Chiba Prefecture
Where is Chiba?
Chiba Prefecture forms part of the Kanto region on Honshu, Japan’s largest island.
It borders Tokyo and Saitama Prefecture to the east and Ibaraki Prefecture to the north. The prefecture’s western coastline faces Tokyo Bay while the eastern coastline faces the Pacific Ocean.
The prefectural capital is Chiba City. A number of smaller cities and towns such as Funabashi, Sakura, Narita and Matsudo can be found across the prefecture.
What is Chiba known for?
Chiba is probably most well known as the location of Narita Airport, the largest international airport serving Tokyo.
The prefectures proximity to Tokyo means that a large proportion of the towns in the northwest of Chiba form part of the cities urban sprawl.
It is also known for heavy industry as the industrial zones on the shores of Tokyo Bay form one of the largest industrial areas in Japan.
Despite this, the area is also well known for its agricultural prowess as the prefectures farms produce more vegetables than any other in Japan. Chiba leads production of a number of crops including carrots, cabbage, peanuts, pears, tomato and spinach.
Where should I visit in Chiba?
The vast majority of visitors to Chiba Prefecture will spend their time in the prefecture at Narita Airport or on the train to Tokyo, but many of the cities and towns in Chiba are accessible as day trips from Tokyo.
The Kaihin-Makuhari area of Chiba City was designed as “city of the future” featuring a wide variety of malls, restaurants and office towers clad in white tile, glass and polished steel.
The town of Narita has a large number of well preserved wooden shops and winding streets. The main temple in the town, Naritasan Shinshoji Temple, is one of the most visited temples in Japan.
The Katsuura and Kamogawa areas on the Pacific coast are well known as great places to surf.
When is the best time to visit Chiba?
The best time to visit Chiba Prefecture will vary based on your reasons for visiting.
Spring (April to May) in Chiba brings mild temperatures and occasional rain showers. As with most areas of Japan, the cherry blossom season occurs in early-mid Spring.
Summer (June to August) is typically hot and humid and but frequent rain can be expected during the rainy season in June and July.
Autumn (September to November) also sees mild temperatures and a return to more comfortable humidty levels.
Winter (December to February) is milder than in many other areas of Japan and while snow may occur in mountainous areas it is rare near the coast.
As Chiba Prefecture is located on the Pacific coast of Japan, the coastal areas tend to have milder temperatures and higher humidity levels than the inland areas.
All Events in Chiba
Tokyo Auto Salon
Tokyo's largest car event with over 200 different exhibitors and 300,000 car fans attending over 3 days.
schedule 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
payments from ¥3000
schedule 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
payments from ¥3000
Narita Fireworks Festival
Since 2006 the Fireworks Festival in Narita City has been held yearly, with the festival honouring different important events.
schedule 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
payments FREE
schedule 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
payments FREE
Doge Day
Doge Day celebrates the life of the Internet famous Shiba Inu, Kabosu.
schedule ALL DAY
payments FREE
schedule ALL DAY
payments FREE
Tours and Activities in Chiba
None found.
Where should I stay in Chiba?
Choosing where to stay in Chiba prefecture will depend on your budget, itinerary, and the activities you wish to take part in during your visit.
Budget travelers visiting Chiba will be well served by hotels in the Chiba city area, near Narita Airport or in eastern Tokyo.
A wide selection of budget hotels such as Hotel LiVEMAX Chibaminato Ekimae and Toyoko Inn Narita Airport Honkan can be located close to train stations which are convenient for day trips or onward travel within Chiba.
Visitors seeking luxury hotels will find a large selection of five star hotels in eastern Tokyo such as the Mandarin Oriental and Capitol Hotel Tokyu.
Much of eastern Tokyo is under 25 miles from Chiba, and the area has easy access to the prefecture thanks to the train lines running between Chiba, Narita Airport and Tokyo.
When choosing accommodation, it is important to consider how the location relates to your travel itinerary.
For example, if you plan to explore the Pacific Coast, a hotel in in an area such as Katsuura like the Mikazuki Sea-Park Hotel would be more convenient than a hotel closer to Tokyo.
If you plan to visit attractions that are far apart, it can be beneficial (and often cost saving) to move accommodation frequently to make sure you can get to each attraction at the optimal time.
This can be a good idea for those travelling light, but it can also be possible for those with larger luggage with some pre-planning – such as arranging luggage transfers through companies like Yamato Transport.
How do I get to Chiba Prefecture?
Due to its proximity to Tokyo, Chiba is well served by public transport and the most convenient ways to reach the prefecture are by air or train.
For most international travelers, Narita Airport is the primary gateway not just to Chiba Prefecture but to Japan itself. Located near the town of Narita it offers both domestic and international flights.
From Narita Airport, you can take a local train or bus to reach various cities in Chiba.
For visitors already in Japan, the JR East train network connects directly to Tokyo, Saitama Prefecture and Iwate Prefecture.