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The green, seaside, satoyama nature landscapes of Chiba Prefecture

A historical train passing through a satoyama landscape in Chiba Prefecture, an hour from Tokyo!

Chiba Prefecture is located directly north and east of Tokyo. Many foreign travelers visit Chiba Prefecture, because Narita Airport, one of Japan's busiest international airports, is located there. And never forget Disneyland and Disneysea are also in Chiba Prefecture (at the SW edge of the prefecture). But Chiba is also famous for surfing, biking, swimming, fresh seafood, flowers, and satoyama village-nature landscapes.

Access from Tokyo to Chiba's Boso Peninsula is easier and more convenient than you might think. First, take the Sobu Line from Tokyo Station to Chiba Station, which takes about 40 minutes. Once you arrive at Chiba Station, transfer to the Uchibo Line or Sotobo Line depending on your destination. These lines connect the attractive spots of the Boso Peninsula. And the train journey itself is enjoyable, and it's interesting to get a glimpse of the daily lives of local people.

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Content by Ian Martin Ropke, owner of Your Japan Private Tours (est. 1990). I have been planning, designing, and making custom Japan private tours on all five Japanese islands since the early 1990s. I work closely with Japan private tour clients and have worked for all kinds of families, companies, and individuals since 1990. Clients find me mostly via organic search, and I advertise my custom Japan private tours & travel services on www.japan-guide.com, which has the best all-Japan English content & maps in Japan! If you are going to Japan and you understand the advantages of private travel, consider my services for your next trip. And thank you for reading my content. I, Ian Martin Ropke (unique on Google Search), am also a serious nonfiction and fiction writer, a startup founder (NexussPlus.com), and a spiritual wood sculptor. Learn more!

Japan's priceless satoyama farm-nature landscapes

In Japan, the word "satoyama" refers to the area or border zone between the foothills of mountains and flat terrain that can be farmed. The word "sato" means "village" and "yama" means "hill" or "mountain." Satoyama has grown over hundreds of years of small-scale farming and forestry.

There are a few different ways to define the idea of satoyama. The first definition is the use of coppicing to manage forests by local farming groups. During the Edo period, people gathered young and fallen leaves from communal trees to use as fertilizer in wet rice fields. People in the village also utilized wood to build things, cook, and stay warm. Satoyama used to mean just mixed community woodlands, but now it now means whole areas of land that are used for farming. This definition says that satoyama is made up of a combination of forests, rice paddies, dry rice fields, grasslands, streams, ponds, and reservoirs that are used for irrigation. Farmers use the meadows to feed cows and horses. Streams, ponds, and reservoirs are very vital for changing the water levels in rice fields and raising fish for food.

The rapid drop in the number of people living in Japanese villages since the 1960s has been a major reason why satoyama has disappeared from the landscape. And Japan's population is becoming older quite quickly (it has the lowest birth rate in the world, hence it is the fastest aging country). Japan's population went down from 131 million to 121 million between 2014 and 2024.

Japan's economy grew quickly from 1955 to 1975, which caused remote communities to slowly lose people. This was bad for historic villages with real and often extremely old satoyama sceneries. By the end of the 1990s, a lot of them had turned into ghost towns. Starting in the 1960s, people used satoyama (too much) as rice fields, plowed fields, shifting agriculture, grasslands, thatch fields, secondary woods for fuel, and huge bamboo forests. Patterns of communal land ownership have also had a role. Since the early 1800s, it has been usual for people to share ownership of satoyama forests near villages. This has led to the cutting down of most of the valuable forests near villages, which have been turned into forest agriculture to meet Japan's high need for wood. Japan's "untouched" forests have diminished a lot, which is bad. And real virgin forests are just as hard to find as they are anywhere else.

How healthy satoyama lands bring in more animals and bugs

The varied satoyama environment provides several types of habitats for wildlife and makes it easier for them to migrate between them. This is because of the traditional Japanese farming system. Wild animals can move between ponds, rice paddies, grasslands, woodlands, and even from one settlement to another. Ponds, reservoirs, and streams are very important for the survival of water-dependent species like dragonflies and fireflies. They spend much of their time in water while they are young. Farmers grow deciduous oaks like Quercus acutissima and Quercus serrata to keep broad-leaf trees that lose their leaves in the fall. Farmers cut down these trees every 15 to 20 years for fuel and charcoal, which stops the growth of dense, dark laurel forest. Traditional management practices have made it possible for many plants and animals to live in these deciduous forests.

Recognition, re-evaluation, and protection of Satoyama

The satoyama conservation movement took place in Japan during the 1980s and 1990s. More than 500 environmental groups are working to protect satoyama as of 2001. Thanks to their work, satoyama is now increasingly common in Japanese landscapes.

The Satoyama Initiative started at UNESCO's headquarters in Paris in 2009. Its goal is to create "societies in harmony with nature" by recognizing and promoting satoyama landscapes and similar landscapes around the world as good examples of how to protect biodiversity and improve people's health.

To finish this section, I want to say again that satoyama philosophy is a special kind of permaculture. Masanobu Fukuoka, a Japanese farmer, philosopher, and scientist, is commonly thought of as the father of natural farming and one of the three main "fathers" of permaculture.

Chiba Boso Peninsula's inland satoyama worlds

Beyond the airport (about an hour NW of Tokyo) and Disney, Chiba Prefecture's biggest attraction is the coastal & rural Boso Peninsula. Like Shizuoka's Izu Peninsula, the Boso Peninsula very popular resort destination for Tokyoites. On weekends and long weekends the beach lined eastern coastline of the peninsula offers foreign travelers almost everything they are hoping for in Japan. The upper western side of the peninsula faces the Tokyo waterfront across Tokyo Bay and is heavily built up but great for outlet malls & more. The east facing coastline is warmed by Pacific Ocean currents and flowers begin blooming much earlier than in central Tokyo. In the interior it all turns into steep valleys and high ridges overlooking the sea. Some wealthy Tokyo residents have used Chiba's windswept old farming villages as the perfect background for modern & contemporary art.

The Kominato Railway line in Chiba Prefecture carries people through ancient Satoyama farming areas (satoyama is the area between villages and mountains, between people and environment), forests, and near huge waterfalls that are easy to reach on foot. Over the years, certain modern and contemporary art spaces (low-key and new) have also been drawn to the practically forgotten treasures of old Chiba Prefecture.

The Kominato Railway line goes south from Kazusa-Nakano Station in Otaki Town to Goi Station in Ichihara City. It is 39.1 kilometers long and runs along the west coast of the Boso Peninsula. The drive from Ichihara to central Tokyo takes only an hour, but it goes through beautiful Satoyama countryside, where people have lived and worked with nature for a long time.

One of the best things about the railway is the scenery along the road. In the spring, there are rapeseed and cherry blossoms. In the summer, there are green rice fields. In the fall, there are red and yellow forest leaves.

The Boso Satoyama Torocco sightseeing train, which started running on the route in 2015, has two viewing trolleys with glass ceilings and partially open sides. This lets passengers observe the spectacular countryside without any problems. The train also has a diesel locomotive that is based on a steam engine that used to run on the line. It also has two standard carriages. The train goes between Kazusa-Ushiku Station, which is halfway down the line, and Yorokeikoku Station, which is close to the Kazusa-Nakano terminal. It does this two or three times a day, four or five days a week, mostly on holidays. The train moves slowly, at a speed of roughly 25 kilometers per hour. People who work at the station and people who are waiting in line wave and smile at travelers along the way. People from the area sell vegetables, drinks, and other things on the platforms at Satomi Station during weekends and holidays, while the train stops for a few minutes.

The line between Goi Station and Satomi Station opened in 1925, and the whole route was open by 1928. The wooden station buildings, tunnels, and bridges are just a few of the things that are still there today, just like they were when the railway line originally opened. In 2017, 10 stations were recognized as national registered tangible cultural artifacts. These included the bridge across the Yoro River and the Kazusa-Ushiku, Satomi, Tsukizaki, and Yorokeikoku stations. The buildings are often used as locations for TV commercials and dramas, and they fit in wonderfully with the Satoyama scenery.

There are a lot of things to see and do along the Kominato Railway route. The Yorokeikoku valley is a popular place for outdoor activities like hiking, camping, and bathing in hot springs. The Yoro River hiking trail has views of a number of waterfalls, some of which are very little and some of which are very large. Awamata no taki is one of these waterfalls. It flows smoothly down a rock surface for about 100 meters and looks amazing from late November to early December when the leaves turn red.

Art is another reason why people like the Kominato Railway line. The Ichihara Art × Mix international art event took place in Ichihara City in 2014 and 2017, and the main locations were along the route. To bring new life to the communities, these art events featured installations that used local resources including an old elementary school, train station structures, cars, wildlife, and food. Some of the pieces that were shown at past art festivals have become permanent fixtures in the communities. During the 2014 art festival, artist Takahito Kimura made the piece Mori-radio Station, which is near to Tsukizaki Station. More than sixty kinds of wild grass and moss grow on the walls and roof of a building that used to be home to railroad workers. A polarized glass window on the roof lets in rainbow-colored light on sunny days.

Near Itabu Station stands the famous architect Sou Fujimoto's work, Toilet in Nature. The artwork contains a glass toilet cubicle with towering black railings around it on a roofless location that is 200 square meters. In the spring, the land has rapeseed, plum, and cherry blossoms. Only women can use the bathroom!

Ichihara Art × Mix 2020 will happen again from March to May 2020 as part of the Japan Cultural Expo. During this time of year, when the flowers are in bloom, trains on the Kominato Railway line that take people through Satoyama will look like works of art.

The Boso Peninsula community projects of MUJI corporation: Japan's well-known global no-name brand firm, MUJI, sells garments, cooking products, and home goods. The company has also put money into protecting Japan's satoyama scenery, which is made up of traditional small-scale farming communities that live in harmony with the environment. In Kamogawa, Chiba, MUJI runs a community store and works to protect the neighborhood. It also has dozens of little residences for rent in Minami Boso, Chiba that are available for a long time. In Isumi City, Chiba, there is also a model home of MUJI House's Yo no Ie (Sun House). MUJI opened Sato's MUJI Minnaminosato in Kamogawa in 2018. This is the company's community market. The market has a lot of different things for sale, including MUJI's items and things grown or made in the area. It also contains a lab for making new products and a cafe. For more information, visit https://www.interactiongreen.com/muji-community-projects-boso-chiba/ .

Chiba Prefecture's east coast beaches & other spots

The beaches on the Boso Peninsula are a popular and fairly simple day trip or overnight excursion from Tokyo. The wide Pacific Ocean is on the east coast, which makes it one of the best places in Japan to surf. The western coast, which is more developed, has calmer waters and vistas of Mount Fuji when the weather is clear.

Most of the time, beach huts and rental stores are only open during the swimming season. These places include showers, changing rooms, shaded locations to rest, food, and refreshments for people who travel to the beach. Surfing is quite popular all year round, especially along the Kujukurihama Coast. From spring to early summer, Kujukurihama is also known for clam fishing and eating. The surfing event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics took place on Tsurigasaki Beach on the Boso Peninsula, which is next to Ichinomiya Beach. You can snorkel around the islands of Okinoshima and Niemonjima, and it's worth it.

The Boso Peninsula's most popular beaches & locations

The Kujukurihama Coast is a sandy beach that runs along the eastern side of the Boso Peninsula for about 60 kilometers. People like to surf and body board along the coast, even in the winter. Here are the highlights of this beach coastline: Tonoshita Beach is a long, wide beach with shallow water that goes on for a long time. Families like the beach, and the water is safe for kids to swim in. Beach huts and rental shops include warm showers, beach gear, snacks, and drinks. There is an entrance fee to go into Hasunuma Water Garden, a popular water park with a lot of slides. Katakai Beach is one of the most popular beaches in the area. It is located in the middle of the Kujukurihama Coast. In addition to swimming and body boarding, surfing is also highly popular here. There are a lot of beach huts and rental stores along the beachfront, and there are also public bathrooms and outdoor showers. Grilled hamaguri clam is one of the most popular foods at Katakai, and you can find it at practically all of the beach huts. Ichinomiya Beach is a well-known surfing beach near the southern end of the Kujukurihama Coast. Families often like to dig for clams at the big beach, along with swimming and sunbathing. There are many beach huts and rental shops that lend out equipment and provide food and drinks to people who go to the beach. Ichinomiya Beach is next to Tsurigasaki Beach, which was the site of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Moriya Beach is in a cove and features quiet, clean waters that are safe for kids and swimming. Beach huts and rental shops offer food, drinks, rental gear, and paid showers to people who travel to the beach. You don't have to pay to use the toilets.

Niemonjima Island is made up of one big island and a lot of smaller rock formations in the water. The ferry ride takes less than five minutes, and there is only one store on the island that has a café and rentals. People like to swim and snorkel in the little eddies and waters around the island. You can walk around the island in less than 30 minutes. Be aware that there are no lifeguards on the island.

Families love Wadaura Beach. The waves are calm, so it's safe for kids to swim, and the rocks surrounding the beach are rough, so you can get a better look at the animals that dwell there. Hanazono Beach, which is close to Wadaura Beach, is a popular place to surf. There are outdoor restrooms and showers for the public, but there are no beach huts or rental stores. At the end of the beach is an observation platform where you can see the coast nearby. It's a fantastic place to see sunrise!

Minami Chikura Beach is located at the southern end of the Boso Peninsula. People like to swim, body board, and surf here. Beach huts serve food and drinks, and public amenities have toilets and showers outside.

Hasama Beach is 200 meters long and is on the western edge of the Boso Peninsula, facing Tateyama Bay. The water is clear and not very deep, and the waves are mild, so it's safe to swim. There is also a saltwater pool nearby for youngsters. Beach huts and rental stores border the beachfront, giving people who go to the beach food, drinks, and rental gear. When the weather is favorable, you can see the Miura Peninsula across the water.

Okinoshima Island is a small island that is connected to the mainland by a sandbar not far from Tateyama. People like to snorkel and swim about the island, and kids can have fun looking for bugs that reside on the rocks by the coast. There are rental stores and a few public restrooms along the island.

Other locations to see when you go to Chiba's Boso Peninsula

Nomizo Waterfall: This is a magical place and home to Kameiwa Cave. It has been trending on social media since the early 2020s. So, it can get busy on weekends. And be sure to wear the right shoes because the terrain is often very slippery!

Boso Flower Line: The Boso Flower Line is a bright ribbon that goes 46 kilometers from Tateyama to Minami Boso. Along this beautiful road, you'll see a wonderful variety of flowers, like nanohana and snow daisies, that make the roadside look bright and colorful. These flowers normally bloom fully from January to April, making for a stunning spectacle for tourists. The best part of the Boso Flower Line is the different flower fields you may see. You can go through the Shiramazu Flower Fields and the Senda Flower Fields, where groups of tiny flower farms have a broad variety of blossoming flowers and let guests pick their own flowers. There are many other things to see and do along the Boso Flower Line besides these beautiful meadows. Sunosaki Lighthouse and Nojimazaki Lighthouse are two famous lighthouses that highlight the route. The first one has amazing views of Mt. Fuji and the Izu Peninsula, and the second one has amazing views of the Pacific Ocean.

The Nojimazaki Lighthouse: This historical lighthouse is located in Minamiboso at the southernmost point of the Boso Peninsula. It was one of the first lighthouses in Japan, and it was built in a style that was influenced by Western architecture during the Meiji Era (1868–1912). The lighthouse was first illuminated in 1869 and has survived while keeping its charm. People can go inside and climb a spiral staircase to the top. There are also many palm trees and unique sculptures in the park adjacent to the lighthouse.

Mount Nokogiri hiking: Mount Nokogiri is a great peak to climb or zoom up with a ropeway. The views from the ropeway overview all of Tokyo Bay. The Great Buddha of Nihon-ji Temple is also at the top looking west (the direction of the Western Paradise or Heaven for most Japanese Buddhists). This Buddha is bigger than the Great Buddha of Kamakura. And don't miss nearby "Hell Peek" (Jigoku Nozoki), which is the primary attraction at Mount Nokogiri. The view from here is amazing, and on clear days you can even see Mount Fuji past the Boso Peninsula. Mount Nokogiri is a great place to see both the beauty of nature and Japan's history and culture at the same time.

Content by Japan travel specialist & designer Ian Martin Ropke, founder & owner of Your Japan Private Tours (YJPT, est. 1990). I have been planning, designing, and making custom Japan private tours on all five Japanese islands since the early 1990s. I work closely with all of YJPT's Japan private tour clients and have a great team behind me. I promote YJPT through this content and only advertise at www.japan-guide.com, which has the best all-Japan English content & maps! If you are going to Japan and you understand the advantages of private travel, consider my services for your next trip to save time & have a better time. Ian Martin Ropke (unique on Google Search) is also a serious nonfiction and fiction writer, a startup founder (NexussPlus.com), and a spiritual wood sculptor. Learn more!