Chiba is home to Narita International Airport, known as the gateway to Japan’s skies, and is an area that serves as a base for tourism in Japan. It belongs to the Capital Region (the area that includes Tokyo and neighboring prefectures) and has many attractive attractions.
In this article, we will introduce 7 nightlife spots that you should definitely visit to enjoy Chiba at night.
Highlights and characteristics of Chiba at night
When talking about Chiba, the world-famous theme park “Tokyo Disney Resort” is a must-see tourist spot. At night, it is decorated with various illuminations, making it a spot where you can feel like you are in a fantastical dreamland. Many tourists visit it every day, and it can be said to be the best tourist spot in Chiba at night.
Chiba is also surrounded by the sea on three sides, so it has many sea-related tourist spots. The twinkling lights of central Tokyo across the ocean are a wonderful sight. Chiba’s nightlife spots are characterized by a wide variety of spots, including world-famous theme park, sea-related tourist spots, and sky (Narita International Airport)-related tourist spots.
Nightlife spots in Chiba
Recommended #1: Tokyo Disney Resort
(Source: https://www.tokyodisneyresort.jp/)
Tokyo Disney Resort is a world-famous theme park. In 1983, it opened with the single park “Tokyo Disneyland” and in 2001, the second park with the world’s first sea theme “Tokyo DisneySea” was opened. It later developed into Tokyo Disney Resort, complete with hotels, shopping facilities, and more.
There are many spots to enjoy the night view at Tokyo Disney Resort. At night, a magical dream world unfolds, different from the glamorous impression during the day. The classic spot is Cinderella Castle, the symbol of Disneyland. You can see an impressive sight decorated with projection mapping and fireworks. It is a tourist spot recommended for everyone, including couples, families, and friends.
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| Official website | https://www.tokyodisneyresort.jp/ |
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If you plan to enter the park after 5pm on weekdays, we recommend the Night Passport. You can purchase it at a much cheaper price than usual. Please refer to the official website for details.
Recommended #2: Chiba Port Tower
Chiba Port Tower is an observation facility that opened in 1986. It was built as a symbol of Chiba Port, one of Japan’s largest international trade ports. From the observation deck “View Promenade” located 113 meters above ground, you can see the night view of Chiba city and Tokyo Bay. This beautiful night view has been certified as a “Japan Night View Heritage”.
At 109 meters above ground, there is the observation restaurant “Seagull Kitchen”. Here, you can enjoy dinner while watching the beautiful night view. In addition, at 105 meters above ground, there is the “Sunset Promenade”, known as a sacred place for lovers. You can enjoy a romantic date while watching the sparkling night view. For this reason, Chiba Port Tower is a recommended tourist spot for couples.
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| Official website | https://chiba-porttower.com/ |
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During the Christmas season, the entire tower is lit up like a Christmas tree. The 100m tall Jumbo Tree was recognized in the 1989 Guinness Book of World Records as the “world’s largest illuminated tree”.
Recommended #3: Umihotaru
Umihotaru is a rare parking area in the world, located on an artificial island with sea on all sides. This parking area stands alone in the middle of Tokyo Bay, was named Umihotaru, which means “light floating on the sea”. This is a famous tourist spot with 360-degree panoramic views of Tokyo Bay that can only be seen here.
The best time to visit Umihotaru is at night, when you can enjoy the beautiful illuminations. You can see popular tourist spots such as Tokyo Skytree and Tokyo Tower across the pitch black sea. You can also see the fireworks that are launched every night at Tokyo Disney Resort. In addition to the night view on the opposite shore, the road leading from Umihotaru (Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line) itself is beautifully lit up. The sight of a road of light stretching out in the pitch black sea is a truly fantastical sight.
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| Official website | https://www.umihotaru.com/ |
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The scenery isn’t the only attraction of Umihotaru. The five-story building also houses restaurants and shopping facilities, making it a floating shopping mall. At the restaurants, you can enjoy Donburi (Japanese rice bowl) made with ingredients from Chiba, as well as the standard menu of Ramen.
Recommended #4: Soranoyu Spa Resort
(©Chiba Prefectural Tourism & Local Products Association)
“Soranoyu Spa Resort” is a hot spring facility located about 5 minutes by bus from Narita International Airport. The open-air rooftop bath from which you can see the planes is a popular spot. A free shuttle bus runs from Narita International Airport, making it easy to get to.
From the open-air rooftop bath, you can see planes taking off and landing up close. The sound of jet planes reverberates with great force. There is also a flight radar monitor installed in the bath, so you can know when and what kind of planes are coming. This is a recommended spot as your last sightseeing destination, as you can soothe your fatigue in the hot spring from sightseeing in Japan before returning home.
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| Official website | https://soranoyu.com/ |
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There is a tourist spot called “Naritasan Shinshoji Temple” nearby. We recommend visiting Naritasan Shinshoji Temple before visiting the hot springs.
Recommended #5: Factory Night View Cruise
This is a tour on a cruise ship to see the night view of Chiba’s factories. In Chiba at night, the night view of the factories is a popular tourist spot. The tour lasts about 70 minutes, so you can tour at your leisure.
On this tour, you can admire the amber-hued night view of large factories from the cruise ship. The sight of flames shooting up and the huge factory emitting realistic machine sounds will make you feel as if you have entered the world of a science fiction movie. This is a recommended tourist spot where you can learn about modern Japan.
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| Tour information | https://kojoyakei.info/ |
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Recommended #6: K’s Harbor PIER-01
(Source: https://ksnetwork.co.jp/pier/)
PIER-01 is a seafood restaurant located in the passenger ship terminal “K’s Harbor” in Chiba City. You can enjoy fresh seafood pulled from the fish tank inside the restaurant cooked to your liking.
Inside the restaurant, there is a huge 8.5m-tall fish tank, so you can enjoy your meal as if you were in an aquarium. It is a popular restaurant with a stylish atmosphere. At night, the terrace seats sparkle and you can dine while looking out at the sea. The romantic atmosphere makes it a great choice for couples.
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| Official website | https://ksnetwork.co.jp/pier/ |
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Recommended #7: The SUNSET Pier & Café
“The SUNSET Pier & Café” is a wooden deck pier located on “Inage no hama”, Japan’s first artificial beach. It extends from the main street towards the sea, so you can enjoy the atmosphere of walking on the sea.
You can also enjoy the atmosphere of a beach cafe by purchasing drinks and snacks from a nearby food truck and using the tables and chairs at the end of the deck. Of course, anyone can use it. You can watch the sun go down in the evening or relaxing in the wonderfully lit atmosphere at night.
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| Official website | https://sunsetbeachpark.jp/facility/5 |
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