Rediscovering Chiba City on a day trip

In the early 2000s, I lived in Chiba City and commuted into Tokyo to work. My experience there was limited at that time due to my busy schedule. I appreciated the location's convenient access to Tokyo but needed more time and information to explore.

Two things that limited my understanding of the place were my then-low Japanese literacy and the need for more English language information about the region. Since the number of inbound tourists has soared, foreign language tourism information has increased dramatically.

So, in anticipation of a business trip there, I checked out Google Maps and the Visit Chiba website and chose some places in Chuo Ward to see.

I started at Chiba Station, recently renovated. It’s not too hard to navigate and fresh-looking. At the east exit, I noticed this massive interactive digital display identifying places of interest. It’s fun to play with.

I aimed for Chiba Park after reading Lyssays story about it and the Oga lotus which blooms there in June. April is far too early to see them so I plan to go again when they do. The park is lovely in April for the koinobori above the boating lake and the wisteria blooming.

After a stroll there, I took the Chiba Monorail back to Chiba Station and transferred to the line heading to Kencho-Mae Station. You get great views of the dense mix of towers and plazas floating over the city from the suspended monorail, the longest of its kind in the world.

At Kencho-Mae Station, I stopped at Hagoromo Park, a paved square in front of the prefectural government building. It’s not much to look at today but hints at the city’s history. A pine associated with a legend still stands there. From there, I walked to Inohana Park where the mock keep of Chiba Castle houses the city’s folk museum.

One of the guides at reception provided me with an English language pamphlet and another gave me a bilingual one on which to place the castle’s location stamp.

Some other places I gravitate to in Chiba City are Chiba Shrine, dedicated to the North Star, Myoken, and the Chiba City Museum of Art. The latter is close to the shrine and is a curious mix of modern and classic with a tower built over a heritage building.

I'm looking forward to my next visit to Chiba City to appreciate its quirks and charms.