Chiba Living Guide: Best Cities & Popular Tourist Spots

Chiba Prefecture is located to the east of Tokyo and also borders Saitama and Ibaraki Prefectures. It is larger than Tokyo and Kanagawa Prefecture combined. The prefectural capital is Chiba. Being surrounded by the sea on the three sides, Chiba is a prefecture that is characterized by a warm oceanic climate.

Each region in Chiba has distinct characteristics, and the prefecture is well-balanced in all aspects of agriculture, fishery, industry, and commerce. In the northwestern part of the prefecture, residential development has grown due to easy access to Tokyo, and there are many large shopping malls and entertainment facilities, while the seaside area has many beaches, fishing towns, lush mountains, and beautiful coastlines. The area facing Tokyo Bay has thriving industries such as power plants and steel mills.

In this article, we will introduce Chiba, including some of the best cities to live, popular tourist spots, and other information that would be useful for those considering relocating or traveling to this prefecture.

Why People Love Chiba

Easy Access to Tokyo and More

Chiba is located next to Tokyo, making the capital of Japan easily accessible by car, train, and highway bus. Additionally, there is also 15.1 km Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line Expressway connecting Kisarazu in Chiba Prefecture with Kawasaki in Kanagawa Prefecture across Tokyo Bay, offering easy access to Kawasaki, Haneda Airport and central Tokyo.

Rich Nature

From Kujukuri Beach stretching for about 66 km to thrilling views from Mt. Nokogiri, Chiba is home to plenty of nature making it an incredible place to explore for outdoor enthusiasts.

Great Surf Spots

Chiba is home to some fantastic surf spots, including the venue of the surfing competition of Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games: Tsurigasaki Surfing Beach, which is located in the southern end of Kujukuri Beach.

Popular Theme Parks

Besides offering fantastic outdoor activities, Chiba is also home to popular theme parks such as Tokyo Disneyland, Tokyo DisneySea, and Country Farm Tokyo German Village.

Best Cities to Live in Chiba

Below, we will introduce some of the recommended cities to live in Chiba Prefecture.

Chiba - The Prefectural Capital and a Transportation Hub

Located about 40 km from Tokyo, Chiba is the prefectural capital and its most populated city. It is one of ordinance-designated cities in Japan as well as a transportation hub. By train, it takes about 38 minutes to reach Tokyo Station from Chiba Station. Chiba offers a convenience of living in a larger city while staying close to nature.

Key attractions: Chiba Port Tower, Chiba Zoological Park, Chiba City Museum of Science

Urayasu - Home to Tokyo Disney Resort

Urayasu is located in northwestern part of Chiba, next to Edogawa-ku in Tokyo, which is separated by a river. It offers fantastic access to Tokyo from stations such as Urayasu, Shin-Urayasu, and Maihama. Most of the city is a reclaimed land as a result of the works starting back in 1964. The city is most known as the home to Tokyo Disney Resort, which consists of Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea, as well as various hotels, etc.

Key attractions: Tokyo Disneyland, Tokyo DisneySea, Urayasu City Folk Museum

Funabashi - The Commercial Capital of Chiba

Funabashi is the second most populated city in Chiba and is often referred to as its commercial capital. It is conveniently located offering easy access to Tokyo and the prefectural capital. It would take approximately 30 minutes to reach Akihabara Station from Funabashi Station making it easy to visit Tokyo whenever you would like to. Furthermore, there are also many commercial facilities including LaLaport TOKYO-BAY, Ito-Yokado Funabashi, Tobu Department Store Funabashi, offering plenty of shopping options.

Key attractions: Funabashi H. C. Andersen Park, Oohi Jinja, Funabashi Sambanze Seaside Park

Kashiwa - Hometown of a J-League Professional Soccer Club

Kashiwa is located in the northwestern part of Chiba bordering Ibaraki. Both Tokyo and Ibaraki are easily reachable from Kashiwa. The city has various commercial facilities while offering access to nature. It is also known as the hometown of a J-League professional soccer club: Kashiwa Reysol.

Key attractions: Akebonoyama Agriculture Park, Kashiwanoha Park

Katsuura - Over 100 Years without Exceeding 35 Degrees Celsius

Surrounded by beautiful sea and mountains, Katsuura is a fantastic city for outdoor enthusiasts. The city has not experienced a temperature exceeding 35 degrees celsius for more than 100 years making it a pleasant place to stay during the summer. It also has mild winters. Katsuura is a great place to enjoy marine sports, eat seafood, and more.

Key attractions: Tomisaki Shrine, Katsuura UnderSea Park, Moriya Beach

Tateyama - A City of the Sea and Flowers

Tateyama boasts a coastline stretching for over 34 kilometers making it a perfect destination for those who enjoy beaches and marine activities. Furthermore, Tateyama has mild climate and is home to many beautiful flowers. With its rich nature and comfortable living environment, Tateyama is a great vacation and relocation destination.

Key attractions: Shiroyama Park, Daifukuji Temple (Gake Kannon), Boso Flower Line

Ichinomiya - A Famous Surf Town

Attracting around 600,000 surfers every year, Ichinomiya is a famous surf town situated in the southernmost part of Kujukuri Beach. It is most well-known for its Tsurigasaki Surfing Beach, which served as the site of the surfing competition for Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. The beach attracts many surfers, including professional athletes. Furthermore, there are many other great surf spots, making it possible to choose the one best suited to one's level and needs. It also offers an easy access to Tokyo.

Key attractions: Tsurigasaki Surfing Beach, Ichinomiya Beach

Access to Tokyo and Other Areas

Trains

While there is no Shinkansen train station in Chiba, there are JR, Tokyo Metro, Tsukuba Express, etc., trains connecting various areas of Tokyo and Chiba.

Airport

Chiba is home to Narita International Airport, which offers access to various destinations both domestically and internationally. Furthermore, Haneda Airport in Tokyo is also easy reachable making Chiba a fantastic place to live for everyone who flies frequently.

Highway Buses

There are various highway buses that connect Chiba and Tokyo. From Chiba, you can also use a highway bus to reach various places in Japan such as Aichi, Osaka, Kyoto, and more.

Popular Tourist Spots in Chiba

Tokyo Disney Resort

While Tokyo Disney Resort has Tokyo in its name, it is actually located in Chiba. There are two theme parks: Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea offering fantastic attractions, various eating establishments, and more. There is also Ikspiari, which features approximately 140 stores and restaurants as well as a cinema. Furthermore, Tokyo Disney Resort is also home to a number of hotels that will make for an unforgettable stay.
>> Tokyo Disney Resort

Country Farm Tokyo German Village

Country Farm Tokyo German Village is a popular theme park that will make you feel as if you are in a German countryside. It is also a popular place to enjoy seasonal flowers as well as winter illumination that creates a magical atmosphere.
>> Country Farm Tokyo German Village

Kamogawa Sea World

At Kamogawa Sea World, you can see approximately 11,000 sea and river animals that belong to around 800 species. There you can enjoy an orca performance with the Pacific Ocean in the background.
>> Kamogawa Sea World

Naritasan Shinshoji Temple

Naritasan Shinshoji Temple is a well-known temple located in Narita. During the first 3 days of the New Year, it attracts approximately 3 million visitors, making it a very popular temple for hatsumode.
>> Naritasan Shinshoji Temple

Mother Farm

Mother Farm is a popular spot to enjoy interacting with animals, viewing flowers, picking fruits, and more.
>> Mother Farm

Conclusion

With its fantastic nature, famous theme parks, various commercial facilities, and proximity to Tokyo, Chiba offers both a convenient environment for everyday life and plenty of leisure options for weekends. Whether you would like to live in a city with a great access to Tokyo or a place surrounded by beautiful nature, Chiba has something to offer to people of various lifestyles. Whether it is for relocation or vacation, Chiba is definitely worth considering.