6 Islands in Chiba worth your time

A privately owned island off Chiba featuring historic hideouts, rare flora, and scenic views accessible by manual ferry.

What it is

• The largest and only inhabited island in Chiba Prefecture, located off the coast of Kamogawa.
• A privately owned island held by the Hirano family and designated a Place of Scenic Beauty.
• A historic site where Minamoto no Yoritomo hid in a cave during the year 1180.
• One of the New Japan Top 100 Views featuring rare plants like Solanum aculeatissimum.

What to see

• The island owner's residence which was originally rebuilt in 1704.
• A cave where the samurai lord Minamoto no Yoritomo once took refuge.
• A shrine dedicated to the deity Benzaiten located on the island grounds.
• Kagura Rock where the Buddhist teacher Nichiren is said to have prayed.
• Diverse botanical specimens and rare plants growing across the island landscape.

When to go

• The island is accessible daily between the hours of 8:30 AM and 5:00 PM.

Getting there

• A five-minute manual ferry ride carries visitors from the Kamogawa coast to the island.

Official site

niemonjima.web.fc2.com

Read more about Niemonjima

A small tied island in Tateyama Bay featuring the northernmost coral reef in Japan and a historic shrine.

What it is

• A tied island in Tateyama Bay connected to the mainland since the 1923 earthquake.
• Part of the Minamiboso Quasi-National Park with a circumference of approximately one kilometer.
• Home to the Okinoshima Uga Daimyojin Shrine established in the year 1096.
• A natural habitat for broadleaf trees like Machilus thunbergii.

What to see

• The northernmost coral reef zone in Japan located in the surrounding waters.
• An artificial cave on the island that served as a military bunker.
• The Okinoshima Uga Daimyojin Shrine dedicated to the deity Ukanomitama.
• A beach area approximately 150 meters long and 50 meters deep.

Getting there

• A bus from Tateyama Station reaches the area in 25 minutes.
• Free parking for approximately 500 cars is available near the island.

Read more about Okinoshima

An artificial island park in Kisarazu Port featuring Japan's tallest pedestrian bridge and seasonal clam digging activities.

What it is

• An artificial island in Kisarazu Port developed as Nakanoshima Park.
• The island is connected to the mainland by the tallest pedestrian bridge in Japan.
• A designated Lover's Sanctuary and a filming location for the drama Kisarazu Cat's Eye.
• The bridge was completed in 1975 to allow vessels to pass underneath into Tokyo Bay.

What to see

• The red pedestrian bridge measuring 236 meters long and over 27 meters high.
• Panoramic views of Tokyo Bay and vessels entering the port from the bridge.
• Toriizaki Seaside Park located at the mainland end of the bridge.
• Open park spaces and coastal scenery on the artificial island.

When to go

• Late March to July for the seasonal clam digging activities.
• August to attend the annual Kisarazu Port Festival.

Official site

www.city.kisarazu.lg.jp

Read more about Nakanoshima

A unique man-made island parking area in Tokyo Bay offering 360-degree views and a transition between tunnel and bridge.

What it is

• A parking area on a man-made island within the Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line.
• Connects an undersea tunnel from Kawasaki with a bridge from Kisarazu.
• Serves as a site for a marine radar and a specialized fire station.
• Allows drivers to perform a U-turn and return to their starting direction.

What to see

• A massive cutter face monument located on the first floor.
• A 360-degree observation deck overlooking the surrounding bay.
• A landmark beacon used to guide aircraft landing at Haneda Airport.
• A foot bath facility available for visitors to use.
• Panoramic views designated as a Japan Night View Heritage site.

When to go

• Visit at night to experience the designated Japan Night View Heritage scenery.

Official site

www.umihotaru.com

Read more about Umihotaru Parking Area

A small island in Tokyo Bay featuring a shrine and a history of traditional whale hunting near the Kyonan coast.

What it is

• An island in Tokyo Bay located 1.1 kilometers off the coast of Katsuyama Beach.
• The site of Ukishima Shrine and a historical migration route for Baird's beaked whales.
• A landmass with a perimeter of 792 meters reaching a height of 60 meters.
• The former base for local whale hunting groups led by Daigo Shinbei.

What to see

• The main island which covers a total area of 6,216 tsubo.
• Two smaller sub-islands known as Obokke and Kobokke.
• Ukishima Shrine located directly on the island grounds.
• Deep coastal waters that drop off rapidly near the island edge.

When to go

• The annual island festival held on the second Saturday of July.

Read more about Ukishima

A former island in Tateyama featuring an ancient shrine and historical naval ruins from the Great Kanto Earthquake era.

What it is

• A tied island in Tateyama Port connected to land through earthquake uplift and naval reclamation.
• Site of a Benzaiten shrine founded by Minamoto no Chikamoto in 1092.
• A historical location where United States forces landed on September 3, 1945.
• An area adjacent to the Maritime Self-Defense Force Tateyama Air Base.

What to see

• The Benzaiten shrine managed by Eisen-ji Temple in Numa.
• Remaining ruins of a naval air corps waterplane ramp.
• Views of the surrounding Tateyama Port and nearby Okinoshima.

When to go

• The annual shrine festival takes place on May 14th.

Read more about Takanoshima