CHOSHI－ A full line-up of activities to encounter Japanese cuisine route

STORY

CHOSHI－ A full line-up of activities to encounter Japanese cuisine route

A journey to savor the charms of Choshi, one of the foremost Japanese fishing ports at the eastern tip of Chiba, and a production center for soy sauce since the Edo period.

●Gorgeous and Photogenic CHOSHI

Deha 801 on display at Choshi Dentetsu’s Tokawa Station

You can even take a look inside

Historical display of Higeta soy sauce

The sun rising off Inubosaki Lighthouse is said to be the first place the sun’s rays hit Japan

Sunrise of Inubosaki Lighthouse

1. Choshi Electric Railway

A local train running through an idyllic rural area. You can savor the sight of typical Japanese countryside scenery from the train window.

TOPICS 1: Choshi Dentetsu’s Spooky Ghost Train (Held only during the summer)
Open during the summer, Choshi Dentetsu runs a spooky ghost train service. Before getting on the scary tram, check out the haunted house to make for an even more frightening train ride! Remember though, once you get on this ghostly ride, you ain’t gettin’ off until it stops!

Choshi Dentetsu’s Spooky Ghost Train1

Choshi Dentetsu’s Spooky Ghost Train2

【Information】
Choshi Denkitetsudo: Obake Densha (Ghost Train)
Held from mid-July through the end of August (primarily on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays)
Train runs twice a day at night and takes 2 hours

Information

Choshi Electric Railway | 銚子電気鉄道
Address: Nishishiba-cho - 2 Tokawa-machi, Chodshi-shi, Chiba
Price: One day boarding pass Komawari-tegata, 700 yen

　

2. Choshi fishing port 1st wholesale market

One of the largest ports in all of Japan, Choshi Harbor boasts bringing in the most seafood in all of Japan. With three wholesale markets, the No. 1 Wholesale Market opens up a viewing walkway where you can see auctioneers mongering fish (requires no reservation, but the market is not open to the public on Sundays and national holidays).
Though Tokyo’s Tsukiji has the nation’s largest stock of fish that it takes in from all over the country, at Choshi Harbor you can see the auctioneers selling fresh fish right off the boat and catch a glimpse of a truly fresh catch.

Information

Choshi fishing port 1st wholesale market | 銚子漁港第一卸売場
Address: 1-36-12 Araoi-cho, Choshi-shi, Chiba
Hours: 8:00-11:30
Closed: Sun.,public holidays (tours also available on non-catch days)

　

3. Seafood Restaurant Maiwai

Restaurant directly operated by the Choshi Fisheries Cooperative Association. In addition to the always-popular tuna and horse mackerel, you can also enjoy rare fish not normally sold commercially, at reasonable prices.

Information

Seafood Restaurant Maiwai | 万祝
Address: 186 Iinuma-cho, Choshi-shi, Chiba
Hours: 8:00-14:00
Closed: Tuesdays (holiday in lieu on nextweekday if public holiday)

　

4. Iinuma Kannon (Enpuku-ji Temple)

Locally-produced vegetables, fish, wagashi sweets, and so on available for purchase. By all means try the "soy sauce ice cream" only available at this location.

Information

Iinuma Kannon (Enpuku-ji Temple)｜飯沼観音（圓福寺）
Address: 3-6 Futaba-cho, Choshi-shi, Chiba
Hours: 9:30-18:00 (Sat., Sun., public holidays 9:00-19:00)

　

5. Higeta Soy Sauce Choshi Plant

Tours possible to see tools used in past soy sauce making at plant of soy sauce maker representative of Japanese soy sauce founded in 1616.

Higeta Soy Sauce Choshi Plant2

Higeta Soy Sauce Choshi Plant3

Information

Higeta Soy Sauce Choshi Plant｜ヒゲタしょうゆ銚子工場
Address: 516 Yahata-cho, Choshi-shi, Chiba
Hours: 9:00-16:00 (Sat., Sun., public holidays)

　

6. Choshi Select Market

Locally-produced vegetables, fish, wagashi sweets, and so on available for purchase. By all means try the "soy sauce ice cream" only available at this location.

Information

Choshi Select Market | 銚子セレクトいちば
Address: 3-6 Futaba-cho, Choshi-shi, Chiba
Hours: 9:30-18:00 (Sat., Sun., public holidays 9:00-19:00)

TOPICS 2: Inubosaki Lighthouse, where the sun first touches Japan
In Japan, they refer to the first rising sun of the year as “Hatsuhi No De,” and seeing the sun rising on that day is considered highly auspicious. Near Inubosaki Lighthouse, a 10 minute walk from Choshi Dentetsu Inubo Station, you can find a popular location where people come to see the sun’s rays first touch the shores of Japan.

Inubosaki Lighthouse, where the sun first touches Japan

【Information】
Inubosaki Lighthouse
Address: 9576 Inubosaki, Choshi-shi, Chiba（MAP）

TOPICS 3: Try your hand at roasting Nure Rice Crackers by Inubo Station

Try your hand at roasting Nure Rice Crackers by Inubo Station

Nure rice crackers are made by coating freshly roasted rice crackers with soy sauce, and despite their crunchy texture, they have a certain fluffiness to them as well, making them an irresistible treat. Choshi Electric Railway sells these rice crackers under the name “Choshi Dentetsu no Nure Senbei.”

Try your hand at roasting Nure Rice Crackers by Inubo Station2

Try your hand at roasting Nure Rice Crackers by Inubo Station2

The famous Japanese rice cracker from "Choden no nuresenbei" has more impressive things than its taste. Its story behind the deliciousness is also fascinating! Choshi Electric Railway used to face financial difficulties. However, due to financial support from selling rice cracker, Choshi electric railway can continue its operation and improved its services such as train decoraion from Japanese famous home video game ''Momotaro Dentetsu'' (not operating now). Nowaday, Choshi electric railway is a famous travelling spot for tourists who want to relax and savor photogenic view of Japan's countryside. Moreover, due to its old fashioned and classic style, this electric railway usually can be seen in many movies and dramas scenes.

【Information】
Choshi Electric Railway: Inubo Station Store Location
Address: 9595-1 Inubosaki, Choshi-shi, Chiba（MAP）
Operating Hours: 9:10am. ~ 5:00pm. Freshly roasted nure rice crackers available from 10:00 am. ~ 4:00 pm. They offer courses where you can make you own nure rice cracker from 10:00 am. ~ 3:30 pm.

■Getting to CHOSHI

【Advice:】
Confirm in advance as there are only one to two trains per hour on Choshi Electric Railway Line. The “Misaki-meguri” headland shuttle bus also leaves from bus stop area 4 of JR Choshi Station on Sat., Sun., public holidays (every day during summer season). Get off at “Daiichi Sakana-ichiba” (First fish market). While there are fish wholesale markets numbered one to three, only wholesale market one is open for tours.

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