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About
Chiba City Folk Museum (pseudo Chiba Castle)
Chiba is a prefecture in Japan which is "just to the right" (East) of Tokyo if looking down at a map (mainly the peninsula and some area to the north of the peninsula). Chiba is not well known by foreigners and or visited by tourists very much because it does not contain any of the most well known "Japan Destination" spots but Narita International Airport is in Chiba along with Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea. Most visitors to Japan will zip right through Chiba on their way from Narita Airport to Tokyo by train or bus but a small percent may stay at hotels around the airport for convenience or transfers. Although Chiba does not have "super famous" destinations, it does have some very interesting places to visit such as Sawara & Narita City and is very close to Tokyo if your looking for an interesting "day trip" out of the greater Tokyo metropolitan area.
Looking toward Chiba Station
By riding the "Sobu Line" (Rapid) from Tokyo Station you can reach the main "Chiba City" in about 40 min. From Chiba City you can head north and visit Boso No Mura or head deeper into the peninsula which has a few reconstructed castles, nature areas, temples and coastline. There is a "Pseudo Castle" near Chiba City (a couple stops from Chiba Station on the Chibatoshi Monorail) but it is not a real castle, it's a concrete reconstruction of a Japanese castle to mainly draw tourists. It is officially called the "Chiba City Folk Museum". Having said that, the castle does make for good photographs (see this page for various pictures of the castle) especially in cherry blossom season.
Chiba "upside down" monorail
In acient and Japan's "Feudal Times" the Chiba Peninsula and it's clans pretty much lived in their own little world. The Satomi Clan was the main clan that controlled Chiba for most of it's history but they were harassed and invaded by the northern Takeda Clan on multiple occasions. Finally the strong Hojo Clan that controlled area west of modern day Tokyo destroyed the Satomi Clan before the Hojo Clan itself was destroyed by the Tokugawa Shogunate forces. At one time the Chiba Peninsula contained many more Japanese castles but all were destroyed in the various conflicts, wars and orders of destruction when the Meiji Period began. If you would like to read more about one of the castles in Chiba, please view this Tateyama Castle Travel Log.
Access
Chiba City, the main city in Chiba Prefecture, can be easily reached by riding the Sobu Line rapid train. It takes approximately 45 min. and costs 640 yen (free if you have a Japan Rail Pass). The Sobu Line rapid train also has green cars which you can pay an extra fee of 770 yen and sit in a forward looking reclining chair (there is usually a "Green Car" ticket machine on the platform near the center of the platform where the green cars are located or you can purchase a green car ticket when you purchase your ticket). Those with Japan Rail Passes can sit in Limited Express Green cars for free.
Hotels & Lodging
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Area Map
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Attractions
Here is a list of some of the top Attractions in & nearby Chiba. View all Attractions in Chiba.
Naritasan
Hours: Always open
Cost: Free
Map: Google Map
Naritasan or the full name of Naritasan Shinshoji Temple (in Japanese; Naritasan Shinshouji, 成田山新勝寺) is a large Buddhist temple complex in Narita City close to Narita International Airport which is about an hour East of Tokyo. It is very popular with Japanese and foreign tourists alike... more details
Sawara and Little Edo
Hours: This is a Area, therefore each establishment has it's own hours but generally shops in Japan generally open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. while restaurants are generally open until 9:00 p.m. or 10:00 p.m.
Cost: Each establishment's cost is different.
Map: Google Map
Sawara is the name of the main train station in Katori City. It is about 70 kilometers from Tokyo in a northeastern direction in the prefecture of Chiba and only 15 kilometers from Narita International Airport. There is an area in Katori City (near Sawara Station) called the "Suigo District" which... more details
Katori Shrine
Hours: Always open
Cost: Free
Map: Google Map
Katori Shrine is a very important Shinto shrine in Chiba Japan as it is one of only three shrines given the label "Jingu" predating the Edo Era (the other two shrines are Ise Shrine and near by Kashima Shrine). A "Jingu" level ranked shrine protects the nation and appeases the gods. It is also the... more details
Kashima Shrine
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Cost: Free for the grounds. Treasure Exhibit - 15+: 300 yen, Under 13: 100 yen (free on Saturdays and Sundays)
Map: Google Map
Kashima Shrine or Kashima Jingu is a very important and powerful Shinto Shrine in Japan. It is located in Ibaraki Prefecture, North-East of Tokyo, and can be reached in about a 2 hours by train or direct bus. Kashima Shrine, along with Ise Grand Shrine and near by Katori Shrine, is one of only thr... more details
Kawamura Memorial DIC Museum of Art
Hours: 9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (last admission 4:30 p.m.)
Closed: Mondays (except national holidays, then closed next non-holiday), Year End and New Year Holidays. Also during exhibit changes.
Cost: 18+: Generally around 1,000 yen. | Under 18: Generally around 600 yen.
Map: Google Map
The Kawamura Memorial DIC Museum of Art is a "World Class" art museum in the city of Sakura out in Chiba Prefecture near Narita International Airport. Although the museum is is too far to walk to from any train station, there is a free shuttle bus from Sakura Station which will get you to the muse... more details
Boso No Mura
Hours: 9:00 am - 4:30 pm
Closed: Monday (Tuesday if Monday is Holiday)
Cost: Adult 300 yen, 0-14 & 65+ free, 15-22 150 yen
Map: Google Map
Boso No Mura is a Theme Park that reproduces a Japanese scenery, traditional local lifestyle and crafts from 150 years ago during the Boso / Edo area (including the Narita Airport area), 1603-1867. There are Samurai residences, and farmhouses, merchant houses and other buildings. At Bo... more details
