Kominato Railway Trip

Chiba Prefecture is probably the first stop for most people arriving in Japan. It's also considered Japan's most important gateway. Tokyo Narita Airport is located in Chiba Prefecture, not Tokyo City. Just like arriving in Taipei by plane, your first stop is Taoyuan, not Taipei City. Of course, Chiba is also part of the Tokyo metropolitan area. The area closest to Tokyo is called Central Chiba. This urban area is essentially integrated with Tokyo's living system. Every day, many residents commute to Tokyo for work and school on the Keisei Electric Railway, Sobu-Chuo, and Keiyo lines. Chiba City is also bustling, with numerous shopping malls and department stores, and the station square is bustling with people. But Chiba is actually quite large. Beyond the densely populated Central Chiba, Sawara and Choshi to the north offer rural and small-town scenery. The Uchibo area on Tokyo Bay is home to numerous factories, docks, and towns. The Sotobo area, situated on the Pacific Ocean, is a popular destination for many residents of the Kanto region for water activities or leisurely trips. There's also the Boso Crossroads Railway, which connects the Uchibo area to the Sotobo area. This line, jointly operated by the Kominato Railway and the Isumi Railway, dates back to the days of the National Railways. There's also the Kururi Line, the only non-electrified line in the Tokyo metropolitan area. There are two important reasons for visiting Chiba. The Kominato Railway, already mentioned, operates very old, classic diesel trains, including the Kominato Railway Kiha 200-type electric trains, some of which are nearly 70 years old. Though located in the Tokyo metropolitan area, it's only a 30-40 minute drive away. You can discover a small town that feels like it's been frozen in time in the 1970s. The Kominato Railway Café, located next to Godon Station, is beautifully decorated. Be sure to visit it while waiting for your train. Another reason I decided to travel to Chiba was because I wasn't originally into anime. My friend recommended a few school romance shows to me, and one of them really caught my eye: "Yahari Myojin no Seishun Rakume ha Machigatiru." The entire story, locations, and school setting of "Guaqing" (Ganqing) are all set in Chiba. Therefore, this trip included many special locations in downtown Chiba, such as Sobu High School, the overpass under the national highway, Chiba Tower, and Makuhari Beach. After all, it was a show that inspired me to buy a lot of merchandise. #Kiha200-shaped Keidosha #Kominato Railway #Guaqing #Yahari Myojin no Seishun Rakume ha Machigatiru #Chiba-ken