Important: Wikitravel is exploring a license upgrade to CC by-sa 3.0, please give your consent or refusal here.

From Wikitravel

Chiba (千葉; [1]) is the largest city in Chiba prefecture, Japan. Practically speaking, it can be considered a large suburb of Tokyo.

[edit] Understand

Ignored entirely or dismissed as "suburbia" by travel guides, Chiba is generally regarded as the most boring of the cities surrounding Tokyo. But, as William Gibson fans will know, there is one excellent reason for visiting Chiba, as the "Tokyo-Chiba urban sprawl" is where much of Neuromancer (ISBN 0441569595) is set:

In Japan, he'd known with a clenched and absolute certainty, he'd find his cure. In Chiba. Either in a registered clinic or in the shadowland of black medicine. Synonymous with implants, nerve-splicing, and microbionics, Chiba was a magnet for the Sprawl's techno-criminal subcultures...

As it happens, Gibson's dystopian cyberpunk visions are at times difficult to correlate with the reality of modern-day Chiba, but 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.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

The JR Narita Line links Chiba directly to Narita's international airport. 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.

[edit] By train

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).

[edit] By bus

Airport Limousine buses link Chiba to Haneda and Narita Airports.

[edit] Get around

[edit] By monorail

The two lines of the suspended Chiba Urban Monorail (千葉都市モノレール) [2], the world's longest suspended monorail and almost (but not quite) an attraction in themselves, connect the port (千葉みなと Chiba Minato) to Chiba station and then branch out to the northwest and northeast.

[edit][add listing] See

• Chiba Port Tower (千葉ポートタワー). [3]. 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 delightfully pathetic 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 (or with less than 3 eyes) for quite a while. Entry ¥410, open daily from 9 AM to 7 PM (or 9 PM in summer).
• Chiba Castle. A recent reconstruction, but it does look quite cool- just try to ignore the flourescent tubes inside!! It's about 5-10 minutes walk from the Kenchomae Chiba Urban Monorail staion.
• Aoba no Mori Koen (Blue Leaf Forest Park). Nothing too spectacular, but during the Sakura (Cherry blossom) season a nice place to get away from the concrete jungle. 10mins walk from the Keisei Chiba line station Chibadera.

[edit] Kaihin-Makuhari

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.

• Makuhari Messe (幕張メッセ). [4]. Also known as the Nippon Convention enter, this is the largest convention center in the Tokyo region.
• Sharp High-Technology Hall. Attractively packaged corporate propaganda. Free admission.
• Makuhari Techno Garden. 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.
• 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 [5] in August, drawing big-name musical acts from around the globe.
• Mitsui Outlet Shopping Mall(三井アウトレットショッピングモール)There are a lot of shops and it s really close from Kaihin-makuhari Station.You can buy many kind of clothes and items in here,cheeply because of outlet items.There are major brand shop such like COACH,EDWIN,NIKE and so on. In event seasons like Christmas,they have big sale and alot of people come to visit there and enjoy shopping.For all kind of people can enjoy it and also people who want to come to there with their pet,they can do it because some shops have special area for it and the pets also can enjoy the time.It s very popular among people.
• Costoco(コストコ幕張倉庫店)In Japan, there are few Costoco, and one of them is in Makuhari.The way to show the items is not so common in Japan,so many people are interested in it and visit there.If you want to enter the building, you have to make members card or come to there with the person who has member card.For some Japanese, the items are too big or too much, so people like to divide the items with others.To get there,you can take bus from Kaihin-makuhari Sta.It costs 100yen and takes 5minutes.
• Bay Town(幕張ベイタウン)To get here,you can take Heiwa Koutsu Bus or Keisei Bus from Kaihin-Makuhari and costs 150yen.The view of town is very modern and constructions are so colorful.It s not so common in these area,so some TVshows or Dramas in Japan use this town as location.You can buy the house and also lental it.

[edit][add listing] Do

• 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 As of October 2005, there's a new 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. Their new home should hopefully inspire a march further up the rankings. The stadium is less than 10mins walk from the West exit of Soga station.

• Baseball The Chiba Marines have as of recently been one of the stronger teams in the Pacific League. 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 Y1800. It is advisable not to get tickets in right field unless you want to be surrounded by overly jubilant fans.

[edit][add listing] Buy

• LaLaport (ららぽーと). [6]. Near Minami-Funabashi station. This claims to be Asia's biggest mall, featuring 2 department stores, 360 shops and an equal number of restaurants.
• Soga Harbor City. Brand new 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!. Grab a free shuttle bus from the West exit of Soga station.
• Surfing, Pacific coast of Chiba (Uchibo and Sotobo Lines/Car). Chiba is known as the mecca and more consisten areas for surfing in Japan. World Tour contests have been held at Katsuura and other areas of Kujyukuri coast. If traveling by train, one of the more convenient stops is Kamogawa. The beach is just minutes from the station, with surf shops, and plenty of hotels. If by car, explore the coast. Typhoon season is best.  edit

[edit][add listing] Eat

• 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 east exit.

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, so those restaurants are crowded. There is usually enough space.

[edit][add listing] Drink

• There is a good, gaijin friendly bar called "The Joint", which is about 15 mins 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 5mins 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.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

[edit] Get out

• Surrounding Chiba Prefecture offers an escape from technological utopia.
• Tokyo Disneyland, a stop on the railway between Tokyo and Chiba, offers a return to it.

Routes through Chiba

Tokyo/Sumida ← Tokyo/East ←

W  E

→ Yachimata → Choshi

This article is an outline and needs more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow!