Chiba 1 Day Itinerary (Mt. Nokogiri, Tateyama)

This mountain has had a history of high-quality Boshu stone mined from the Edo Era to modern times. Head for the peak via ropeway and tour Nihon-ji Temple which is known for the great Buddha carved into the rock face. ＊Take the train for Tateyama. Since there is only about 1 train per hour, decide on your train time beforehand and then get off at either Hamakanaya or Hota Stations.

Visit the temple at the top of Mt. Nokogiri. Then take a stroll on the temple grounds while admiring nature and the wonderful view of the sea from the top. You can observe sights such as the Hyaku-shaku Kannon carved in a quarry as well as the “Glimpse Into Hell” lookout which looks out over the cliff 100m down into the quarry. In addition, you can see 1500 Buddha statues in caves along the trail and the enormous 31m-high Yakushi Ruriko Nyorai Buddha statue.

Head for Tateyama, the onsen resort area known for its beautiful landscape of sea and flowers. It is a treasure house of nature and historic sites. Renting a bicycle to tour the area is recommended. Because there are so many places to see including the beach and those historic sites, please consult with the tourist information center in front of the station to decide on where to go. Rental cycles are available at the west exit of JR Tateyama Station.

Enjoy lunch with the famous Tateyama dish. In addition to Tateyama Aburi Kaisen Don, you can try other examples of fresh seafood such as seafood bowls and sushi. Recommended restaurants are Umi-no-Hana by the west exit of Tateyama Station and Nagisa Shokudo, which is the 2nd-floor café/restaurant at Nagisa-no-Eki Tateyama near the station.

With a total length of 500m, this is Japan’s longest pier. Walk along the pier and visit the adjacent Nagisa-no-Eki Tateyama to purchase any local souvenirs.

Visit Okinoshima, a small island joined to the mainland along the coastline. Take a walk around the 1km shore which has places such as the beach and rock cliffs which are lively with beachgoers in the summer and a small forest.

Tour the relics of the castle once managed by the feudal era Satomi clan who governed Tateyama. The restored castle towers over the large park.