Chiba Travel Guide, Japan

Chiba is the capital of Chiba prefecture, located in the Greater Tokyo area. In fact, Chiba is so close to Tokyo that it can be almost considered one of its suburbs. Chiba is one of the most important seaports in the Kanto region, and thus the economic center of the region, but there are also many attractive places that are guaranteed to make your holiday a pleasant one.

Chiba is not exactly a place where you’d want to spend an entire holiday, but if you have the opportunity to make daytrip from Tokyo to Chiba, you will find enchanting, more so for those interested in Japan’s fascination with the modern and the high-tech. You won’t find many historical temples in Chiba, but the impossibly modern urban paradise is worth taking a look at. This Chiba Travel Guide will offer you some tips about travel and accommodation options in the city.

Chiba Travel Guide - Transport

The easiest way to get to Chiba is from Tokyo. You can take the train or the underground train from Tokyo, as there are three different lines that run to Chiba several times a day. It takes about 40 minutes to reach Chiba by regular train, but if you take an express line, you can arrive in as little as 25 minutes. The length of the trip depends on which neighborhood of Tokyo you leave from.

If you are travelling by plane, the nearest airport to Chiba is Narita International Airport, and there is a direct express line linking Chiba to Narita. If you are travelling from other places in Japan to Chiba, you can easily find a train from Osaka, Kyoto and other cities to Tokyo. Getting around in Chiba is best done by the rather impressive suspended urban monorail, which is also one of the city’s most interesting sights. The monorail, the largest in the world, connects the port and Chiba Station, and then heads to the northeast and northwest.

Chiba Travel Guide - Accommodation

If you decide to spend a few days in Chiba, as opposed to a daytrip, there are several good hotels where you can lodge. If you have expensive tastes, this Chiba Travel Guide recommends the New Otani Makuhari Hotel, connected by a suspended bridge to Makuhari Messe, one of the most important convention centers in Japan. The hotel offers comfortable rooms with a practical design, and modern conveniences such as free internet, fitness area and a bar. For a lower-key hotel, you should check out Hotel Francs, close to the train station and the shopping district. The rooms are small but very clean and pleasant, and the staff does its best to make guests feel welcome.