Choshi Electric Railway and Inubosaki: A Beloved Local Line and Honshu's Easternmost Cape

The Choshi Electric Railway in Choshi City, Chiba is a tiny local line of just about 6.4 km. Even so, it is known nationwide for its famous wet rice crackers and inventive management, and today it has passionate fans who love to cheer it on. Near the terminus at Togawa Station lies Inubosaki, celebrated as one of the earliest capes in Honshu to see the first sunrise of the year. Rocking along on a slow retro train toward the cape, you can enjoy both a rail journey and grand scenery in this distinctly Boso local trip.

Highlights

• Riding the Choshi Electric Railway: a local line running about 6.4 km from Choshi Station to Togawa Station, with retro cars and small stations retaining a Showa-era feel that rail fans love.
• Wet rice crackers: a famous product that helped save the railway from crisis, made with soy sauce from Choshi and served soft and moist. You can buy them onboard or along the line, and buying itself supports the railway.
• Inubo Station: a distinctive Portuguese-style station that serves as the gateway to Inubosaki sightseeing.
• Inubosaki Lighthouse: a white lighthouse first lit in 1874, about 31 meters tall, with a Pacific panorama beyond 99 spiral steps (a National Important Cultural Property).
• Earth-Round Observation Hall: a viewing facility on a rise, known for making the horizon appear curved.

Enjoying the Seasons

Spring (March to May) offers a beautiful contrast of fresh greenery and blue sea, plus coastal flowers such as sea radish. Summer (June to August) is the seaside season for swimming and tide-pool play. Autumn (October to November) brings clear air and migrating birds. Winter (December to January) is the busiest period around the New Year for the first sunrise, and the winter scene of rough waves and the white lighthouse is striking.

Access and Basic Information

• Location: Choshi City, Chiba (Inubosaki Lighthouse is at 9576 Inubosaki).
• Rail to Choshi: Take the JR Sobu Main Line to Choshi Station and transfer to the Choshi Electric Railway; about two hours from Tokyo Station on the limited express Shiosai.
• To Inubosaki: About a 10-minute walk from Inubo Station on the Choshi Electric Railway to the lighthouse.
• Lighthouse admission: 300 yen for adults; free for elementary students and younger (free on November 1).
• Time needed: About 20 minutes to ride the full line, and about one hour to stroll Inubosaki.

Fees and operations may change, so check official information before visiting.

Practical Travel Notes

The best seasons are New Year's Day for the first sunrise and spring to early summer when the sea and greenery are lovely. Combining a railway ride with an Inubosaki stroll, you can make a loop in about half a day. Trains are limited, so checking the timetable in advance keeps things smooth. Nearby are seafood shops at Choshi Port, the Earth-Round Observation Hall, and the Byobugaura cliffs, all easy to combine. Meals of seafood bowls and local fish run from a few hundred to low thousands of yen. Sea winds at the cape are very strong, so prepare well for cold and wind.

A Quick Tip

The Choshi Electric Railway faces ongoing financial hardship, and riding it or buying items such as the wet rice crackers offers direct support, so enjoy the ride and cheer it on. The rocks at Inubosaki can be dangerous on days with high waves; when playing near the tide pools, always check the weather and tide levels.

📚 Sources

For riding the Choshi Electric Railway, its famous wet rice crackers, Inubo Station, Inubosaki Lighthouse (a national Important Cultural Property), and the Earth's Roundness Observatory, information published by the Choshi Electric Railway, Choshi City, related tourism bodies, and the lighthouse administrator is a helpful reference. Check each operator's official timetables for Choshi Station on the JR Sobu Main Line, the Shiosai limited express, and the Choshi Electric Railway. Fares and operation may change, so please confirm with official information before you set out.

Visitor Checklist

• Estimated time needed: About 20 minutes to ride the full Choshi Electric Railway line and about 1 hour to stroll Inubosaki. Together, you can make a loop in about half a day.
• What to bring and prepare: Cash is handy for the lighthouse entry and the onboard wet rice crackers. The cape's sea wind is very strong, so prepare for cold and wind. Wear comfortable shoes to climb the lighthouse's spiral stairs.
• Suggested route: Ride the Choshi Electric Railway from Choshi Station and get off at the Portuguese-style Inubo Station. Pair the roughly 10-minute walk to Inubosaki Lighthouse with the Earth's Roundness Observatory and the Byobugaura cliffs.
• Best time of day: The Choshi Electric Railway runs infrequently, so checking the timetable in advance is smoother.
• Seasonal note: New Year's Day for the first sunrise and spring to early summer for the sea and fresh greenery are good targets.