Choshi and Sawara are home to tourist attractions such as the Tone River, Katori Jingu Shrine, and Inubozaki, tourist events such as the Setsubun Festival, Shinko Festival, and Otaue Festival, and local delicacies such as white gyoza, botan nabe, and sardine dishes.
Choshi is located in the northeast of Chiba Prefecture and is the easternmost point of the Kanto Plain. The Tone River flows to the north, and during the Edo period (1603-1867), the Tone River water transportation system was developed, leading to the brewing of soy sauce and the development of the fishing industry. Because Sawara is surrounded by the sea, the climate is humid and mild. Sawara developed as a water town, and even today, the old streets along the Ono River, called "Koedo," remain.
In Choshi, visitors can enjoy fresh fish dishes landed at Choshi Port. The taste of fresh tuna, flatfish, and horse mackerel is exceptional, and kaisendon, sushi, and boiled fish are standard menu items.
Many restaurants serve imobuta, Chiba Prefecture's brand name pork, and pork shabu, pork cutlets, and kakuni are popular. While most pigs are fed on corn, Imo pork is raised on sweet potatoes and tapioca. Characterized by its strong sweet taste, it is exported not only to Japan but also to other countries.
Sawara is home to a variety of restaurants, including long-established tsukudani shops, Japanese and Western-style restaurants.
Inubozaki, the easternmost point of Kanto, located in Choshi, is the earliest sunrise spot in Japan, except for mountain peaks and remote islands, and attracts many tourists early in the morning on New Year's Day. In summer, Kaikajima Beach, Nagasaki Beach, and Choshi Marina Beach are bathing spots.
For a relaxing view of the Pacific Ocean, Choshi Port Tower is the place to go. The observation room offers a 360-degree panoramic view. Enjoy the view of the Pacific Ocean, the mouth of Tone River, and Choshi Port. The Chikyu no Marukumieru Oka Observation Hall is located at the top of Mt. Atago, and from the observation space, visitors can experience the roundness of the earth.
The Sawara Grand Festival is held in the downtown area of Sawara, and floats with decorations of historical figures on the top are pulled around the city. This has continued since the Edo period (1603-1868) and was designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Asset in 2004. The Suigo Sawara Float Hall displays floats throughout the year.
Katori Jingu, the head shrine of Katori Jingu, one of the 400 shrines in Japan, is also visited by many Hatsumode visitors. A shuttle bus runs from Katori Station on the JR Narita Line during the Hatsumode season.
Katori Jingu Shrine is one of the most important and historic Shinto shrines in the Kanto region of Japan. Located in Katori City, Chiba Prefecture, the shrine has been closely associated with Japanese mythology, imperial history, warriors, and martial arts for centuries. The shrine is the head shr...»
Sawara Historic Townscape is a beautifully preserved historic district in Sawara, Katori City, Chiba Prefecture. Once a prosperous merchant town supported by river transportation, Sawara retains many traditional buildings and streetscapes dating from the Edo period through the early Showa period. B...»
Inubosaki Lighthouse stands at the tip of Inubosaki Cape in Choshi City, Chiba Prefecture, overlooking the vast Pacific Ocean. The cape has long been regarded as a difficult area for navigation because of its many small islands, rocks, and reefs. Completed in 1874, the lighthouse was designed by Br...»
Inubosaki Cape is a spectacular headland in Choshi City, Chiba Prefecture, projecting into the Pacific Ocean at the easternmost edge of the Kanto Plain. Surrounded by rugged coastline and open ocean, the cape is part of the Suigo-Tsukuba Quasi-National Park. The most recognizable landmark is Inubos...»
Suigo Sawara Iris Park is a municipal botanical garden located in Katori City, Chiba Prefecture. Situated at the gateway to the Suigo-Tsukuba Quasi-National Park, it is one of the area's best-known tourist attractions and offers visitors beautiful flowers, waterways, and traditional Japanese cultura...»
The Sawara Grand Festival is one of the most impressive traditional festivals in Chiba Prefecture. Held twice a year in the historic Sawara district of Katori City, the festival consists of two major celebrations: the Honjuku Gion Festival in July and the Shinjuku Autumn Festival in October. With m...»
Enpukuji Temple, also known as Iinuma Kannon, is a historic Buddhist temple in Choshi City, Chiba Prefecture. The temple belongs to an independent branch of the Shingon Buddhist tradition and has been an important center of worship in the region for approximately 1,300 years. Its mountain name is I...»
Nure Senbei is a distinctive type of Japanese rice cracker that originated in Choshi, Chiba Prefecture. Unlike traditional senbei, which are usually crisp and crunchy, nure senbei are known for their uniquely soft and moist texture. Also written as “Nure Senbei” or “Nure-Senbei,” these rice cracker...»
Byobugaura Cliffs are a spectacular series of sea cliffs stretching for approximately 10 kilometers along the Pacific coast from Choshi City to Asahi City in Chiba Prefecture. Rising dramatically above the ocean, the cliffs resemble the famous White Cliffs of Dover in England and are therefore often...»
A Charming Local Railway Full of Nostalgia The Choshi Electric Railway Line, commonly known as Choden, is a local railway in Choshi City, Chiba Prefecture. The line runs for approximately 6.4 kilometers, connecting Choshi Station with Tokawa Station in about 20 minutes. The entire railway is locat...»
A Historic Soy Sauce Town Shaped by Climate, Geography, and Water Transport Choshi, located at the easternmost edge of the Kanto Plain in northeastern Chiba Prefecture, is known for its beautiful coastline, fishing industry, and mild climate. The city is also famous throughout Japan for its traditi...»
Kozaki Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located in Kozaki Town, Katori District, Chiba Prefecture. The shrine was traditionally part of Shimousa Province and has been an important center of local worship for centuries. The principal deities enshrined here are Ame-no-Torifune-no-Mikoto, Ōnamuchi-n...»
Ino Tadataka Former Residence is a historic house in Sawara, Katori City, Chiba Prefecture, where the renowned Japanese surveyor and geographer Ino Tadataka lived during his years in Sawara. Ino Tadataka is famous for conducting detailed surveys throughout Japan and creating an exceptionally accura...»
Ino Tadataka Memorial Hall is a museum located in Katori City, Chiba Prefecture, dedicated to the life and achievements of Ino Tadataka, a pioneering Japanese surveyor and scholar of geography and astronomy who lived during the Edo period. Ino is famous for spending many years surveying Japan in de...»
Hankoji Temple, located in Iitaka, Sosa City, Chiba Prefecture, is a historic temple of the Nichiren school of Buddhism. Its mountain name is Myounzan. The temple is particularly famous as the former site of Iitaka Danrin, one of the most important centers of higher learning for Nichiren Buddhism i...»
Choshi Port Tower is a landmark in Kawaguchi-cho, Choshi City, Chiba Prefecture, and a symbol of the city's thriving fishing and seafood industries. Located beside Choshi Fishing Port, the tower forms the central part of the Choshi Fisheries Port Center together with the neighboring seafood market c...»
Natural rock oysters from the Iioka and Choshi areas of Chiba Prefecture are a special summer seafood known for their plump texture and rich flavor. Unlike cultivated Pacific oysters, which are generally associated with the winter season, these oysters belong to the rock oyster family and come into ...»
Shijimi clams are a local seafood specialty harvested from the Tone River, which flows through the Kanto region before reaching the Pacific Ocean at Choshi in Chiba Prefecture. The river provides a rich environment where shijimi can be harvested throughout the year. Among them, Choshi shijimi is pa...»
Enjoy the Natural Flavor of Pacific-Caught Yellowtail Yellowtail caught along the Pacific coast of Japan generally has less fat than yellowtail from the Sea of Japan. However, this lighter richness allows the natural umami flavor of the fish to stand out, while its firm, satisfying texture makes it...»
Enjoy Choshi Saury from November Onward Pacific saury is one of Japan’s most beloved flavors of autumn. In Japanese, it is written as “秋刀魚” (sanma), literally combining the characters for “autumn” and “swordfish.” The name reflects both its peak season in autumn and its long, slender body, which sh...»
Elegant Fat and Firm, Flavorful Flesh Choshi Tsuri Kinme is a premium variety of golden eye snapper (kinmedai) caught individually by handline off the coast of Choshi, Chiba Prefecture. Each fish is carefully brought in by fishermen one at a time, helping maintain its excellent condition and qualit...»
Discovering Local Sardine Cuisine in Chiba, a Major Fishing Region Chiba Prefecture is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and Tokyo Bay, while the Tone River also provides abundant water resources. Thanks to this favorable environment, fishing and aquaculture have long been important industries throug...»
A Distinctive Western-Style Landmark in Sawara's Historic Townscape Sawara Mitsubishi Hall is a historic brick building located in Sawara, Katori City, Chiba Prefecture. Designated as a Tangible Cultural Property of Chiba Prefecture, the building is one of the distinctive landmarks of Sawara's beau...»
Joyama Park is a scenic park located in the Omigawa area of Katori City, Chiba Prefecture. Known as a popular spot for cherry blossoms and azaleas, the park offers beautiful seasonal scenery throughout the year. Set on the Shimosa Plateau, the park combines lush natural surroundings with historical...»
Yasaka Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located in the Honjuku area of Sawara, Katori City, Chiba Prefecture. The shrine is particularly famous for its connection with the Sawara Grand Festival, one of the region's most important traditional festivals. The shrine was formerly classified as a Mura...»
Suigō Sawara Dashi Kaikan is an exhibition facility located within the grounds of Yasaka Shrine in Sawara, Katori City, Chiba Prefecture. The museum introduces the history and traditions of the Sawara Grand Festival and offers visitors an opportunity to see authentic festival floats throughout the y...»
Kaijōzan Myōfukuji Temple is a historic Buddhist temple located in Myōkenchō, Chōshi City, Chiba Prefecture. It belongs to the Nichiren school of Buddhism and has a history dating back to the late Kamakura period. The temple grounds are home to a Myōken Shrine dedicated to Myōken Bosatsu, and the p...»
Seaweed Konjac, locally known simply as “Kaiso”, is a traditional local dish passed down mainly in the Tōsō region of Chiba Prefecture, including the area around Chōshi City, as well as southeastern Ibaraki Prefecture. Made from fresh or dried seaweed and naturally set using the seaweed's own gelli...»
Katori City is located in northeastern Chiba Prefecture and is known as one of the three major cities in Japan associated with the atmosphere of “Koedo,” or “Little Edo.” The city developed as a prosperous commercial center supported by waterways and transportation routes. Katori is also recognized...»
Toyohashi Bridge is a historic bridge spanning the Ono River in Katori City, Chiba Prefecture. Locally, it is affectionately known as “Jaja-bashi,” a name inspired by the sound of water flowing down from the bridge. The distinctive sound of the falling water has become an important part of the loca...»
Chukei Bridge spans the Ono River in Katori City, Chiba Prefecture, and stands along Chiba Prefectural Route 55, also known as Katori Kaido. Located in the historic center of Sawara, the bridge is closely connected with the area's history and culture and has long been familiar to local residents....»
Oto Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located in Oto, Katori City, Chiba Prefecture. It is regarded as a sub-shrine of Katori Jingu and has long been deeply respected by the local community. The shrine has maintained a close historical relationship with Katori Jingu while preserving its own tradit...»
Suwa Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located in Shinjuku, Sawara, Katori City, Chiba Prefecture. It is closely associated with the famous Sawara Grand Festival, particularly the spectacular autumn festival held in the town. For centuries, the shrine has been worshipped as a guardian deity of the...»
Sobataka Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located in Okura, Katori City, Chiba Prefecture. It is regarded as the first and most important sub-shrine of Katori Jingu and has been closely connected with the famous shrine for centuries. There are several shrines in the lower Tone River region whose ...»
Kanpukuji Temple is a historic temple of the Buzan School of Shingon Buddhism located in Makino, Katori City, Chiba Prefecture. Its formal name is Myoko-zan Renge-in Kanpukuji, and its mountain name is Myoko-zan. Since the medieval period, the temple has received devoted patronage from the Chiba cl...»
Zennoji Temple is a historic temple of the Jodo School of Buddhism located in Ichinobunme, Katori City, Chiba Prefecture. Its mountain name is Nonakayama, and its formal name is Hoju-in, Zennoji Temple. For centuries, the temple has served as an important center of Buddhist faith for the local comm...»
Jisshoji Temple is a temple of the Nichiren school of Buddhism located in Karihage, Katori City, Chiba Prefecture. The temple's mountain name is Butsushozan, and its former head temple was Kokzenji Temple in Higashi Ward, Hiroshima City. Jisshoji Temple is particularly notable for the remains of To...»
Raikoji Temple is a temple of the Jodo Sect's Chinzei branch located in Kaizuka, Katori City, Chiba Prefecture. Its mountain name is Toko-zan, and its formal name is Hoju-in. The area surrounding the temple has a rich historical background, including the nearby Yoshifumi Shell Mound, which is design...»
Tachibana Fureai Park is a scenic park in Katori City, Chiba Prefecture, developed around the natural surroundings of Tachibana Pond, an agricultural irrigation reservoir. The spacious park features open lawns, wooded areas, recreational facilities, and a hands-on learning center, offering a variety...»
Kozaki Town is located in Katori District, Chiba Prefecture, and is part of the wider Narita metropolitan area. Situated along the Tone River, the town developed historically through river transportation and commerce. During the Edo period, brewing and fermentation industries flourished in Kozaki, ...»
Jinguji Temple is a temple of the Chisan School of Shingon Buddhism located in Namiki, Kozaki Town, Katori District, Chiba Prefecture. Its mountain name is Myohozan. The temple enshrines Amida Nyorai (Amitabha Buddha) and Juichimen Kannon (Eleven-Headed Kannon) as its principal Buddhist figures. Lo...»
Roadside Station Hakkō no Sato Kozaki is a roadside station in Kozaki Town, Katori District, Chiba Prefecture, dedicated to the region’s rich tradition of fermented foods. The facility showcases and sells a wide range of traditional Japanese fermented products, including sake, miso, and soy sauce, i...»
Tako Town is located in Katori District in northeastern Chiba Prefecture. Surrounded by fertile farmland, rivers, and a rich natural environment, the town has a long history closely connected with rice cultivation and local traditions. Tako is particularly well known for Tako Rice, a locally brande...»
Matsusaki Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located in Tako Town, Katori District, Chiba Prefecture. The shrine enshrines Ukanomitama no Mikoto, Ninigi no Mikoto, and Omiyanome no Mikoto as its principal deities and has been an important center of local faith for centuries. Traditionally believed ...»
Yasaka Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine in Tako Town, Katori District, Chiba Prefecture. Deeply connected with the local community, the shrine has long served as a guardian shrine for the area and remains an important part of Tako's traditional culture. The shrine is particularly famous as the ma...»
Jomyoji Temple is a historic Buddhist temple located in Tako Town, Katori District, Chiba Prefecture. It belongs to the Nichiren school of Buddhism and has Shaka Nyorai, the Buddha Shakyamuni, as its principal object of worship. Known by its mountain name, Hosshozan, Jomyoji is regarded as the olde...»
Nihonji Temple is a historic head temple of the Nichiren school of Buddhism in Tako Town, Katori District, Chiba Prefecture. Known by its mountain name, Shotozan, the temple has played an important role in the history of Nichiren Buddhism. Nihonji is particularly famous as one of the Three Great Bu...»
Myokoji Temple is a historic temple of the Nichiren school of Buddhism located in Tako Town, Katori District, Chiba Prefecture. The temple is known for its long history, valuable cultural properties, and especially its famous life-sized statue of Nichiren, traditionally known as the “Hige no Soshi,”...»
Tako Hikari Marshland is one of the largest natural wetlands in Chiba Prefecture, extending across Tako Town in Katori District and Yokoshibahikari Town in Sambu District. Covering approximately 24 hectares, the marshland supports a distinctive ecosystem and a remarkable variety of wetland plants an...»
Asahi City is located in northeastern Chiba Prefecture and is known for its beautiful natural scenery, long history, rich agricultural traditions, and diverse tourist attractions. It is approximately 80–90 kilometers from central Tokyo and about 50 kilometers from Chiba City, making it relatively ea...»