Choshi, a small seaside town with the earliest sunrise in Japan

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📝 Is Choshi fun?

This question, without thinking about it, falls under the broad category of not fun.
If anyone tells you that Choshi is particularly fun and interesting, and that it's different everywhere, you don't have to wonder, that person is basically full of shit.
If it was fun, with all the people in Tokyo next door, it would have been Tokyo's backyard by now. If it was fun, shouldn't their electric railway be making a fortune and almost closing down?

Choshi, like Onomichi, the city of mountains and seas we talked about before, is one of those travel destinations in a narrow sense. (It's not primarily a tourist industry per se.)
If you're in Kanto and want a place to laze around, watch the sea, listen to the waves, take a walk on the beach, and eat seafood, then Choshi might be for you.
If you want a place to see stunning scenery, hit the internet spots and eat at internet restaurants, then forget about Choshi, Kamakura is the place for you.
One of the most important reasons why we compare Kamakura and Choshi is that the “feel” of the two cities is very similar.
Both are seaside towns, both have a train line running through the city, both have secret temples and shrines, and both are located on opposite sides of Tokyo. One is a netizen, the other is quiet; one is passionate, the other is quiet.
Outside of Tokyo, Kamakura is to the left and Choshi is to the right.

🤗 01.Barking Saitama

This place is probably the most famous in Choshi.

Located on the northern tip of the Boso Peninsula, Inuyasha Saitama is a prominent cape in the Pacific Ocean in Chiba Prefecture, and is known for its magnificent seascape and natural beauty. The waves lapping against the reef-covered coastline and sea caves beneath it, stirring up gusts of water, are likely the reason for the place's name. （Cape with Barking Dogs)

Inuyashizaki has the earliest sunrise in the Kanto region, especially during the 10 days before and after New Year's Day, and there is an interesting geographic phenomenon here that the tilt of the earth's axis brings the earliest sunrise in Japan to Inuyashizaki.

That's why every year on New Year's Day, there are a lot of people here to see the sunrise. I think even if you don't watch the sunrise, the sea here is so beautiful that it doesn't lose out to the coast of Shirozaki at all.

Not far from Inuyasaki is the Inuyasaki Lighthouse, which has been selected as one of the 100 lighthouses in the world. If you come here to see the sunrise, you will go to this lighthouse. The entrance fee is 🎫300yen.

The lighthouse opens at 8:30, so you don't need to make a reservation in advance, and you can just buy a ticket on the spot. There are exhibition halls on both sides of the lighthouse, and there is a restaurant downstairs, so you can also take a stroll. There are 99 stairs to climb up to the lighthouse, and the view of the sea is not bad. The view of the sea is not bad, but sometimes it is closed, so check before you go.

In front of the lighthouse is the easternmost post box in Japan, with a special tone that matches the color of the lighthouse, and it is said that postcards sent from here will be stamped with a special commemorative seal, which is kind of a small egg.

🤗 02.Junbin Chausau Park

Not far from Inukai Saitama Lighthouse is Junbin Chosso Park, which was chosen as one of the 100 choices of Japan's coasts, and one of the most important reasons is because of Inukai Saitama.

If Inukai Saki is to see the sea and sunrise, then Junbin Chosso Park is to see Inukai Saki Lighthouse, Inukai Saki, sunrise, and the sea. It means that you are standing in Inukai Saitama to see the sunrise, and the person who is watching the sunrise is watching you in Junbin Choso Park.

This is one of the best viewpoints to see Inuyasha Lighthouse, and you will be able to take more pictures than the two places above.

🤗 03.Choshi electric iron

A railroad company that is very much in the spirit of Japanese entrepreneurship.

To get to Choshi from Tokyo, you need to transfer to the Choshi Electric Railway at JR Choshi Station. The Choshi Railway is 6.4 kilometers long, with 10 stations in total: Choshi Station, Nakanomachi, Kannon, Honchoshi, Kasagami Kurosei, Nishikaikajima, Kaikajima, Junghama, Inuyasha, and Gekawa.

The whole trip takes about 22 minutes to drive, and each station basically has a bit of a story to tell, which, along with the nostalgic retro carriages and European-style platforms, makes it especially good for photo ops. (There are quite a few railroad enthusiasts taking photos here)

What is more memorable than the scenery on the railroad, however, is the way Choshi Electric Railway has lived.

Because of the short distances, the small number of passengers, and the high cost of operation and maintenance, Choshi Electric Railway was always on the verge of bankruptcy, so the employees of Choshi Electric Railway asked for help on the Internet, and netizens suggested that they buy senbei to help save the railroad, and the “wet senbei” sold on Choshi Electric Railway became the most popular product in all of Japan, which led to Choshi Electric Railway, which is still in operation today. Choshi Electric is a railroad line that is silently guarded by pancakes.

Today, this electric railway company is no longer limited to the tram business; 20% of its revenue comes from the food business. There is always a way to live.

If you go to Choshi, you'll see the phrase “絶対にあきらめない” (絶対にあきらめない), which translates to “Never give up. (僕の中二之魂を疯狂燃烧です)

If you are going to Choshi, we recommend the Choshi Traveler One-Day Pass.

The Arc Loop Teshigata Ticket is a 700 yen ticket that allows you to ride the train repeatedly, so it's a good deal. The other is the Choshi Tourist Day Pass, which allows you to ride the Choshi Electric and Chibako buses repeatedly for 1,000 yen.

The trains here are also very interesting, as each one has a different style of painting and decoration, giving them a romantic Taisho feel. (I recommend their pink mascot train~)

Each of the 10 stations mentioned above has a different point of view, some are cute, some are retro, and each station has a unique design, so if you have the time, we really recommend visiting them one by one.

🤗 04. Earth Round Hill Observatory

There are quite a few places in Japan where you can see the magnitude of the Earth.

One of the most famous is Cape Earth in Hokkaido, but of course if you think Hokkaido is too far away, then why not go to the Earth Round Hill Observatory in Chiba.

This place is only 90 meters high, but you can still get a 360-degree view of the Pacific Ocean, Kujukuri Hama, Hiraganoura, and on a good day you can even see Mt. Fuji.

🤗 05. Enbukuji Temple

Located in the center of Choshi, Enbukuji Temple, known as Iinuma Kannon, has been a center of faith since ancient times. It is famous for enshrining the Eleven-faced Kannon, the main deity of the temple, and its large red temple pillars give it an imposing appearance, making it a famous temple that has enjoyed a great deal of popularity since the Edo period.

The Choshi Daibutsu (Great Buddha), which stands outside the main hall, was built in 1711 and is one of the oldest cultural assets on the grounds. The five-storied pagoda next to the Buddha is the only five-storied pagoda in Chiba Prefecture and is a symbolic landmark of Choshi.

The Choshi Market Street in front of Enbukuji Temple is also worth a visit. There are a lot of local restaurants to try, including Imagawa-yaki, which is similar to our wheel cake, and Choshi soba.

🤗 06.Yamasa Soy Sauce Factory

Choshi has been known as a soy sauce town since the Edo period because there are many old soy sauce houses that have been passed down for centuries, such as the Yamasa Soy Sauce Factory near Nakanomachi Station, which has a history of over 350 years.

When you go to Japan, take a look at the packaging of YAMASA soy sauce, which has the word “Kami” on its logo. Only those soy sauce factories that were recognized by the Shogunate in the Edo period as having the best quality of soy sauce were allowed to use this character, and the character has been used ever since.

The Yamasa Soy Sauce Factory is free to visit (reservations required), and guides will explain the background of the development of soy sauce and how it is made. The wooden soy sauce barrels at the entrance are a testament to history and are said to be more than 100 years old, with a total capacity of 9,000 liters.

There's also the Soy Sauce Experience Center (しょうゆ味わい體験館), where we recommend the Soy Sauce Crunchy Sugar Cake Roll and Soy Sauce Ice Cream. The soy sauce ice cream topping doesn't taste like soy sauce, it tastes like caramel toffee. (The ice cream is only available in the afternoon, so don't go too early if you want to try it.)

🤗 07. Myofukuji Temple

Myofukuji Temple is a temple of the Nichiren sect in Myomi-machi, Choshi City, Chiba Prefecture, and the town was given the name Myomi because of the Myomi Shrine, which enshrines the Bodhisattva Myomi.

This place is famous not because of the temple, but because this temple is a very famous place to see wisteria in Chiba.

Wisteria, as you remember, is a limited season in May after the cherry blossoms, and we've talked about it before. Myofukuji Temple has four wisteria huts of various sizes, and the largest hut has a 750-year-old wisteria tree with roots that look like a crouching dragon, which is why it is called “Crouching Dragon's Wisteria.

When it blooms every year, it attracts many visitors. When the vine is in full bloom, the temple organizes a lantern-lighting event so that visitors can enjoy the flowers at night, and on May 6 and 7, there is a vine festival with refreshments.

🤗 08.Sotokawa Station

Gaikawa is the terminus of the Choshi Electric Railway.

The old wooden station sits quietly next to the houses, and the laid-back harbor atmosphere is what draws many people to this station, and stepping off the tram is like stepping into the last century.

I love the houses and roads here, walking along the neatly organized streets and seeing the sea level as far as the eye can see. When you turn the corner, you can see a big sea, and it gives me a feeling of dreaming back to Onomichi and Toyoshima in the Seto Inland Sea.

The station sign here says “Thank you”. It's also a story that when Choshi Dentetsu was poor, it sold the naming rights to all 10 stations we mentioned earlier to generate revenue. So, basically, every station has a company that owns the title, but only Gekawa does not.

The word “thank you” is a thank you to those who support them, and a thank you to Choshi herself, right?

Another must-visit is the Sakakibara Tofu Shop. Don't think there's much to a tofu store. Tofu has been around for 100+ years, so it's not just tofu anymore. This place now has a wide variety of soymilk puddings, and each one is basically a must-try without stepping on any tofu, so you really must have them.

Of course, besides what we've talked about, there's also a lot of good food and fun, such as seafood (it's a very important fishing port in Japan) and pancakes, Choshi hot springs, Kawaguchi Shrine, Hirakura, and Kujukuri Hama.

We won't expand on all of them, but let's leave a little mystery for you to unlock~

📎 How do I get to Choshi?

It's really easy to get to Choshi Station by limited express from Tokyo Station or Kinshicho and transfer to Choshi Dentetsu. Of course, if you don't take the limited express, you can take the Sobu Main Line to Choshi, but it will take a little longer.

One thing to note here is that there are 10 stations on the Choshi Railway, so you need to figure out your time if you take the train to each station.

Choshi train runs once an hour, so many people don't pay attention to it and wait at the station.

Of course, if you are able to walk a lot, then forget about it. Anyway, I know a lot of people who go to Japan from 3w steps per day.

Another 1 point is, the accommodation here is rather limited, although there are some hotels, but the number is relatively small, so remember to look ahead if you go.

We recommend 2 days, of course, Tokyo sunrise is not a big problem, but the sunrise will be missed~!