20 min. Stop by on your way by express train 60~80by train min. from Narita Airport from Narita Airport from Station to Tokyo! INZAI CITY Inzai f lower guide This area boasts flowers of all four seasons This is what the city of Inzai is like

Original grilled- by-hand senbei Traditional events rice crackers deeply rooted in the area from ancient times

Make the most of your day off Narita Airport — Some fun activities Tokyo INZAI

Chiba Pref. Introducing recommended shops Living in New Town This is what the city of This area boasts flowers of all four seasons Inzai f lower guide Inzai City data 2 As of the end of January 2021 Enjoy flowers during all four seasons that evoke images of Area : 123.79km 2 Cherry is like Total population : 105,843 Inzai's harmonious balance between the city and nature. Inzai Population density : 855 people/km blossom There are various spots around the city where you can Located in northwest , this area can be easily enjoy the seasonal flowers. accessed from downtown Tokyo and Narita Internation- trees al Airport. Incorporating urban and rural features, this city Flowering season: Early to mid-April enables people and nature to co-exist and live in harmony… (* Blossoms are in full bloom only 2–3 days) That is Inzai City. Inzai City Great cherry blossom Mascot character "Inzai-kun" The seal of the Japanese character for "In" is a tree of Yoshitaka trademark of Inzai City. A cosmos, the official About the Symbol flower of the city, is blooming from the tail. This yamazakura cherry blossom (moun- If you swipe a smartphone that has tain cherry blossom), considered a natural the dedicated application down- monument, is said to be more than 300 loaded onto it over a photo with years old. It is so large that from a distance the symbol that is published in Kioroshi Sta. JR this magazine, you will be able to it appears like a pink hill. During average watch the video. For details, please Inzai City Hall Kobayashi Sta. years, it blooms about one week later than refer to page 8. the someiyoshino cherry blossoms, mak- ing a beautiful contrast with the yellow rape Cherry blossom trees of Kobayashi Ranch Inbanuma Park Take the bus from Ko- Take the bus from Imba blossoms that bloom at the same time. bayashi Station on the JR Narita nihon-idai Station on the Hoku- Access from the city center Take the bus from Kobayashi Station on the JR Line or Inzai-Makinohara Station so Line bound for Keisei-Usui (from Tokyo) Narita Line, Imba nihon-idai Station on the Hokuso Line, on the Hokuso Line (5–10 min- Station on the Keisei Line (30 Keisei-Sakura Station or Keisei- Station on the Keisei utes). Get off at Kobayashi-boku- minutes). Get off at Moroto and Inzai-Makinohara Sta. uso Railway/Narita Line. Get off at Kyoshujo-mae and walk for 15 minutes. jo. walk for five minutes. Hok Sky Ac Inbanuma cess (North Inbanuma) Chiba Newtown Chuo Sta. → To Chiba Newtown Chuo Station (JR, Keisei Electric Railway, Hokuso Railway) 1 hour–1 hour 10 minutes. Imba nihon-idai Sta. Red Spider Lily Hydrangeas → To Kioroshi Station (JR) Narita S Around ky Access 1 hour 10 minutes–1 hour 20 minutes. Flowering season: Late September to mid-October Flowering season: Early June to Early July Kioroshi Station The city has long flourished as a base for water → Approx. 50km from Tokyo Station to Inzai Kechien-ji Temple Matsumushi-dera Temple transportation and a post-town for highways. City Hall, approx. The standing copper statue of the Fudo Myo-O The origin of the name of the temple, decorated with Historical temples 1 hour 30 minutes Buddhist protector installed in the main hall of gorgeous hydrangeas on the grounds, comes from and shrines and → Expressway (via Shuto Expwy. and Kei- Kechien-ji Temple is a national treasure. The area the story of Princess Matsumushi (years of birth and old houses can yo-doro) approx. is surrounded by gingko trees, while in autumn death unknown), daughter of Emperor Shomu (701– be found nearby, 1 hour 15 minutes. the temple grounds blossom with red spider lily. 756), who is said to have been cured of illness by the Bhaisajyaguru and you can also Inbanuma (West Inbanuma) (Medicine Buddha) image enshrined here. enjoy sightseeing Take the bus from Chiba Newtown Chuo Station on the Hokuso Line bound for Taka- bana. Get off at Takabana-danchi-iriguchi and walk for 8 minutes. 15-minute walk from Imba nihon-idai Station on the Hokuso Line by boat.

Makinohara Park Around Inbanuma Cosmos 2-minute walk from Inzai-Makinohara Station on the Hokuso Line Chiba New Town District The area around Inbanuma Marsh, Chi- Flowering season: Early October to mid-November The area features beauti- ba Prefecture’s largest marsh, offers Hokuso Hananooka Park ful expansive cityscapes nostalgic views of the countryside in- Moroto cosmos fields 10-minute walk from Chiba Newtown designed based on ur- cluding rice fields. The area also boasts To the west of Inbanuma Marsh, a field of cosmos Chuo Station on the Hokuso Line ban planning. Various parks, bicycling roads, cherry blos- planted by private organizations decorates a section commercial facilities and som-viewing spots, and more, drawing of a large area near the Inbanuma Park. Takefukuro Chosei Ike restaurants can be found numerous visitors from inside and out- (Takefukuro Reservoir) Take the bus from Imba nihon-idai Station on the Hokuso Line in the area. side of the City. bound for Keisei-Usui Station on the Keisei Line (30 minutes). Get off at 15-minute walk from Kioroshi Station Moroto and walk for ten minutes. on the JR Narita Line

2 3 Event calendar Traditional Late March to mid-April Recommended spots Kobayashi Ranch, Great cherry blossom tree of Yoshitaka, Lion Dance at Hachiman-jinja Shrine during cherry events blossom season along the Hokuso Line May 3 Recommended stores in Chiba New Town and the surrounding areas Lion Dance at Tomi- jinja Shrine (Hiraoka of Inzai area) Many traditional events that are deeply rooted in the area have been Mid-July Bakery Cornet garden house café Garden cafe Kazekusa passed down to this day in Inzai. Rokken Itsuku A broad selection of hard breads, danish- A cute, handmade-look cafe featuring wood- This charming café surrounded by oak trees shima-jinja Shrine es, and more make this shop a popular en interior. The menu features primarily Eu- is located in a traditional house in a Festival spot. Low-temperature fermentation over ropean/American-style dishes, such as eggs remnant of times past. The visitor Coinciding with the harvesting season, Inzai's many hours engenders delicious flavor. benedict and Hamburg steak. Inside the cafe, can sit on the terrace for a terrific

shishimai is dedicated to the various shrines three there is an adjoining space that sells miscel- view of Inba- Last weekend in July Shishimai times a year. Participants wear lion masks and dis- laneous goods, numa Marsh. play their dances accompanied with music. Afuri-jinja Shrine Fes where you can The ceramic (Lion Dance) tival (Kosai-Shinden) Urabe Kagura (Sun- also eat togeth- dishware is Lion Dance in Bessho Lion Dance at Tomi- days only) er with your pet. even made (city-designated jinja Shrine by the owner. intangible folk cultural (prefectural intangible folk properties) cultural properties) August 24 Date officially designated: Date officially designated: Lion Dance in Bessho 5-minute drive from Inzai-Makinohara Station/Hours: 6-minute drive from Inzai-Mak- 10-minute drive from Imba nihon-idai Station / April 19, 1966 December 15, 1955 Open 8:00 (Saturdays and Sundays open at 7:00, ticket sales inohara Station/ Hours: 11:00–15:00/ Hours: Monday–Saturday 2nd and 4th weeks of the month, end when sold out) / Closed: Mondays and Tuesdays Closed: Saturday–Tuesday, public holiday 11:00–17:00 (Winter hours: Closed 16:00) / Closed: Sundays

Lion Dance at Inazaki Lion Dance Autumnal Equinox Day (September) Garden Cafe Matsumushi coffee Sabo Miyasaki-tei Tea House Hachiman-jinja (city-designated intangible Inazaki Lion Dance This welcoming space is located next to the This tea house-style restaurant oc- Shrine folk properties) (Izumi area) Matsumushi-dera Temple. Take in distinctive cupies a renovated traditional Jap- (city-designated intangible Date officially designated: views of the four seasons while anese farmhouse—one of the larg- folk cultural properties) April 19, 1966 you drink authentic coffees. est of its kind in Inzai City—dating Date officially designated: Light fare is also available. back 240 years. It also features a April 1, 1974 October 17 (Lunch is served on Saturdays, gallery where the visitor can view a Kagura at Torimi- jinja Shrine Sundays and holidays only). beautifully tended garden. (Nakane area) The festivals dedicated to shrines have a long history 3-minute drive from Imba nihon-idai Station / Hours: 10:00–17:30 / Closed: Tuesdays, 9-minute drive from Chiba Newtown Chuo Station / Hours: 11:00–16:00 (Lunch starts 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month at 11:30) / Closed: Sunday–Wednesday continuing from the Muromachi period and early . Kagura Mid-October Urabe Kagura Kagura at Torimi-jinja Inzai Furusato (prefectural intangible folk Shrine Festival Ristorante Dal Cuore Manai-no-yu Hot Spring The Blue Grotto: Relaxation Spa properties) (prefectural intangible folk This is authentic Italian featuring careful- This natural hot spring boasts a constant- Try out the many different kinds of baths Date officially designated: cultural properties) ly-selected ingredients, such as vegeta- ly-flowing stream. There are different baths here at this relaxation spa, including the December 22, 1967 Date officially designated: bles from locally contracted farmers. Try to choose form including an outdoor bath, Umihotaru (Sea Firefly) bath, which offers June 9, 1961 as well as jar-shaped and carbonated baths. highly concentrated carbonic waters, and Third Sunday in October our popular meal courses, which are ideal for birthdays and other celebrations! Visitors can the man-made al- Urabe Kagura also get a kaline Blue Grot- Festivals in which local residents participate body scrub to bath—created in are carried out in various parts of Inzai. Festivals, etc. treatment or based on the grot- a massage! to of the island of Hashigo (Ladder) Festival at Afuri-jinja Shrine Rokken Itsukushima-jinja Shrine Festival December 31 Capri, Italy. This festival is held every July at the This festival, featuring separate tra- Rokken Itsukushima- Afuri-jinja Shrine. Amidst the excit- ditional portable shrines carried by jinja Shrine ed cheers of the crowds, traditional adults and children, plus three kagu- New Year floats 10-minute walk from Chiba Newtown Chuo Station / 8-minute drive from Chiba Newtown Chuo Station. portable shrines come crashing to ra floats, winds through the streets Hours: 9:00–23:30 (building closed at 24:00) / On Saturdays, Located on theGreen./Hours: 10:00–22:30 (building closes the ground to ward off evil spirits. of the Rokken area near Kioroshi Sundays and holidays open at 8:00 / Closed periodically on at 23:00)/Closed: Wednesdays/Admission: ¥700 (Saturdays, Station. This event is held for three 10-minute walk from Inba Nihon-Idai Station/ Hours: an irregular basis / Admission: ¥800 (Saturdays, Sundays Sundays and holidays: ¥800, Children 2 & under: ¥300, Book days every year in mid-July. 11:30–14:30, 17:30–21:30 /Closed: Wednesdays and holidays ¥900, ¥200 discount after 22:00) of tickets: ¥6,800)

4 5 S TAY hotel

APA Hotel Enjoy activities (in front of Chiba Inzai Makinohara Station) Enjoy eating breakfast and Hand-grilled rice crackers drinking at the bar at the ad- Enjoy a wide variety of activities in Inzai, which is surrounded by joining "PRONTO". The rice crackers carefully made by hand nature and water. using traditional techniques are a local specialty of Inzai. from Inzai Single ¥6,200 and up/ Mizu-no-Sato Inzai Leisurely River Ride Twin ¥4,900 (tax included) The boat route traverses the Rokkengawa River, Reservations and Inquiries Iwasaki Beikaten Kawamura Shoten Bentengawa River, and Tegakawa River connect- Hotel Mark-1 CNT Rice Cracker Shop Rice Cracker Shop ing Teganuma Marsh and the Tonegawa River. As A business hotel located near you go along, you can imagine times past when the station that features a hot This shop dates back to the early This shop boasts a 94-year Kioroshi thrived as a riverside town spring and is popu- period (1868–1912). Choose history. Using locally grown lar among women. from a variety of flavors, all free koshihikari rice, all products Single ¥5,400 and up/ of additives and chemical season- are hand-made and care- (Rocky Inzai) Twin ¥3,900 and up (tax included, ings. Each cracker is meticulously fully charcoal-roasted. The Bouldering Hands-on harvest experience with breakfast)/Fully equipped charcoal-grilled using traditional store makes their famous This is one of ’s largest bouldering facili- Inzai City produces a lot with a large public bath methods. soy sauce flavor. ties. It accommodates all levels from beginning of vegitables and fruits. to intermediate and advanced and-there is even You can experience pick- Hotel Route Inn (Chiba Newtown Chuo Ekimae) a family area. ing strawberrys and blue- Complimentary breakfast buf- berrys at some farms. 8:00–19:00 / Monday–Friday 8:30–19:00, Saturday 9:00–18:00, 7-minute walk from fet available. Choose from 30- Open daily year-round Sunday 9:00–17:00 / Open daily year-round Inzai-Makinohara Station /Hours: plus items, every Weekdays 10:00-23:00 (Saturdays, Sundays and holidays 10:00-21:00) Strawberry picking morning! / Closed: Once a month on an Wada Farms irregular basis/Admission: Mem- Urabe Senbei Sekiguchi Beikaten 11-minute drive from Imba nihon-idai Single ¥6,800 and up/ bership: ¥500, Facility use: Adults Station / Hours: January–May 9:00–16:00 (closed Twin ¥6,000 and up (tax Rice Cracker Shop Rice Cracker Shop ¥1,900 and up, children ¥1,600 and when strawberries are all gone) / Closed periodically on an irreg- included) up (see the official site for details) ular basis/Admission: ¥1,100–2,000 (differs depending on the These rice crackers feature The dough used to make season) Ryokan Kouseikan koshihikari rice grown near- these soy sauce flavor rice by as well as a legendary crackers, roasted to aromat- Blueberry picking A ryokan (Japanese-style inn) secret sauce in the soy fla- ic perfection, is sun-dried Bird-watching Blueberry Farms Kodera with all Japanese-style rooms. vor. Choose from the three to perfection in the tradi- There are numerous waterfront parks and res- 5-minute drive from Kobayashi flavors of soy sauce, golden tional way. The shop won ervoirs in the city—all of which are indispensa- Station / Hours: Mid-June to mid-September 10:00–17:00 / Closed:Mondays / No admis- ¥6,000 (tax not included, sesame, and hot chili. the Prime Minister’s Prize at ble to bird-watching. sion, 100g for ¥200 and up Water birds can also with two meals). Inquire with the National reception regarding longer be observed from Blueberry Kids Sweets Ex- 8-minute drive from Kioroshi Station/Hours: Mid-June stays. hibition. atop boats. to mid-August 8:00–14:30 / Closed: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays / Admission: ¥500, All-you-can-pick-and-eat course (90 8:00–19:00 / Open daily year-round 9:00–18:00 / Closed: Sundays minutes) ¥1,000 Choshiya Ryokan A well-established ryokan continued Inba Blueberry Farms (Izumi kouen Park Golf course) 10-minute drive from Imba nihon-idai Station / Hours: from the Edo period. The ryokan has Ebihara Beika Oyasuya Doi Beika Park Golf Early July to late August (phone reservation required) / Admission: an adjoining restaurant The sport of park golf uses balls that are larg- ¥3,500, 100g for ¥200 as well. Rice Cracker Shop Rice Cracker Shop er than ordinary golf balls—and you can start ¥6,000 (tax not included, This special dough features This traditional shop, dating easily with a single club! But don’t wear leather with two meals) / ¥4,500(tax a unique texture drawing back to 1906, is known for shoes or high heels! (Hiraoka Shizen-no-ie) not included, board with no Camping meals) on the natural rice granules its special sun-dried dough This facility is centered around a gymnasium rather than making them into which strips of nori surrounded by forest in the northern part of the into a fine powder. It utilizes seaweed are kneaded in. Ryoso Ashinoya city. There is even a cooking space in the mul- koshihikari rice grown in- Grilled between iron plates, This ryokan is also available ti-purpose outdoor plaza. house. the product is easy for even for business guests for longer the elderly 10-minute drive from Kioroshi stays, or as a train- to eat. Station / Hours: 9:00–17:00 (reception ing camp site. open) / Closed: Mondays (the next 7-minute drive from Chiba Newtown Chuo Station / Hours: ¥5,500 and up (tax not 9:00–17:00 (November–February closed at 16:30), last start at business day when a holiday falls on included, with two meals). Prices 9:00–sunset / Open daily year-round 8:30–18:00 / Closed periodically on an irregular basis 15:30 / Admission: General admission ¥510 pertime, four hours a Monday, 12/28–1/4) / Admission: may vary for long-term stays or ¥610, day ¥1,020 (double price for visitors from outside the city) / Camp (multi-purpose plaza) ¥520 per stays with two or more guests Monday(the next day when a holiday falls on a Monday) group per day

6 7 By Train About the AR Function of This Book Tokyo JR Yamanote Line Ueno JR Joban / Narita Line Kioroshi The AR function that has been attached to this book can play Sta. Approx. 8mins Sta. Approx imately 70 minutes by rapid train Sta. videos by simply swiping a smartphone or tablet that has the dedicated application downloaded onto it over the corre- Tokyo JR Yamanote Line Nippori Keisei Line Keisei Hokuso Railway Chiba Newtown sponding photo. In order to use this function, the following Sta. Approx. 12mins Sta. Approx. 20mins Takasago Sta. Approximately 18 minutes Chuo Sta. by Access Express train procedures are required. AR (augmented reality) is an interac- tive experience of a real-world environment where the objects Narita International JR Narita Line Narita JR Narita Line Kioroshi in the real-world are “augmented” by computer-generated per- Airport Approx. 10mins Sta. Approx. 22mins Sta. ceptual information. Narita International Narita Sky Access / Hokuso Railway Chiba Newtown 1) Search for the AR application “aug!” (free) at the App Store Airport Approximately 18 minutes by Access Express train Chuo Sta. or Google Play and download it onto your smartphone or tab- ※ The above are some examples amongst several different means ofaccessing the location. let. By Car 2) Start-up the downloaded application. 3) Swipe the smartphone or tablet over a photo with the Going from Tokyo to Inzai City Hall area Tokyo Inzai City Hall symbol. Time required: 1 hour and 15 minutes to 1 hour and 30 minutes 4) The video will be played along with the audio. Highway Via Japan National Tokyo Chiba-kita IC Inzai City Hall Precautions (Metropolitan Expressway / Keiyo Expressway) Route 16 *For smartphones or tablets running iOS 9 or later, or Android 4.4 or later. We do not guarantee operation Highway Prefectural Road 170 / Japan for some Android models. Tokyo IC Inzai City Hall *The application can be used on a 3G environment, but we recommend using it on a high-speed commu- (Metropolitan Expressway / Joban Expressway) National Route 356, etc. nication environment such as Wi-Fi or LTE for smoother playback. Public roads *You will be charged a packet communication fee to use the application. Tokyo Inzai City Hall *Due to circumstances such as system maintenance, the service may be stopped or modified without (Japan National Routes 6 and 464) notice.

Inzai City Commerce and Tourism Department ● The published data is as of December, 2020. The data may be changed, so please confirm in advance during use. TEL: (direct line) 〒270-1396 2364-2 Omori, Inzai 0476-33-4477 ●Please note that we shall not be held responsible for any trouble or damages that may be incurred from the Inzai City Homepage http://www.city.inzai.lg.jp/ content published in this magazine. Cooperation: NPO Organization Inzai City Tourism Association ● The opening hours and business hours are based on the time from the final admission to the final order. http://www.inzaikankoukyokai.com ●Only regular days off are displayed as holidays, and temporary closures and Obon and New Year holidays are The Inzai Society of Commerce and Industry http://www.inzai.or.jp excluded. ● No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without permission. Published in March 2021 Production: Shobunsha Publications, Inc. TEL: 03-5625-4189 ● Shobunsha Publications, Inc. March, 2021 8