Escape the Heat: Minamiboso City

The community I live in is wedged between the Tone and Edo Rivers, hence my handle. It’s a green and pleasant place with cooling summer winds from the river systems. The blue sky reflected on the rivers edged by willows is a lovely getaway from scorching temperatures. But it’s quite far from the ocean, about 80 kilometers from the coast. To get away, I gravitate to the southern Boso Peninsula.

It’s relatively easy to get to the southern Boso Peninsula by car from Tokyo via the Tokyo Bay Aqua Line that connects Kawasaki to Kisarazu. However, my train route took me from Chiba Station to Tomiura Station on the Uchibo Line which has lovely views of the countryside and Tokyo Bay.

The view of Tokyo Bay from Taibusamisaki Park

I’m not a driver, so I like to explore places on foot or by bicycle. Minamiboso’s beaches and forests are quite spread out, so either driving or cycling is recommended. Some cyclists bring their own ride to this cycling paradise, but I rely on Kurukuru Shararan, Minamiboso City’s bicycle rental network of ten stations. The city has mostly flat routes that hug the coast so you get cooling sea breezes that make the summer heat more tolerable.

My sturdy ride rented from one of the ten roadside stations

My base on my latest visit was Cape Taibusa Nature Park which has a resort hotel, campgrounds, and lovely views of Tokyo Bay. The park is on a promontory with a lookout tower, rocky cliffs, and even a meadow facing the water where you can picnic.

There are excellent beaches on this stretch of coast, too. Between the three-kilometer stretch of sand at Iwai beach near Iwai Station to Cape Taibusa, there are a dozen calm and shallow beach resorts which are good for paddling around. On the Pacific Ocean side, there are a handful of beaches with big waves that are good for surfing.

Award-winning roadside station Biwa Club for lunch and garden strolling

I spend most of my days rambling on a rented bicycle between the waterside cycling routes, forests, and the roadside stations for lunch. In the evenings, the sunsets are spectacular and depending on the weather conditions, you might get a glimpse of Mount Fuji across Tokyo Bay. After all that cycling, I like to unwind in an onsen. The last time I stayed, I relaxed in the hotel outdoor bath, but I'm scouting day onsens, many of which overlook the water, to soothe my muscles.