Chiba Monorail

In video I am taking Chiba monorail from Chiba railway station.


Video: look from front window

I will explain more about this monorail with information from their homepage. There are 4 wagons in monorail train and one can hold up to 79 persons (42 sitting and 37 standing). Self-weight of wagon is 21 tons. Supplied electricity – 1500 volts. This train can achieve velocity up to 65 km/h and acceleration speed is 3.5 km/h per second. To give you an idea how fast it is – it will reach velocity of 50 km/h in about 15 seconds (compare with standard 20 ton trolleybus acceleration to 50 km/h – about 30 seconds). They also have equipped with emergency chutes (similar to those in airplanes) for extraordinary situations so that passengers can slide down safely.

Chiba monorail website claims that it is longest suspended monorail system in the world with total length 15.2 km. There are two lines, which goes out from Chiba station. At the beginning of video – I am taking line No 2, which has total length of 12km and then line No 1 – 3.2 km.

Here is Chiba monorail homepage. They are also working on the new design of this train. I also hope they will extend this line to keep world record - for example, it would be nice to take monorail to some nice beach...

Map
This is that big junction, just after leaving Chiba station. Here lines split.

View Larger Map

Yoro valley in Otaki town

Yoro valley or Yorokeikoku is located in middle of Chiba prefecture. I arrived there in the peak of the autumn foliage season, so it was my most crowded experience outside Tokyo so far.

There are several hiking courses - longest is around 7.5 km and it goes on one side of river bank. Path will lead to Awamata waterfall. Some photos from this hike.


Image: Photoenthusiasts taking photos of train. This photo I took form front window of train


Image: Some of the rocks were impressive


Image: Inside Suigetudera Temple, which is located in the middle of hike


Image: Valley is beautiful in autumn colours



Access:
From Chiba to Goi station. At Goi change to diesel powered train to station called Youroukeiko. Journey takes around 1h from Goi station. Nice views from train.

Extra:

Image: While comming back, I saw girl playing keyboard infront of Chiba station. Later on she and boy with her started to sell recordings and give autographs. She smiled and shook hands with every customer. Group of other people including me were watching whats going on there. Here photos photos speak better than video.

Ohara hadaka matsuri 2007

This is naked mens festival in small town by the coast. Tradition of carrying mikoshi into the sea goes back to Edo period. There are around 19 Shinto shrines participating in the event.


Video: something from Ohara naked man festival. Caution: high volume sound here!

At the begining, mikoshi are gathered for a small ceremony. Interesting was to see that each team tried to throw mikoshi as high in the air as it could. After this ceremony, main event was on the beach. Many people gathered there, like there will be expected good rock concert. Police tried to control those crowds with laudspeakers and ropes. I got pretty good view even I arrived later.

Many people come to visit this festival. As you can see there is sea of cameras. Also, many foreign tourists come to see this event.


Image: Mikoshi in the sea


Image: Having some rest in car service station


Image: Many people took photo opportunity.

Access:
From Tokyo go to Chiba or Sobo station. Change to Sotobori line, which goes to Ohara station. Frequency of trains on Sotobori line is about 1-2 trains in an hour. Festival happens every year on 23rd, 24th September, but check it before going to be sure. There is nice beach near to town as well.

Trip to Nokogiri mountain and Nihonji

Nihonji trip
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Old video, but I made new version and some photos are added. Here I am crossing Tokyo Bay from Kurihama in Kanagawa prefecture to Kanaya in Chiba prefecture. I did not consult any travel guide before leaving and I just wanted to see what I will find. I was glad to discover nice uphill park with Nihonji temple and old Buddha statues.

Tokyo Bay is very busy waterway and crossing it is very interesting, because many ships can be observed from close distance. Our ferry had to change course several times, because of larger ships.


Image: NYK Line container ship


Image: LNG carrier

After arriving in Kanaya port, I took ropeway up the hill. Here is photo from the hill. In larger photo, you can see ferry arriving into port and another one is departing to Kurihama.


Image: Kanaya port, looking North


Image: Look towards South from Kanaya port

On top of hill is mountain park with several Buddha statues - big and small. It has some nice paths, which leads from temple to temple. Some of those paths was used by monks. It is very peaceful and remote place, which makes it ideal for meditations.

Interesting was Hyakushaku Kannon (百尺観音), which was carved in stone and looked very impressive between rocks. I don't understand meaning of name, but 百 hyaku means hundred, 尺 shaku - rule, lenght, 観音 - means "Goddess of Mercy" in English.


Image: Hyakushaku Kannon carved in stone


Image: Interesting cliff - Jigoku-nozoki, which means "look into hell" in Japanese


Image: Part of 1500 Buddha statues - Tikai Arhats

These are 1500 stone figure of Tokai Arhats. They were carved in 1798 and left in various places in rocks. Not all of them are preserved till nowadays. Looking on these Buddha statues was interesting, because every statue has different face expression. If you look on them from any point, it seems that some statues are watching you.


Image: Small temple

Park also features Buddha statue made of stone, which is 31.05 m tall. For comparision - Kamakura Buddha statue is about 13.35 m tall. According to park guidebook, this Buddha statue was completed in 1783 and construction took 3 years for 27 persons. It is also visible on Google maps, which you can check at the end of this post.


Image: Nihonji Buddha statue, which is tallest in Japan

I returned back in evening, saw some more ships.


Image: Ratana Thida on Tokyo - Bangkok route

Access:
From Shinagawa station in Tokyo with Keikyu line (red trains) to Keikyu Kurihama station (around 760 yen and takes more than one hour), then bus to Kurihama port (around 190 yen or taxi around 800 yen). It takes 40 minutes to cross Tokyo Bay with Tokyo Wan ferry (around 700 yen for one day, a little cheaper when buying to and back).

Alternative route - without crossing Tokyo Bay - by train from JR Chiba station to Hamakanaya station. It will take around 90 minutes with local train.

From station walk to cable car station (not long). Have to pay twice - for ropeway (around 900 yen for up and down, children half price) and for entry into park (600 yen, children for less).

Map where Big Buddha can be seen. Drag your mouse to see around this place or click on "-" to zoom out.

Trip to Choshi town and Inobosaki cape, Chiba prefecture

Choshi, Chiba
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Choshi is located on extreme East of Kanto region, Chiba prefecture. It has impressive waves and also first sunrise in Japan on New Years Day.

Movie starts with the glimpse on Choshi railway train, later views of waves and sea from Choshi lighthouse and Byobugaura cliffs, which are called Dover of the East. These are 40-50m cliffs which runs along coastline for 10 km. Now there was small road built, which a bit took away magic and wilderness of the place. At Byobugaura, day turned into night so I returned.


Image: Choshi lighthouse on Inosaki cape


Image: Road goes right by the coast


Image: Byobugaura cliffs are impressive in the dark

Access:
Two hours from Tokyo by train - express train Shiosai around 4220 yen 1h, bus from Tokyo station Yaesu exit - 2500 yen 2h, local train - 2200 yen 3h. Cliffs are away from station. Click here to access town page (opens new window).