Chiba Travel Essentials

Our Chiba Travel Essentials guide offers some basic details to help you get the most out of your holiday to this eastern Japanese prefecture. We’ll cover the local climate, emergency phone numbers, plug styles, currency and other details necessary for a memorable trip, like how to get to the region and travel efficiently once you’re there.

To truly immerse yourself in Chiba, it’s important to check out local events and landmarks in the area across the peninsula and by Tokyo Bay. When you take advantage of these unique attractions and festivals, it’s easy to enjoy your holiday to Chiba and the scenic Boso Peninsula.

1. When is the best time to travel to Chiba?

1. Temperatures in Chiba vary quite a bit depending on the time of year you visit, with summer offering an average of 27.5°C and winter averages around 6.1°C.
2. The rainy season in Chiba is predominantly in the late spring and early summer, with June being one of the rainiest months with 17.5 centimetres of precipitation. September and October are the rainiest. Both get more than 21 centimetres of rain on average.
3. Warm temperatures are prominent in August with highs of 31.5°C while July is fairly warm as well with average highs of 29.8°C.
4. If you’re looking for ideal weather, early spring tends to be the best time to visit, with comfortable temperatures in March and April. If you’re interested in avoiding crowds, the autumn is quite slow with suitable temperatures, albeit with quite a bit of rain.

2. Chiba basics

1. Plug type: Chiba, like the rest of Japan, uses type A and type B plugs, which means you’ll need an adapter for any UK plugs.
2. Electricity: The voltage is 100V at a standard frequency of 50/60 Hz.
3. Currency: Chiba uses the Japanese yen.
4. International dialling code: The international dialling code for all of Japan is +81.
5. Emergency telephone number: Call 110 for police and call 119 for fire, ambulance or emergency rescue.

3. How to get to my hotel in Chiba?

Chiba is located close to Tokyo, the busiest part of Japan, so you’ll find plenty of ways to get into town no matter where you’re coming from. Flying in can get you fairly close, and once you’re in the general area, trains, cars, taxis and buses can get you to your hotel specifically, so you’re free to choose your preference.

Airports

The main airport in Chiba is the Narita International Airport, which is also the busiest airport in Japan. It’s located right in the prefecture and only about 30 kilometres from Chiba City. A direct flight from Heathrow to Narita isn’t possible, but numerous 1-stop flights are available.

Major train stations

Several train stations exist in Chiba, and the entire area is well-connected to the rest of the country, being so close to Tokyo. One of the busiest and most prominent stations is the JR Chiba Station, which connects to Tokyo and various other Chiba destinations like Funabashi, Yotsukaido, Narita and Wakaba-ku. Just note that the southern part of the peninsula has mostly train lines by the western and eastern coasts, without much inland.

Ports

Travellers can reach the western coast of Chiba from Kurihama as a ferry travels between the city south of Yokohama and Chiba’s Kanaya district.

4. How to get around Chiba?

Travel tips

The rail network throughout Chiba is consistently one of the best ways to get around, and there are 2 ways to pay for a ticket. You can purchase an individual ticket for your destination or use a chargeable IC card. The latter is often preferred because they’re easy, convenient, and work for many bus lines and trains. Keep in mind that IC cards also work with private railways and Japan Railway lines.

Underground system

There is no underground in Chiba, but there are still plenty of rail lines. The train in Chiba city is virtually the opposite of an underground system. The Chiba Urban Monorail is a hanging train that travels over the city, while more traditional train lines can take you throughout the prefecture along the peninsula’s coasts.

Taxi and rideshare apps

Taxis are readily available in the region, though most congregate around Narita City, which is where the primary international airport is. Put simply, however, you can find a taxi in virtually every town in the area that can take you where you want to go. Rideshares are available in Chiba as well, including popular services like Uber.

Bus network

Several buses operate in Chiba, with a lot of them primarily around Chiba city and by Narita Airport. Buses like the Chiba Green Bus are also useful if you plan on going into the more rural areas that major train lines won’t reach.

Car hire

Any traveller who plans to travel to inland Chiba rather than limit their holiday to the coastline may want to hire a car. Car hire is available in locations like the city of Chiba and Narita, and the roads across the peninsula are well-maintained, leading to just about every destination. Parking is readily available, but it’s not always free. All you need to drive is an international driving permit and to be at least 18 years of age. Just keep in mind that the permit will need to be sourced in the UK before you travel to Japan.

Cycle hire

A bicycle is not suitable for exploring the entire prefecture, but individual cities like Chiba and Choushi City have plenty of bike lanes. Cycling is also popular for exploring some locations in the countryside like Minamiboso and Matsudo, both of which have bike hire available.

5. What are the main annual events in Chiba?

Narita Gion Matsuri

1. When: July
2. What: This festival features a parade and celebrations honouring the summer planting season and the Buddha Dainichi Nyorai. When you visit this festival, you’ll be met with impressive floats on the parade featuring talented musicians, enchanting dancers and vibrant costumes. Street food is abundant as well with grilled eel being the primary treat.
3. Where: Naritasan Temple

Summer Sonic Festival

1. When: August
2. What: At this festival, also known as Supersonic, mostly Japanese rock musicians and a few artists from other genres put on live performances in outdoor venues. It lasts 2 days and occurs simultaneously in Chiba and Osaka with the artists playing in Chiba one day playing in Osaka the other day and vice versa.
3. Where: Zozo Marine Stadium

Tokyo Game Show

1. When: September
2. What: The Tokyo Game Show is a convention centred around video games, showcasing upcoming titles and new hardware. While the entire convention lasts 4 days, the first 2 days are open only to industry insiders, but the general public is welcome the last 2 days to play new games, see demonstrations of software and hardware and even participate in gaming tournaments.
3. Where: Makuhari Messe International Exhibition Hall

6. What are the main landmarks in Chiba?

Myōken Hongū

Myōken Hongū or Chiba Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Ame-no-Minakanushi located in Chuo-ku, Chiba City. The temple was built more than 1,000 years ago as a Buddhist temple but was subsequently converted to a Shinto shrine. The main shrine building is open to the public, but you may also find fun exploring the smaller auxiliary shrines along with the shrine’s chozuya. The chozuya is especially impressive due to its durability, as it survived the bombing of Chiba in 1945.

Inohana

Inohana or Chiba Castle is a hilltop castle dating back to the early 12th century, though its current look involved extensive reconstruction in 1967. The castle was built and controlled by the Chiba clan for centuries, and the castle itself offers scenic views of the surrounding area since it was built upon towering cliffs.

Kashima Jingu Shrine

The Kashima Jingu Shrine is a stunning Shinto shrine dedicated to Takemikazuchi, one of the patron deities of martial arts. Because of this, several dojos for kenjutsu and kendo are located here. The shrine has a long association with Japanese swordsmanship, as it’s frequently visited by the legendary Tsukahara Bokuden and houses the Futsu-no-Mitama Sword, a national treasure.

Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea

Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea are stunning neighbouring theme parks in Urayasu with rides and attractions the entire family can enjoy. Tokyo Disneyland operates much like the iconic Disney parks in Florida and California in the United States, with themed sections like the World Bazaar, Tomorrowland and Toontown. At Tokyo DisneySea, travellers can enjoy several ports, with rides and attractions offering themed areas like the Arabian Coast, Mermaid Lagoon, the Mysterious Island and the Mediterranean Harbor.

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