Chiba Prefecture stretches along Tokyo Bay and the Pacific Coast, offering visitors everything from the world-famous Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea to tranquil fishing villages, surf beaches, ancient temples, and Japan's busiest international gateway at Narita Airport. The prefecture blends urban convenience with rural charm, anchored by a cuisine scene built on ultra-fresh sashimi, peanut products, and the famous Katsuura morning fish market.
Top attractions
The most popular and significant attractions in Chiba.
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1
Tokyo Disneyland
Tokyo Disneyland was the first Disney park built outside the United States, opening in 1983 on reclaimed land in Urayasu. It follows the same World Bazaar-to-Cinderella Castle layout as the original Anaheim park, with themed lands including Westernland, Adventureland, and Tomorrowland. Despite the name, the park sits entirely within Chiba Prefecture rather than Tokyo, a short train ride from central Tokyo via the JR Keiyo Line to Maihama Station.
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2
Tokyo DisneySea
Tokyo DisneySea is unique among Disney parks worldwide, with no direct equivalent in the US or elsewhere, built around a nautical and exploration theme across seven ports including Mediterranean Harbor and Mysterious Island. It sits next to Tokyo Disneyland in Urayasu and skews toward a slightly older, more atmospheric audience than its neighbor, with more sit-down dining and immersive set design. The park is built around a central lagoon, and much of the appeal comes from wandering between the distinctly styled harbor areas rather than rushing between rides.
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3
Naritasan Shinshoji Temple
Naritasan Shinshoji is a major Shingon Buddhist temple founded in 940, located a short walk from Narita's old town and close to Narita International Airport. Its main hall enshrines a fire deity, Fudo Myoo, and the temple grounds include a large landscaped garden with ponds and a pagoda spread across a hillside behind the main buildings. Because of its proximity to the airport, it's a common stop for travelers with a layover, combined with a walk down Naritasan Omotesando, the old approach street lined with shops and eel restaurants.
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4
Nokogiriyama (Sawtooth Mountain)
Nokogiriyama is a mountain on the Boso Peninsula named for its jagged, saw-toothed ridgeline, formed by centuries of stone quarrying that left sheer cut cliffs on one side. The summit area belongs to Nihon-ji temple, a Buddhist site with a large seated Buddha carved into the rock and a cliff-edge viewing platform known as Jigoku Nozoki, or Hell's Peek, that overhangs the quarry drop. Most visitors reach the upper station by ropeway (cable car) from near Hama-Kanaya Station, then walk down through the temple grounds.
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5
Chiba Port Tower
Chiba Port Tower is an observation tower on the waterfront of Chiba City, built in the early 1980s near the port and Chiba Minato area. Its distinctive white lattice structure includes an observation deck with views over Tokyo Bay, the industrial port facilities, and on clear days toward the Boso hills. It's a modest, low-key attraction compared to Tokyo's towers, more suited to a quick stop than a dedicated half-day visit.
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6
Chiba Zoological Park
Chiba Zoological Park, located in Wakaba-ku, is a mid-sized municipal zoo known in Japan for its red pandas, which the zoo has bred successfully and used in public outreach for years. The grounds cover a range of habitats including a savanna-style area for giraffes and zebras, alongside more traditional enclosures for big cats and primates. It's more of a family day-out zoo than a headline destination, appealing mainly to visitors traveling with children or with a particular interest in the red panda program.
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7
Kujukuri Beach
Kujukuri Beach is a roughly 60-kilometer stretch of sandy coastline along Chiba's Pacific side, one of the longest continuous beaches in Japan. The name means "99 ri," an old unit of distance, reflecting its sweeping length rather than referring to a single beach spot. It's a well-known surfing destination due to consistent Pacific swell, with numerous surf shops and schools along the coast road, and is also used for open swimming in summer at designated sections.
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8
Choshi Fisherman's Wharf (Uotsuri Wharf)
Choshi Fisherman's Wharf sits at the mouth of the Tone River in Choshi, a city built around one of Japan's largest fishing ports. The wharf combines a market hall and casual seafood eateries where you can eat fish landed at the nearby port, reflecting Choshi's status as a major catch landing point, particularly for sardines and mackerel. It's a working-port kind of stop rather than a polished tourist market, useful for combining with a visit to Choshi's lighthouse or the Choshi Electric Railway.
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9
Oyama Senmaida Rice Terraces
This is a set of roughly 375 terraced rice paddies cut into a steep hillside above the coast near Kamogawa, one of the sites listed among Japan's official Top 100 Rice Terraces. Since the terraces are farmed under a 'tanada owner' scheme where outside supporters sponsor individual paddies, the fields are kept in active cultivation rather than being left as a static viewpoint.
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10
Yoro Valley (Yoro Keikoku)
Yoro Valley is a river gorge cut by the Yoro River through the hills of Otaki in Isumi District, with a marked hiking path that follows the water past a series of waterfalls, the best known being Zundo-no-taki. The trail includes footbridges and rock-cut passages, and the area has long operated small hot spring inns along the valley floor for visitors who want to combine the walk with a bath.
Attractions by category
Explore by your interests.
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Practical information
What you need to know before you go.
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Tips for visiting attractions
Make the most of your sightseeing time.
Buy Disney tickets at least 60 days in advance via the Tokyo Disney Resort app (tokyodisneyresort.jp). For Naritasan Temple, arrive before 9:00 to beat tour groups. Nokogiriyama cable car sells out on autumn weekends
arrive before 10:00 or take the hiking trail instead
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a JR Pass to travel around Chiba?
A JR Pass covers JR lines including the Keiyo Line (Disney), Sobu Line (Chiba City), and Narita Express. However, the Keisei Line to Narita and Choshi Electric Railway are not covered — pay separately.
Can I see Naritasan Temple and the airport on the same day?
Yes. The temple is 2 km from Narita Airport. Exit from Terminal 2 and take a 15-minute shuttle bus or a ¥700 (~$5) taxi.