Chiba (千葉) is the largest city in Chiba prefecture, Japan. Practically speaking, it can be considered a large suburb of Tokyo.
Understand
[edit]The name "Chiba" may sound sexy to fans of martial artist Sonny Chiba (who actually hails from Fukuoka) or William Gibson's science fiction novels, since the "Tokyo-Chiba urban sprawl" is where much of Neuromancer (ISBN 0441569595) is set. Chiba is also where the anime Ore no Imouto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai (俺の妹がこんなに可愛いわけがない, lit. My Little Sister Can't Be This Cute) takes place, and you can see the Chiba Urban Monorail in the opening of the anime.
Alas, Gibson's dystopian cyberpunk visions are difficult to correlate with the reality of modern-day Chiba, which is mostly an unremarkable suburban city notably lacking in "techno-criminal subcultures". Still, the area still makes a reasonably interesting day trip from Tokyo if you have time to spare and prefer high technology toys over mouldering temples, and Oyumino has some nature trails for a spot of hiking.
Climate
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Tourist information site
[edit]The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site.
Get in
[edit]
Map of Chiba
By plane
[edit]The JR Narita Line links Chiba directly to Narita's international airport (NRT IATA). A few N'EX limited expresses stop at Chiba on their way to Tokyo, but usually the ordinary rapid service trains are a better bet.
By train
[edit]Train is the obvious means of arrival, as a dense web of routes links Chiba to Tokyo and points in the vicinity.
- The JR Sōbu Rapid Line (総武快速線) runs from Tokyo Station's underground platforms to Chiba station via Kinshichō and Tsudanuma. Rapid trains reach Chiba in approximately 40 minutes at a cost of ¥620; you have the option, especially during the evening rush, of shelling out an additional ¥810 for a reserved seat on a limited express train, which make the run to Chiba in as little as 25 minutes.
- The JR Chuō-Sōbu Local Line (中央・総武線「各駅停車」) runs directly across the Yamanote Line loop, via Shinjuku and Akihabara. Local trains take about 70 minutes to reach Chiba from Shinjuku on a regular service; this is shaved a little if you change to a Sobu Rapid train at Kinshicho. In either case the fare is ¥780.
- The JR Keiyō Line (京葉線) runs from Tokyo Station to Chiba Minato and Soga stations along the coast (45 minutes, ¥740), via Maihama (Tokyo Disneyland), Nishi-Funabashi and Kaihin-Makuhari.
- The private Keisei Chiba Line (京成千葉線) runs into Chiba-Chuō (千葉中央) station from Tsudanuma station on the Keisei Main Line (from Ueno and Nippori).
By bus
[edit]Airport Limousine buses link Chiba to Haneda and Narita Airports.
Get around
[edit]By monorail
[edit]The two lines of the suspended Chiba Urban Monorail (千葉都市モノレール), the world's longest suspended monorail, are an attraction in themselves, connecting the port (千葉みなと Chiba Minato) to Chiba station and then branching out to the northwest and northeast.
See
[edit]
- 1 Chiba Port Tower (千葉ポートタワー). 10 minutes on foot from monorail and Keiyo line Chiba Minato station. Towers like this are a fixture of any self-respecting Japanese city, and here the observation deck (112m) offers views of the surrounding industrial wastelands and container docks, at least for a kilometer or two until they fade off in the smog. There is also a curious display of stuffed fish mounted on sticks in a simulated ocean environment downstairs; the simulation is needed since heavily polluted Chiba Bay hasn't sustained anything above seaweed for quite a while. Entry ¥410, open daily from 9AM to 7PM (or 9PM in summer).
- 2 Chiba Castle (千葉城 chiba-jō ; 亥鼻城 inohana-jō) (about 5–10 minutes walk from the Kenchomae Chiba Urban Monorail station). A reconstruction, but it does look quite cool- just try to ignore the fluorescent tubes inside! It hosts the city Folk Museum.
- 3 Aoba no Mori Koen (青葉の森公園) (10mins walk from the Keisei Chiba line station Chibadera). (Green Leaf Forest Park). Nothing too spectacular, but during the Sakura (Cherry blossom) season a nice place to get away from the concrete jungle.
Kaihin-Makuhari
[edit]On the western outskirts of the city in Mihama Ward and accessible on the JR Keiyo line (Kaihin-Makuhari Station, 海浜幕張駅), this is a showcase "city of the future", similar to Tokyo's Odaiba but grander and more artificial in scope.
- 4 Makuhari Messe (幕張メッセ). Also known as the Nippon Convention Center, this is the largest convention center in the Tokyo region.
- 5 Makuhari Techno Garden (幕張テクノガーデン). An impressive complex of shopping malls, restaurants and office towers; white tile, glass and polished steel with atmospheric lighting and realistic plastic plants, with footsteps echoing in the quiet walkways and aerial bridges.
- 6 Chiba Marine Stadium (千葉マリンスタジアム). Home to the Chiba Lotte Marines baseball team. Its 30,000 seats also host events and converts, including the annual Summer Sonic Festival in August, drawing big-name musical acts from around the globe.
- 7 Mitsui Outlet Park Makuhari (三井アウトレットパーク 幕張) (close to the Kaihin-makuhari Station). There are lots of shops including such major brands as Coach, Edwin, Nike, and so on. During special events or holiday seasons like Christmas the sales draw large crowds. For people who want to enjoy shopping with their pets, some shops have special areas that pets can enjoy.
- Costco (コストコ幕張倉庫店) (take bus from Kaihin-makuhari or Shin-Narashino Station (¥100 and 5 min).). Japan has more than 30 Costcos, and one of them is in Makuhari. This way of displaying items is uncommon in Japan, so many people are interested in it and go there. Entering the building can be done without a membership card if entering at a busy time; the only time memberships are absolutely checked for is at the cash register. For some Japanese, the items are too big or too much, so people like to divide the items with others.
- 8 Bay Town (幕張ベイタウン) (Heiwa Koutsu Bus or Keisei Bus from Kaihin-Makuhari, ¥150). The view of town is very modern and constructions are very colorful. It's not so common in this area, so some TV shows in Japan use this town as a location. You can buy houses or rent them.
Oyumino
[edit]- Four seasons roads (四季の道) There are four nature trails named Spring Road, Summer Road, Autumn Road and Winter Road. If you go to Spring Road in spring, you can enjoy beautiful flowers and plants bloom in spring. Some people just walk through and some people jog in these roads.
- Sakura Park (さくら公園) is a park which has many beautiful cherry blossom trees.When spring comes, a lot of people come to enjoy seeing them.
- Izumiya park (泉谷公園) has fireflies in this park, but you cannot see them often because they have been protected carefully.
- Oyumi-cho fireworks festival (生実町花火大会) is one of the biggest festivals in Oyumi-cho and is held in August every year. About 3500 fireworks are launched, and countless viewers enjoy dancing and having traditional foods there.
- Rokutsu Temple (六通神社) was built in 1677 (the Edo era). At that time, many farmers tried to develop this area and building the temple was one of their activities. It is not so huge but has been loved by local people. In September 2007, Chiba was hit by a typhoon, and the temple was destroyed, but people living in the area decided to use the community chest for its restoration. Finally, it was repaired and reborn by local people. It has been a symbol of Oyumino and is still cherished.
Do
[edit]- Baseball Marines fans are considered to be the most enthusiastic in Japan, something immediately recognizable during the bottom of the first inning by fans of MLB ball. Also unique to Japanese ball, beer is sold primarily by young women dressed up in uniform carrying large tanks on their backs. Marine Stadium is located on the water, a 5-minute walk from Kaihin Makuhari station and tickets prices as of 2007 begin at ¥1800. It is advisable not to get tickets in right field unless you want to be surrounded by overly jubilant fans.
- Cinema There is a movie theatre right next to the Keisei Miramare Hotel, about a 10-minute walk from Chiba Station, that shows major first run western (mostly American) movies in English (with Japanese subtitles).
- Cruises heading (according to the brochure) "into the heart of the industrial port area" are available from Chiba Port. No signs of Gibson's shoals of styrofoam though.
- Football There's a stadium in Soga- take the Uchibo or Sotobo line from Chiba, only 2 stops- which will be home to JEF United, one of the most exciting teams in the JLeague. The stadium is less than a 10-min walk from the West exit of Soga station.
Oyumino
[edit]- Aeon Town Oyumino (イオンタウンおゆみ野). has countless shops, restaurants and big movie theaters. From kids to elder people, all generations can have a fun here.
- Karaoke Arthur (カラオケアーサー) (3-min walk from JR Kamatori station). The atmosphere of this karaoke parlor is like Ancient Greece and Rome. You can enjoy Karaoke, a Japanese young culture. First, choose one song from song lists (Western songs are popular). Then, you are supposed to sing like a singer with the recorded music. If you have never been to karaoke before, try this in Japan.
Buy
[edit]- 1 SOGO Chiba (そごう千葉店), 1000, Shinmachi, Chuo-ku (near Keisei-chiba station.), ☏ +81 43-245-2111. A department store.
- Harbor City Soga (ハーバーシティ蘇我) (take free shuttle bus from the West exit of Soga station). Retail development with a huge Ito Yokado and adjoining Ario shopping mall, equally huge Homes home centre and The Culture Walk with cinema, bathhouse and other attractions. Now Chiba-ites don't need to go all the way to Tokyo or Funabashi to spend their hard earned yen!
Eat
[edit]- Around Chiba station There's no shortage of places to eat in the vicinity of the central station. If sushi is your thing, head for the restaurant in Perie, the underground mall beneath the station area. Just go down the stairs immediately in front of the ticket gates at the station's east exit.
- The Chiba Station building is a good spot to eat pasta, sweets, and so on. If you want to eat lunch, you will find many restaurants on C1 street. For example, there is a steak restaurant, Hokaben (a Japanese bento shop), Goemon (a pasta restaurant), and Sukiya (Japanese meat dish on rice). On Sunday, a lot of people come to the area, so the restaurants are crowded. However, there is usually enough space.
- Western Food There are several western-style restaurants in and nearby Chiba for Americans who are feeling a little homesick and need a break from the excellent Japanese food found in Chiba. Many nonchain restaurants that purport to have Western food will be a disappointment to Americans. One such example is Upper Float, near Chiba Station, which bills itself as a Mexican restaurant, but is not at all authentic to Mexican or Tex-Mex food. It does have serviceable margaritas, and is a popular hangout for expats - mostly British and Australian male English teachers in their 20s and early 30s, and the Japanese women who come there to meet them. The best bet for a full-service American restaurant is Outback Steakhouse, in Kaihin-Makuhari. They have menus in English, and the atmosphere and food is exactly like that found in an American Outback Steakhouse.
- Costco. Just like everywhere else they operate, Costco's hot dog and soda combo is the cheapest meal in the area. Here it's ¥180. Alternatively, if you have a membership card, go inside and buy some fresh sushi- ¥1200 here gets you eight nigiri and eight maki pieces, four each of salmon and tuna.
Oyumino
[edit]- Big Texas Oyumino (ビッグテキサスおゆみ野店), ☏ +81 43-292-7336. The atmosphere of this restaurant is imaged like Western America. You can have gorgeous, wonderful and tasty steaks and hamburger steaks there.
- Leaf Dinning (リーフ ダイニング), ☏ +81 43-293-5862. 3 min from Oyumino station, this is a casual European food restaurant in Oyumino. You can feel as if you were at home because of the atmosphere.
Drink
[edit]- There is a fun gaijin-friendly bar/dance club called Ocean Deep 5 min from Chiba Station. You will see the blue neon lights reading Ocean Deep when exiting the train. Different theme every night from belly dancing, salsa, and DJs costume parties. Good food and a vast variety of special drinks.
- There is a good, gaijin-friendly bar called "The Joint", which is about 15 min from Chiba Station. During the football season you can catch live Premiership games and there is usually a DJ playing something funky. They serve actual pints if you drink Kilkenny- a real breath of fresh air compared to the usual nama biru served in every izakaya.
- On the 22nd floor of the Sen (1000) City Tower (about 5 min from JR Chiba) there is an izakaya called Amataro. It's a chain, so don't expect anything unusual in terms of food or drink, but the high level offers a nice view of Chiba city.
Oyumino
[edit]- Anchor Down, ☏ +81 43-291-8477. Beyond a long counter (table), there are more than 500 types of foreign alcohols in this shop. Refined, mature and elegant adults love to drink here.
Sleep
[edit]- 1 APA Hotel (アパホテル). A business hotel chain near Chiba Station. Singles from ¥4700.
- 2 LiVEMAX Chibaminato Ekimae Hotel (ホテルリブマックス千葉). A small business hotel. One of the cheapest hotel options in the city. Rooms from ¥3500.
Go next
[edit]- Surrounding Chiba Prefecture offers an escape from technological utopia.
- Tokyo Disneyland Resort, a stop on the railway between Tokyo and Chiba, offers a return to it. Take the JR Musashino Line or JR Keiyo Line. Get off at JR Maihama Station (South Exit).
| Routes through Chiba |
| Tokyo ← Ichikawa ← Funabashi ← | W  E |
→ Yachimata → Choshi |
| Funabashi ← Tsudanuma ← Makuhari Hongo ← | W  E |
→ END |
| Keisei Funabashi ← Tsudanuma ← Makuhari Hongo ← | W  E |
→ END |
| Tokyo ← Ichikawa ← Makuhari ← | W  E |
→ Narita → Itako |
Kinshicho ← into  ← Shinozaki ← Funabashi ← |
W  E |
→ into  |
into  ← |
W  E |
→ Togane → into  |
| into ← |
W  S |
→ Kisarazu → into  → Minami Boso |
| Kashiwa ← Funabashi ← Yachiyo ← | W  S |
→ Ichihara → Kisarazu |