One Maybe Two Summer Evenings at Inage Seaside Park

When you want to go and see the beach whether you would like to go for a dip or just to witness the sunset and you live in Tokyo, the first thing that comes to mind would be to go to Shonan or Enoshima in Kanagawa Prefecture.

Ever since I moved to Chiba a year ago, I have always checked options within my reach before I go farther from where I reside. I pay less for transportation and at the same time, I get to enjoy what this prefecture can offer without wasting much time sitting on the train to reach my destination.

And in summer, Chiba still does not cease to surprise me. I was lucky enough to get a recommendation from my student about this beach somewhere close to Makuhari. So one of my holidays, I decided to head off and check out the sunset if it is indeed picturesque as how my student told me. 

I put the destination as Inage Seaside Park when using Google Maps and headed out to Inagekaigan Station. From the station, you can reach the seaside park on foot for about 25 minutes, but for those who are not into walking in this humid Japanese summer, then I suggest you take the bus just outside the train station. It would only cost you 168 yen and get off at 高浜南団地 (Takahama Minami Danchi) and from there you can reach the park after a 2-minute walk.

As I wanted to feel the atmosphere of the area, I headed out on foot with some Burger King snacks in hand since I wasn't sure if I can find a place to buy food at the park. To my delight, the walk wasn't too bad since the sidewalk was wide. You can also pass by a Lawson on the way.

There is a flower museum and even a glamping site (Small Planet Camp and Grill) within the park itself. I didn't get to visit the museum because all I ever wanted was to reach the beach before the sun sets.

On the way to the beach, I was able to pass through the park!

The place was wide enough for you to walk or run with your dogs or even play badminton or frisbee with your friends on a beautiful summer day!

What I like about this beach, in particular, is that it has a park nearby and it's got this paved road which is really good for joggers and for those who want to rent bicycles and electric scooters to explore the area.

And now for the best part, the beach does have decent sand and it's wide enough for you to socially distance yourself. 

Albeit the "No swimming" rule that greets you upon going to the beachside, I could still find some youngsters getting in for a dip after playing beach volleyball. It was such a place to relax on a humid day because the wind was just about right, blowing hard enough to dry my sweat and keep me feeling fresh.

And alas, at 6:30 PM the sun decided to set and indeed it was a sight to behold. I just sat there as I ate my burger and appreciate the last remaining days of summer 2022. I had no regrets I didn't go somewhere else outside of Chiba prefecture just to experience such a sight.

As a matter of fact, just two weeks later I decided to bring some of my friends to the place after my first visit. This time, we wanted to experience the beachside after the sun has set. Much to our surprise though, the atmosphere was way better than I have experienced!

A bunch of people, from families to couples to high school students were present at the beach. They brought along some sparklers and lighted them up with glee! Another wonderful highlight of the evening was the fact that there was music blasting from a certain area stretching out to the sea as seen in the photo below.

Music was on full blast as the open for all party was ongoing and I was in total awe after seeing this because it was something I would have never imagined on a public beach! First, the sparklers and now the loud music and partying...for free! It felt like I was transported back to my home country!

It turns out that someone was celebrating her birthday party and decided to hold it there! I just thought we were so lucky! But our luck didn't end there because from afar we were able to see some fireworks display that lasted for about 20 minutes or so! Talk about a way to end summer, right?

Unfortunately, the party ended around 8:00 PM but who was I to complain? I enjoyed almost 2 hours of free disco by the beach with me and my friends and ate watermelon which is a staple of Japanese summer.

But for those who are keener on trying out food trucks, the Inage Seaside Park has them all lined up for you to choose from! There are food trucks that allow you to chill and sit on their wide and gorgeous chairs. And yes, alcohol is served!

So yes, summer is not complete without going to the beach. But why go somewhere far, when there is one that is nearby that would definitely exceed your expectations?

It surely exceeded mine and I can't wait to come and visit soon as long as the weather allows me to!