Chiba

About Chiba

Chiba Prefecture occupies the southeast of Kanto, east of Tokyo, with an area of 5,156.48 square kilometers ranking 28th and a population of about 6,280,000 ranking sixth nationwide. Its capital is Chiba City, an ordinance-designated city of about one million. Geographically the prefecture covers most of the Boso Peninsula plus Shimosa Plateau; it is unique in Japan for having no land above 500 meters, its highest point being Mt. Atago at 408.2 meters in Minamiboso, the lowest high point among prefectures, and average elevation of only 46 meters. North is Kanto Plain lowland with Shimosa and Kazusa terraces and lowland along the Tone and Edo Rivers, south is Boso Hills with rolling forest. Three sides face the Pacific and Tokyo Bay, giving long coastlines including the 66-kilometer Kujukuri Beach strand on the outer Pacific and inner bay tidal flats such as Sanbanze. Historically the area comprised Kazusa, Awa and part of Shimosa provinces, documented since the Man’yoshu poems of Nara times. Early Meiji created Inba and Kisarazu prefectures merging on June 15, 1873 at Chiba Castle town, hence June 15 prefectural day, later incorporating Katori, Kaijo and Sosa counties from dissolved Shinj prefecture in 1875 to form present boundaries. Climate is humid subtropical Cfa with strong oceanic moderation: winters are mild with few frost days along the coast due to the Kuroshio Current, summers are cooler than Tokyo, especially Katsuura where extreme highs above 35C have never been recorded. Northern inland Sakura and Narita feel Tsukuba-oroshi north winds and see lows to -8C, while bay areas experience heat-island warming with tropical nights. Precipitation is high in September-October from typhoons. Industry benefits from huge flat buildable land and sea access. Agriculture output ranks fourth nationwide with peanuts first in Japan, over 80 percent of national share, plus leeks, daikon, carrots and pears. Soy sauce from Noda and Choshi has national fame. Fish catches center on Choshi Port among Japan’s top three, with sardine and mackerel. Iodine extracted from accompanying gas of Minami Kanto field in Mobara produces about a quarter of world iodine. The Tokyo Bay coastal belt from Urayasu to Futtsu forms the Keiyo Industrial Complex with crude oil refineries, petrochemistry, steel in Kimitsu and LNG terminals. Inland Inzai is nicknamed Data Center Ginza for hyperscale farms. Narita Airport handles Japan’s largest international cargo. Tourism includes Shinsho-ji Temple in Narita founded in 940, frequented by 10 million for Hatsumode, Tokyo Disney Resort in Urayasu, Cape Inubo as Kanto’s easternmost point, Kujukuri surf beach, Nokogiri-yama giant Buddha, Chiba Section GSSP stratum giving the name Chibanian, and Kamogawa Sea World marine shows.