliffs of Mt. Nokogiri, and family favourites like Kamogawa Sea World and Mother Farm, Chiba rewards travellers who take the time to explore beyond the capital. Below, Memory Travel has organised all 25 of our recommended Chiba attractions by region to help you plan your visit.

Near Narita Gateway to your Japan trip

1Naritasan Shinsho-ji Temple / Naritasan Omotesando Street

Naritasan Shinsho-ji Temple is the major temple of the Chisan school of Shingon sect of Buddhism, founded by Kancho Dai-sojo in 940. During the first three days of the new year, the temple attracts no less than 3 million people. Naritasan Omotesando Street, the main road, is lined with savory grilled eel that used to be served to the worshippers in the Edo period.

🕒 Open everyday 🎫 Free 📍 JR Narita Sta. (JO35) 10 min. walk · Keisei-Narita Sta. (KS40) 10 min. walk

2The Historic Town of Sawara

Sawara, which has learned the spirit of love for nature from the rich flow of the Tone River, and the sophistication from Edo (old Tokyo), honorably claimed the title of ‘Edo-Masari’ (better than Edo). It is valued as a ‘Live Town,’ retaining the atmosphere of those days.

🕒 Varies depending on the facilities 📍 JR Sawara Sta.

3Boso no Mura / Cosplay Annex

Boso no Mura is an interactive museum set in a splendid natural environment, with hands-on experience learning about changes in clothing, food, housing and culture from ancient times to today. Enjoy dressing up as a samurai or ninja! Reservations are required for groups of 5 or more.

🕒 Boso no Mura 9:00am-4:30pm · Cosplay Annex 9:00am-5:00pm 🎫 300 yen · Cosplay rental from 2,000 yen 📍 JR Ajiki Sta. 10 min. (get off at Boso no Mura bus stop)

4Sakura Castle Ruins Park

Sakura Castle Ruins Park is a historical park where the remains of the castle and moat from the Edo period still remain. You can enjoy the cherry blossoms in spring and the spectacular colors of ginkgo and maple trees in autumn.

🕒 Open everyday 🎫 Free 📍 JR Sakura Sta. (JO33) 10 min. · Keisei-Sakura Sta. (KS35) 20 min.

5Old Samurai Houses

Old Samurai Houses that were once the residences of samurai from the Sakura domain. These three restored samurai houses from the Edo period can help you know how life was like for the members of Japan’s ruling class.

🕒 9:00am-4:30pm. Mon, etc. 🎫 250 yen 📍 JR Sakura Sta. (JO33) 15 min. · Keisei-Sakura Sta. (KS35) 20 min.

6The Hotta Residence

Hotta Masatomo, former lord of Sakura, used to live in this residence after the Meiji Restoration. The entrance building, living room building, and other areas are collectively designated as nationally important cultural properties.

🕒 9:30am-4:30pm (last admission 4:00pm). Mon, etc. 🎫 350 yen 📍 JR Sakura Sta. (JO33) 20 min. · Keisei-Sakura Sta. (KS35) 22 min.

7Sakura Furusato Hiroba Square

The windmill by the side of Inbanuma Pond is a symbol of the relationship between Sakura City and the Netherlands. Enjoy tulips in April, fireworks and sunflowers in summer, and cosmos in autumn. *Closed for construction until end of March 2029.

🕒 Open everyday 🎫 Free 📍 Keisei-Sakura Sta. (KS35) 10 min. (get off at Furusato Hiroba bus stop)

8Iinuma Honke / Kinoene omoya

‘Iinuma Honke’ is a 300-year-old sake brewery famous for the brand ‘Kinoene Masamune.’ It offers a brewery tour on Saturdays Oct-Apr (reservation required). The renovated 300-year old folk house accommodates a restaurant in a traditional atmosphere.

🕒 11:00am-3:00pm (L.O. 1:30pm) · 5:00pm-9:00pm (L.O. 8:00pm). Closed Wed 📍 JR Minami-Shisui Sta. 10 min. · JR Shisui Sta. (JO34) / Keisei-Sakura Sta. (KS37) 10 min.

Greater Tokyo Chiba’s capital area

9Japanese Garden \”Mihama-en\”

Mihama-en is a Japanese garden of 1.8 hectares for both foreign visitors and local residents. Its style is a Chisen (pond and fountain) Kaiyu, where a pond is the center, and visitors can enjoy the change of four seasons by walking through the garden.

🕒 9:00am-5:00pm (last admission 4:30pm) 🎫 100 yen 📍 JR Kaihinmakuhari Sta. (JE14) 15 min.

10Funabashi H.C. Andersen Park

Funabashi Andersen Park is named after Hans Christian Andersen, born in Odense, Funabashi’s sister city. This vast park features more than 150 different flowers blooming all year. Tripadvisor ranked it third among Japan’s theme parks in 2015.

🕒 9:30am-4:00pm (varies by season). Mon, etc. 🎫 900 yen 📍 Keisei Matsudo Line Minato Sta. (KS76) 15 min. (Andersen Koen-mae bus stop)

11Shimizu Park

Shimizu Park is one of Japan’s most famous cherry blossom viewing spots, with fabulous flowers in every season and spectacular autumn leaves. Facilities include field athletics, camping, barbecue area, a pony ranch, ‘Aquaventure,’ and more.

🕒 Varies depending on the facilities 🎫 Varies depending on the season 📍 Tobu Urban Park Line Shimizu-koen Sta. (TD15) 10 min.

12Mitsui Outlet Park Makuhari

At just about 30 minutes by rapid train from Tokyo Station, Mitsui Outlet Park Makuhari is a popular shopping destination with about 130 shops, ranging from high-end brands and boutiques to sports and lifestyle goods.

🕒 Shops 10:00am-8:00pm (restaurants vary) 📍 JR Kaihinmakuhari Sta. (JE14) 1 min.

13AEON MALL Makuhari New City

One of Japan’s largest shopping malls, with over 280 shops, easily accessible from Tokyo! This complex is divided into four connected malls: The Grand Mall, Ekimae Mall, Pet Mall, and Active Mall.

🕒 Open everyday (Business hours vary among stores) 📍 JR Makuharihongo Sta. (JE13) 1 min.

Boso Hills Chiba’s richest nature

14Mother Farm

Mother Farm is located on Mt. Kano, with magnificent views of the Boso Peninsula, Tokyo Bay, and Mt. Fuji. Home to cows, horses, sheep and alpacas, with daily shows like the ‘Sheep Show’ and ‘Cow Milking Experience.’ Enjoy flower fields, a Ferris wheel, bungee jumping, jingisukan mutton, and seasonal fruit picking.

🕒 9:30am-4:30pm (varies by season) 🎫 1,800 yen 📍 JR Sanukimachi Sta. 25 min. · JR Kimitsu Sta. 35 min.

15Country Farm Tokyo German Village

Country Farm Tokyo German Village has a vast lawn to play freely, a grass skiing slope, a roller coaster and a kids’ zoo. Flowers color the village all year, and the winter illuminations (Nov-Mar) are very popular.

🕒 9:30am-5:00pm (varies by season) 🎫 Check website for details 📍 JR Sodegaura Sta. 30 min. · JR Chiba Sta. (JO28) 40 min.

16Oyama Senmaida (Rice Terraces)

Known as the closest rice terrace to Tokyo, this 3.2-hectare area spread over 375 fields in a staircase pattern is beautiful traditional landscape, chosen as one of ‘Japan’s 100 best terraced rice fields.’

🕒 9:00am-4:00pm. Tue 🎫 Free 📍 JR Awa-Kamogawa Sta. 30 min. (Oyama Senmaida-iriguchi bus stop)

17Shimizu Mountain Stream Park (Nomizo Falls and Kameiwa Cave)

Surrounded by rich nature, this park lets you enjoy natural scenery all year. With the right timing, a heart-shaped formation appears when sunlight shines through Kameiwa Cave and reflects off the water at the base of Nomizo Falls.

🕒 Open everyday 🎫 Free 📍 JR Kazusa-Kameyama Sta. 15 min.

Inner Coast Facing Tokyo Bay

18Mt. Nokogiri / Nihon-ji Temple

Mt. Nokogiri (329.4m) was once a quarry, with a saw-toothed shape giving it its name (‘saw’). The view from ‘Jigoku-nozoki’ near the top is thrilling. Nihon-ji Temple, built ~1,300 years ago, has the largest rock-carved Buddha statue (31m) and 1,500 stone Arhat figures.

🕒 9:00am-5:00pm (Ropeway) · 9:00am-4:00pm (Temple, varies) 🎫 1,200 yen (Ropeway) · 700 yen (Temple) 📍 JR Hamakanaya Sta. 10 min. · Ropeway Sanroku Sta. nearby

19Umihotaru Parking Area

Umihotaru is a rest area floating in Tokyo Bay, with shops offering Chiba specialties, sea-view restaurants and game centers. The view from the 5th floor deck is magnificent.

🕒 Open everyday (not available if road closed) 🎫 Free (toll fees apply for rental cars) 📍 JR Kisarazu Sta. 30 min.

20Shiroyama Park / Tateyama Castle

Shiroyama Park offers seasonal flowers including 500 cherry trees. On the hilltop is Tateyama Castle (Hakkenden Museum), once belonging to samurai general Satomi-shi in the Sengoku era. Halfway up is the Tateyama City Museum.

🕒 Museum 9:00am-4:45pm (admission until 4:30pm). Mon, etc. 🎫 400 yen (Castle + Main Museum Joint Ticket) 📍 JR Tateyama Sta. 10 min. (Shiroyama Koen-mae bus stop)

21Tokyo Wan Ferry

If visiting Boso Peninsula from Kanagawa, take a ferry! Crossing between Kurihama (Kanagawa) and Kanaya (Chiba), it offers spectacular views of Mt. Fuji and the Tokyo skyline.

🕒 Check website for details 🎫 1,100 yen (one way) 📍 JR Hamakanaya Sta. 8 min.

Pacific Coast Facing the Pacific Ocean

22Kamogawa Sea World

Overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Kamogawa Sea World offers shows by killer whales, dolphins, sea lions and belugas. The killer whale performance is especially powerful. The exhibition pavilion houses 800 species, 11,000 animals total.

🕒 9:00am-4:00pm (varies by day/season) 🎫 3,300 yen 📍 JR Awa-Kamogawa Sta. 10 min. (shuttle bus)

23Sammu Naruto Strawberry Trust Association

Sammu city is famous for strawberries (Jan-May). Along National Route 126 and Prefectural Routes 76 and 121, so many strawberry farms cluster together that the area is called ‘Strawberry Road.’

🕒 Varies by farm (check website). *Reservations required for tour buses 🎫 Varies by location 📍 JR Naruto Sta. 2-3 min. (varies by location)

24CHOSHI KAYAKS

Sea kayaking even beginners can enjoy. After a warmup and explanation session, paddle out to sea and see flocks of seabirds and dolphins leaping out of the water, plus the spectacular viewing spot of Byobugaura.

🕒 Check website for details 🎫 Check website for details 📍 JR Choshi Sta. 11 min. by bus (Chiba Kagakudaigaku Mama-mae stop) + 3 min. walk

25INUBOW TERASU TERRACE

A popular local spot right next to Inubosaki Lighthouse, with local specialty products, a café and bakery offering non-alcoholic cocktails and fresh bread. The 2nd-floor glass-walled terrace has spectacular ocean views.

🕒 10:00am-6:00pm. Open everyday 🎫 Free 📍 JR Choshi Sta. · Choshi Electric Railway Inubo Sta. (CD09) 7 min.