[1-Night, 2-Day Chiba Model Course] A Drive Around the Boso Peninsula in Search of Distinctive Scenic Views

Drive along the Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line, which connects Kawasaki in Kanagawa Prefecture and Kisarazu in Chiba Prefecture through the center of Tokyo Bay! A must-stop along the way is Umihotaru PA, a parking area on a 650 m-long artificial island. It has a variety of facilities, including a footbath and shops selling souvenirs. This is a great place to stop for a slightly early lunch. There are also restaurants where you can try local specialties, so choosing just one may be difficult.
After your meal, it’s also recommended to enjoy the view from the observation decks on both the Kawasaki and Kisarazu sides, or take a break with a soak in the footbath.

Leave Umihotaru PA behind and drive for Approx. 1 hour to Kameyama Lake, the largest dam lake in Chiba Prefecture. It is also known as an inner retreat area of the Boso Peninsula.

Surrounded by abundant nature, Kameyama Lake offers beautiful seasonal scenery throughout the year, including cherry blossoms in spring and autumn leaves in fall. There is also a lakeside park nearby, so you can enjoy a leisurely walk. There is also a boathouse, so a boat ride on the lake is highly recommended.

After enjoying nature at Kameyama Lake, drive for Approx. 15 minutes. The next stop is Shimizu Keiryu Hiroba, home to Kameiwa Cave, a spot that has become popular on social media in recent years!

This natural park is a place where you can enjoy fireflies in summer and autumn leaves in fall, and it is especially famous for Kameiwa Cave, where sunlight shines into the cave and reflects on the water’s surface to create a heart shape. Seeing a beautiful heart shape is a rare sight, but the chances are said to be higher in the early morning on sunny days around the equinox periods in March and September.
A little farther past Kameiwa Cave, there are also sights such as the Bell of Good Luck. You can enjoy a walk around the area as well.

The next stop is Kamogawa SEASIDE BASE, a commercial facility in an outstanding seaside location. It’s about a 20-minute drive from Kameyama Lake!

Located within Maebara Beach, this spot brings together a variety of shops where you can enjoy locally produced food from Chiba Prefecture and buy souvenirs in original facility packaging. There are also great places for a café break, including a café with an ocean-view terrace and a sweets shop centered on a citrus and cheese concept. Relax and recharge from your drive while gazing out over the Pacific Ocean right in front of you.

After enjoying great food and ocean views at Kamogawa SEASIDE BASE, drive for Approx. 10 minutes to the day’s accommodation, Kamogawa Grand Tower.

This 33-story high-rise condominium has pure white exterior walls and a pool, giving it a full resort feel, and every room offers an open ocean view! Inside each room is a fully equipped kitchen with not only a microwave and refrigerator, but also cooking utensils. You can even prepare ingredients you picked up at Kamogawa SEASIDE BASE and other spots yourself.
Another nice point is that, in addition to the large public bath on the second floor of the building, you can also use the hot spring at the neighboring Kamogawa Grand Hotel free of charge, making it easy to relax and soothe the fatigue of your trip.

This popular morning market has been held in Katsuura for over 430 years, since 1591. Along with Wajima Morning Market in Ishikawa Prefecture and Takayama Morning Market in Gifu Prefecture, it is known as one of Japan’s three major morning markets.

In addition to fresh seafood and locally grown vegetables shipped directly from producers, you’ll also find dried fish and other items that make great souvenirs, so why not take your time browsing? There are also places nearby where you can try local specialties, so it’s a great spot for breakfast as well.

After enjoying the morning market, take in the coastal drive for Approx. 45 minutes to visit Cape Taito Lighthouse, a white lighthouse in Isumi City in southeastern Chiba Prefecture.

Standing at Cape Taito, also known as the “northern gateway” to Kujukuri Beach, this white lighthouse is 15.9 m tall and circular in shape. Its form and color stand out beautifully against the blue sky and sea, making it highly photogenic! From the open area around the lighthouse, you can also enjoy a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean horizon.
Seasonal flowers such as Lilium maculatum and daffodils blooming around the lighthouse are also beautiful, offering different scenery depending on when you visit.

By now, you’re probably getting hungry. Next comes one of the best parts: lunchtime! From Cape Taito Lighthouse, drive for Approx. 40 minutes to Umi Shokudo Kujukuri Soko, a restaurant renovated from a former seafood processing plant where you can enjoy seafood in a space full of character.

At Umi Shokudo Kujukuri Soko, the style is to grill fresh seafood over a net on a stove set at your table. Of course, you’ll want to try Kujukuri Beach’s famous grilled clams as well! From the spacious second floor of the restaurant, you can also enjoy a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean, making the location excellent too. There are also three set meal options at lunchtime, including a daily special, so it’s nice to be able to choose based on your mood that day.

After enjoying the fresh seafood to your heart’s and stomach’s content, drive for Approx. 1 hour to Byobugaura, the final stop on this trip. As you continue along the coast with the sea breeze around you, a dramatic view of sheer cliffs comes into sight.

This scenic spot features dramatic sea cliffs stretching for about 10 km and rising Approx. 50 m above sea level. Their appearance has been compared to the White Cliffs of Dover in England, earning the area the nickname “Dover of the East.” It is also designated as a National Place of Scenic Beauty and a Natural Monument. You cannot stop on top of the cliffs, but a walking path extends from the adjacent Choshi Marina, where you can stroll and take in the spectacular scenery.