See the Sea from Inubosaki Lighthouse! Sandy Beaches, Seaside Terraces, and a White Postbox in Choshi, Chiba
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Find coffee, rocky shores, and one cute way to send letters on the picturesque Inubosaki Peninsula.
See the Sunrise First at Inubosaki Lighthouse
With warm weather arriving in Tokyo, the sun and the sea are calling to us all, and people are starting to head to some of the most popular beaches around Tokyo. Many Tokyoites flock to the Shonan Coast or the Boso Peninsula, which is even used as a common setting in Japanese films and TV, but those aren't the only areas nearby with beautiful beachy views!
Chiba's city of Choshi is known for its cute local railway, the Choshi Electric Railway, but it's also the location of Inubosaki (犬吠埼), sometimes called Cape Inubo. This cape pokes out into the Pacific Ocean adorned with a picturesque white lighthouse and a matching white postbox, and thanks to its easterly location, it's said to be one of the earliest spots to see the sunrise in Japan. Visitors can enjoy the great outdoors and the sea breeze, before stopping into the local cafe for a bite to eat, making it a lovely little getaway from the city.
Aside from high mountain peaks and outlying islands, Inubosaki is said to be the first place in Japan to see the new rising sun every year on New Year's day, meaning that the area is always crowded on the first of January. Not only do TV stations and other news media come to broadcast the sunrise to the country, and document the event, but amateur photographers come to take snapshots, and plenty of other visitors come to just enjoy the view of the sun breaking the horizon over the ocean, slowly shedding light on the scene of a new year. With the light sparkling on the water and the lighthouse silhouetted against the glowing sky, it's truly beautiful on any day of the year.
Blue Skies, White Lighthouse
When visitors come on days that aren't January 1st, they're generally there to see the white lighthouse and its matching postbox. The lighthouse was built in the 7th year of the Meiji period (1874), and actually designed and constructed by the British civil engineer Richard Brunton, nicknamed the "Father of Japanese Lighthouses." Inside, a 99-step staircase leads all the way to the top, where visitors can gaze out at the view, surrounded by the ocean on three sides, with waves breaking onto the rocky shores.
At the base of the lighthouse is Inubosaki Lighthouse Museum, which has some displays on local history, but the facility was unfortunately closed when the Japankuru team visited, due to COVID-19! At least the popular white postbox was still standing out front, sturdy as ever, as a great place to take pictures. It's a real functioning postbox, too, so feel free to drop in a postcard!
A Coffee Shop on the Water
Feeling a little worn out from traipsing along the sandy beach and climbing up and down 99 spiraling steps? You can always take some time to rest and recharge at Inubosaki's multi-floor coffee shop, a part of Inubo Terasu Terrace. The floor-to-ceiling windows look out onto the water and let in plenty of sunlight, making all of the different seating areas bright and airy. On the first floor, there's a dining space, a bakery, a little place selling local produce, and some local snacks for sale.
The second floor has a souvenir shop, and a space made just for admiring the ocean view in some very special "recliners." The nets do seem very appropriate so close to the ocean! The differing angles make the experience of looking out at the water a little different on each floor, but no matter where you settle in, it's a lovely place to sit back and relax.
The second-floor souvenir shop clearly has one theme: lighthouses. But they don't all look the same! Browse the selection and you'll find all kinds of different little lighthouse decorations and products.
If you're looking for a spot to pose for photos and post them on social media, they've got you covered. There are plenty of spots for a fun photo op!
Seaside Onsen Baths!
A walk on the beach and a good cup of coffee already sounds like a pretty relaxing day to us, but if you want an even deeper level of relaxation, then don't miss the amazing onsen baths situated right on the water in Inubosaki. In this town of sunrises, the hot water gushing out of the hot springs actually contains sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), and it's said to have a healing effect on all kinds of maladies, from nerve and joint pain to bad circulation, and plain old fatigue. The local hot spring hotels provide all kinds of accommodation plans, but you can also pay to just use the onsen for the day!
See It from Another Angle: Kimigahama Beach
Whether you want to capture the full scene as the sun rises on the first day of the year, lighthouse and all, or you just want to enjoy the cape from afar, the neighboring Kimigahama Beach (a part of Kimigahama Shiosai Park) is a gentle curve of rough sandy beach with a different kind of view. To get there quickly, just jump on the train at Inubo Station and get off at Kimigahama, the next stop!
Don’t Forget to Write Home!
Compared to busy areas like the Shonan Coast, Inubosaki is a quiet destination, but that makes it a perfect place to enjoy a peaceful walk on the beach, admire the picturesque view of a white lighthouse towering into the blue sky, sip a cup of coffee with a window out onto the water, and even write up a postcard describing all the fun you're having in Japan―before slipping it into the unique white postbox!
For more info and updates from Japan, check Japankuru for new articles, and don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook!
Details
NAME:Inubosaki Lighthouse (犬吠埼燈台)
ACCESS:Inubo Station (犬吠駅)
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Kansai (関西) is a region that includes Mie, Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, and Shiga Prefectures. Kansai contained Japan's ancient capital for hundreds of years, and it's making a comeback as one of the most popular parts of Japan. Kyoto's temples and shrines, Osaka Castle, and the deer of Nara are all considered must-sees. Plus, the people of Kansai are especially friendly, making it a fun place to hang out.
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Kyoto flourished as the capital of Japan between the years 794 and 1100, becoming a center for poilitics and culture, and to this day it's a great place for close encounters with Japanese history. The cobbled streets of Gion, the atmospheric road to Kiyomizudera Temple, Kinkakuji's golden walls and countless historic attractions, even Arashiyama's Togetsukyo Bridge―Kyoto is a place of many attractions. With new charms to experience throughout the seasons, travelers can't stop themselves from returning again and again.
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Osaka is known for friendly (and funny) people, but its history is nothing to laugh at, playing a major part in Toyotomi Hideyoshi's 16th century unification of Japan. Thanks to long years of economic activity, it's one of Japan's biggest cities, and Osaka's popular food culture earned it the nickname "The Kitchen of the Nation." To this day Osaka is the model of western Japan, and alongside historic structures like Osaka Castle, it also has major shopping malls like Umeda's Grand Front Osaka and Tennoji's Abeno Harukas. Osaka is a place to eat, eat, eat, with local specialties like takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and kushi-katsu, and for extra fun, it's home to Universal Studios Japan.
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CHUGOKU
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The Chugoku Region (中国地方) consists of five prefectures: Hiroshima, Okayama, Shimane, Tottori, and Yamaguchi. In Chugoku you’ll find the sand dunes of Tottori, and Hiroshima’s atomic bomb site, plus centers of ancient history like Grand Shrine of Izumo.
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HIROSHIMA
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Hiroshima Prefecture has everything, from world heritage sites to beautiful nature and delicious local cuisine, and it's either an hour and a half from Tokyo by plane, or four hours by train. Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island and the Atomic Bomb Dome, two Hiroshima UNESCO sites, are famous around the world, but in Japan it's also famous for food. Seafood from the Seto Inland Sea, especially oysters, Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, and Setouchi lemons are all popular, and the natural scenery alone is worth seeing.
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SHIKOKU
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On the other side of the Seto Inland Sea opposite Japan’s main island, Shikoku (四国) is a region made up of four prefectures: Ehime, Kagawa, Kochi, and Tokushima. The area is famous for its udon (in Kagawa), and the beautiful Dogo Onsen hot springs (in Ehime).
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KAGAWA
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Kagawa Prefecture is on the northern part of the island of Shikoku, facing Japan's main island and the Seto Inland Sea. It's known for being the smallest prefecture in Japan, by area, but at the same time Kagawa is called the "Udon Prefecture" thanks to its famous sanuki udon. Aside from Kotohiragu Shrine and Ritsurin Garden, the prefecture's small islands are popular, and Kagawa is full of unique destinations, like Angel Road. They say that if you lay eyes on Zenigata Sunae, a huge Kagawa sand painting, you'll never have money troubles ever again.
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KYUSHU
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Located in the most southwestern part of Japan, Kyushu (九州) is an island of 7 prefectures: Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Oita, Miyazaki, and Kagoshima. The island's unique culture has been influenced by Chinese and Dutch trade, along with missionaries coming in through Nagasaki's port. Modern-day travelers love the lush natural scenery and fresh food, plus the natural hot springs found all throughout the area (thanks to volcanic activity)!
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FUKUOKA
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Fukuoka Prefecture has the highest population on the southern island of Kyushu, with two major cities: Fukuoka and Kitakyushu. Thanks to growing transportation networks, Fukuoka is more accessible than ever, and so are the many local attractions. On top of historical spots like Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, travelers shouldn't miss Fukuoka's food scene, with motsu nabe (offal hotpot), mentaiko (spicy cod roe), and famous Hakata ramen―best eaten from a food stall in the Nakasu area of Hakata. Plus, it's full of all sorts of destinations for travelers, like trendy shopping centers, and the beautiful nature of Itoshima and Yanagawa.
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KAGOSHIMA
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Kagoshima Prefecture played a major role in Japan's modernization as a backdrop for famous historical figures like samurais Saigo Takamori and Okubo Toshimichi, who pushed Japan out of the Edo era and into the Meiji. Because of that, Sengan-en Garden is just one of many historical destinations, and when it comes to attractions Kagoshima has plenty: the active volcano of Sakurajima, popular hot springs Ibusuki Onsen and Kirishima Onsen, World Heritage Site Yakushima Island, even what Japan calls the "island closest to heaven," Amami Oshima. Kagoshima might be found on the very southernmost tip of the southern island of Kyushu, but there's plenty to see.
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OKINAWA
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The island chain of Okinawa (沖縄) makes up the southernmost tip of Japan, which is why it's also the most tropical area in the country. Thanks to a history of independence and totally distinct political and cultural events, Okinawa has a unique culture, and remnants of the Ryukyu Kingdom are still visible all over the islands. Food, language, traditional dress, it's all a little different! It's also said to be the birthplace of karate.
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