Photos by Takahiro Takiguchi ()
As the summer heat picks up around Japan, you may wonder where you should go to enjoy this scorching season.
My wife and I (along with our car) recently took a 30-minute ferry boat ride from Yokosuka to the southern end of Chiba Peninsula, a spot known as a great one-day driving destination and home to picturesque landscapes, farms, parks, old castle towns and Japan’s largest stone-carved Buddha. What else can you ask for?
The Tokyo-wan Ferry connects the naval city of Yokosuka and Kanaya Town in Chiba Prefecture, and the short voyage gives you great views of busy Tokyo Bay and the city’s skyscrapers.
Driving through the Boso Flower Line around the top of Chiba Peninsula is fascinating. You can check out various seasonal flowers with a backdrop of the beautiful blue ocean while driving along a wide and less-crowded road.
Drop by Aloha Garden Tateyama on the Flower Line, as the large park featuring tropical flora and fauna accommodates an impressive flower garden and zoo, along with various restaurants, shops, event halls and a playground. You can touch and play with birds, ponies, swans and tortoises in the well-arranged and beautiful garden.
Kururi Town, an old castle town, is famous for its spring water. With pure, quality water, the town accommodates 20 wells and four sake breweries, which have been producing high-end alcohol for over 100 years. You can sample the different water at the wells around the town. Besides the water spots, the streets of this town are a trip back to old Japan. It is fun taking a stroll and dropping by some of the shops, breweries and eateries housed in traditional wooden buildings.
Southern Chiba gives you, in one day, a trip worth a couple of days, plus it’s easy to get to. So, get out of the house and take quick trip to this area blessed with cool breeze, beautiful flowers and rich history.
Tokyo-wan Ferry Website (Japanese)
Aloha Garden Tateyama Website
Kururi Town Website (Japanese)
