LET'S HAVE FUN TOGETHER at CHIBA PARKS, SHRINES & MUSEUMS!
😎
Let's visit INOHANA-JO (AKA: Chiba Castle) on the hill above Chiba City, explore the fascinating Chiba Folk Museum, walk to the Natural History Museum of Chiba*, visiting remarkable historic places on our way to BIG, BEAUTIFUL, AOBANOMORI PARK! https://www.city.chiba.jp/kyodo/index.html
🏯
The Chiba Clan ruled here since the Kamakura Era! A reconstructed castle in set in a lovely green hilltop park & the area is historically significant, with lovely shrines & temples, some of which date from the 8th C. Nara Era! CASTLE & Museum ADMISSION IS FREE!
🔱
"Chiba Tsuneshige built a castle on the hill in the 1100's. His descendants ruled the area from this castle until the late 1400's.
🐸🦊🐘🦖🐳
*The Chiba Natural History Museum (千葉県立中央博物館) illuminates the natural & human history of Chiba's Boso Peninsula, with colorful displays including gorgeous crystals & creatures of all kinds, such as birds, fish, amphibians, mammals, dinosaurs, whales & much more, plus a native-plant garden!
🐬
Museum Website: http://www2.chiba-muse.or.jp/www/NATURAL/index.html
🦕 (Admission: ¥500, high school: ¥250)
🌲🌸
Aobanomori Park is quite large, with many features including ponds, fountains & an archeological zone, plus beautiful spring greenery & ROSES!
🌹
PLACES WE MAY VISIT ON OUR TOUR:
-> Inohanatei いのはな亭
"A Japanese sweets shop located at Inohana Castle (Chiba Castle). The rice ball set was delicious, and the matcha and mugwort dumplings I had were both great!"
🍡🍵
-> Chiba City Folk Museum 千葉市立郷土博物館
Castle-style folk museum with an observation deck & exhibits.
🛕
-> TOZEN-JI 東禅寺
A Zen temple known as "Chiba Yakushi" said to have been founded by
Sadatane Chiba during the Kamakura era. "The main feature of Yakushi Nyorai, a wooden Buddha from early Kamakura period & "has a gentle face that makes you want to keep praying." The chief priest & temple staff are very kind & pleasant!
🙏🏻
KAIJO-SAN Chiba Temple 千葉寺
Beautiful Kaijo-san, also known as Chiba-dera is the oldest temple in the city, founded in 709. The Ginkgo tree here, planted in 710 is larger than the ginkgo tree at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura, at a height of 30 meters and a girth of 8 meters! The tree has become so familiar to the citizens that it has become a symbol of Chiba-dera. The 11-headed Kannon is enshrined here. This temple is #28 of the Chiba's 33 Kannon Sacred Henro (pilgrimage) sites.
🧙🏻♀️🧙🏻♂️
"It is located along the ancient Oami Kaido Road. In addition to historic main shrine & Niomon gate, there is Takizura Shrine. The large ginkgo tree on the temple grounds is worth seeing. It's designated as a natural monument of Chiba Prefecture. I received the goshuin stamp directly. It's simple but vibrant and wonderful."
⛩
-> TAKIZURA-JINJA serves as the guardian deity of the five villages of Chiba-dera Temple! This was a very important shrine in ancient times, which still holds major festivals each year on July 17th and 18th!
🐲
"Since Ryuzo is Takizo, Sansui is the god of Wadatsumi related to water. It's Seoritsu-hime from Harado since the Dragon shrine's associated with water! There is another shrine (Yashiro) to the right of the front of the shrine, this one has Koyasu Shrine & Hari Kuyo in Osugi Shrine! Few people notice, but the higher peak on the opposite left is Mt. Fuji of Fujiko!"
🌄
-> AOBANOMORI PARK & Chiba Natural History Museum is a short walk from Kaiko-san. There we can stroll, have a picnic & socialize before visiting the superb museum!
🍱🍻🍰
-> SCULPTURE PLAZA 彫刻の広場
Around 20 sculptures are displayed. The sculpture plaza is sloped, with the Greek-style building in the Western garden at the top. When viewed from the plaza on the Western garden side, you can see the town spread out in the distance, Chiba Port Tower, etc. You can see it all!
⛵⚓🛫🚢
We'll meet just outside the Central ticket gate of JR Chiba Station at 10am, leave there at 10:15, then take a short bus ride to Chiba Castle.
OR, WE CAN WALK!
🚉
(From Tokyo station, it takes just 29-38 minutes by the Blue Sobu Rapid, or LTD. EXP SHIOSAI 3 train to reach JR Chiba, depending on when you leave!)
👉🏻 Please remember to bring your lunch or snacks & drink, or buy what you need at New Days so we can eat together in the park.
😃
If the weather is nice, we may walk back to Chiba station, visiting gorgeous MYOKEN SHRINE on the way. A beautiful shrine, dedicated to the God of the North Star! (Polaris) It's an easy walk on city streets, but please wear comfortable shoes!
🏃🏻♂️🚶🏻♂️🏃🏻♀️🤸🏻♂️💃🏻
KIDS ARE WELCOME & ATTEND FREE WITH A PARENT!
SO, WHY DON'T WE ALL GO?
~ KERRY D. 😃