Chiba Prefecture facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chiba Prefecture 千葉県
Prefecture
Japanese transcription(s)
• Japanese	千葉県
• Rōmaji	Chiba-ken
Cape Inubō Lake Tega Kujūkuri Beach Narita Shinshō Temple Yatsu Tidal-flat Tokyo Disneyland Kamogawa Seaworld
Flag Symbol
Anthem: Chiba kenminka
Country	Japan
Region	Kantō
Island	Honshu
Capital	Chiba
Subdivisions	Districts: 6, Municipalities: 54
Area
• Total	5,157.61 km2 (1,991.36 sq mi)
Area rank	28th
Population  (June 1, 2019)
• Total	6,278,060
• Rank	6th
• Density	1,217.2421/km2 (3,152.643/sq mi)
GDP
• Total	JP¥ 21,280 billion US$ 195.2 billion (2019)
ISO 3166 code	JP-12
Symbols Bird Meadow bunting Fish Seabream Flower Seiyō aburana blossom Tree Kusamaki

Boso Peninsula is a large part of Chiba.

The Keiyō Industrial Zone is one of Japan's biggest industrial areas. It's located in Chiba Prefecture, with Mount Fuji in the distance.

Chiba Prefecture (千葉県, Chiba-ken) is a prefecture (like a state or province) in Japan. It's located in the Kantō region on the island of Honshu. Chiba Prefecture has about 6.2 million people (as of June 2019) and covers an area of about 5,157 square kilometers. It shares borders with Ibaraki Prefecture to the north, Saitama Prefecture to the northwest, and Tokyo to the west.

Chiba City is the capital and largest city in Chiba Prefecture. Other important cities include Funabashi, Matsudo, Ichikawa, and Kashiwa. Chiba Prefecture is on Japan's eastern Pacific coast, just east of Tokyo. It's part of the Greater Tokyo Area, which is one of the most populated city areas in the world. Most of Chiba Prefecture is on the Bōsō Peninsula. This peninsula forms the eastern side of Tokyo Bay, separating it from Kanagawa Prefecture. Chiba Prefecture is also home to Narita International Airport, the Tokyo Disney Resort, and the Keiyō Industrial Zone.

What's in a Name?

The name of Chiba Prefecture in Japanese comes from two kanji characters. The first, 千, means "thousand," and the second, 葉, means "leaf."

This name first appeared a long time ago for a regional office called the Chiba Kuni no Miyatsuko (千葉国造). Later, a part of the Taira clan moved to the area where Chiba City is today, during the late Heian period. This group adopted the name and became the Chiba clan. They had a lot of power in the area until the Azuchi–Momoyama period.

The name "Chiba" was chosen for the prefecture when it was created in 1873. This decision was made by a group of governors from different prefectures who met to organize how local areas in Japan would be managed.

The word Keiyō (京葉) refers to the Tokyo-Chiba region. It's made from the second character of Tokyo (京) and the second character of Chiba (葉). These can also be read as "kei" and "yō." You'll see this word in names like the Keiyō Line (a train line) and the Keiyō Industrial Zone.

A Look Back in Time

This Haniwa (clay figure) of a chicken is from the Kofun period. It's now in the Shibayama Haniwa Museum.

People have lived in Chiba Prefecture since ancient times. We know this from the many remains found from the Jōmon period. The prefecture has the largest kaizuka (ancient shell mounds) in Japan. This shows that many people lived here and used the rich seafood from the Pacific Ocean and Tokyo Bay. You can also find Kofun (ancient burial mounds) all over the prefecture. The biggest group is in Futtsu, near Tokyo Bay.

Early History

During the Asuka period (538–710), the way Chiba Prefecture was governed changed a lot. The old area of Fusa Province was split into two parts: Shimōsa Province in the north and Kazusa Province in the south. Later, Awa Province in the very south of Chiba Prefecture was separated from Kazusa in 718. These areas were governed separately until they were combined into Chiba Prefecture after the Meiji Restoration.

Modern Times

Students training as soldiers on Kujūkuri Beach in early 1945.

Chiba Prefecture was officially created on June 15, 1873. This happened when two smaller prefectures, Kisarazu Prefecture and Inba Prefecture, joined together.

During the Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905), Chiba Prefecture became important for defense. Forts were built along Tokyo Bay to protect Japan's capital from attacks.

In September 1923, a huge earthquake, the Great Kanto earthquake, caused a lot of damage in Chiba Prefecture. The southern part of the Bōsō Peninsula was hit especially hard.

During the 1930s, the northern and central parts of Chiba became a major area for making military goods. Military bases and forts were built along most of the coast. After the United States took control of Saipan in World War II, parts of northern Chiba, especially Chiba City and Chōshi, were heavily bombed. Much of the industrial areas were destroyed.

After Japan surrendered in World War II, American forces controlled Chiba Prefecture from 1945 to 1952. Many cities in the prefecture were used as bases. The rich farms in Chiba helped protect the people from food shortages after the war.

The Nippon Steel Kimitsu Works in 2007, part of the Keiyō Industrial Zone.

After the war, there was a big effort to expand industries in the north of the prefecture. A large land reclamation project created new land along the coast of Tokyo Bay. Many factories, warehouses, and docks were built on this new land, forming the Keiyō Industrial Zone. This area became a very important center for heavy industry and large ports in Japan.

Narita International Airport opened in 1978 in Narita. It was built to replace the busy Tokyo International Airport (Haneda Airport). Today, most international flights to Japan land in Chiba Prefecture.

On March 11, 2011, a huge earthquake and tsunami hit Japan. While the damage in Chiba Prefecture was less severe than in other areas, 20 people died. An oil refinery in Ichihara caught fire, and the news showed it widely. Also, soil liquefaction (where soil acts like a liquid during an earthquake) damaged homes in areas built on reclaimed land, especially in Urayasu.

Where is Chiba?

The beautiful coast in Emi, Kamogawa.

Chiba Prefecture is bordered by the Tone River and Ibaraki Prefecture to the north. To the west, it meets Tokyo and Saitama Prefecture at the Edo River. The Pacific Ocean is to its east, and Tokyo Bay is to its south.

Most of Chiba is on the hilly Boso Peninsula, which is a big area for growing rice. The east coast, called the Kujūkuri Plain, is especially good for farming. The most populated part of Chiba, in the northwest, is part of the Kantō region and is very close to the big cities of Tokyo and Saitama. The Kuroshio Current flows near Chiba, which helps keep the weather mild. It's warmer in winter and cooler in summer compared to Tokyo.

Parks and Nature

Chiba Prefecture has many beautiful natural areas. Most of the coast, except for the large industrial zone, is protected as two national parks and one prefectural natural park. About 6% of Chiba's land is designated as Natural Parks.

• Suigo-Tsukuba Quasi-National Park covers a large area around the Tone River and Mount Tsukuba. It protects both nature and the unique culture of the area.
• Minami Boso Quasi-National Park protects much of the southern coastal areas of Chiba Prefecture. It stretches from Cape Futtsu on Tokyo Bay to Cape Inubō in the northeast. This park also protects cultural sites, especially temples related to Nichiren.

Chiba Prefecture also has eight smaller prefectural natural parks. These parks help protect nature and culture, and they offer places for people to relax and enjoy the outdoors.

Cities and Towns

Map of Chiba Prefecture
     Government Ordinance Designated City      Other city      Town      Village

Chiba Prefecture has 54 municipalities. These include 37 cities, 16 towns, and one village.

Municipalities of Chiba Prefecture

Flag, short name w/o suffix	Full name			District (-gun)	Area (km2) (January 2021)	Population (March 2021)	LPE code (w/o pref. [12...], checksum [-x])
	Japanese	transcription	translation
Chiba (Prefectural capital, designated major city)	千葉市	Chiba-shi	Chiba City	–	271.76	981,738	100
Chōshi	銚子市	Chōshi-shi	Chōshi City	–	84.20	57,533	202
Ichikawa	市川市	Ichikawa-shi	Ichikawa City	–	57.45	496,657	203
Funabashi (Core city)	船橋市	Funabashi-shi	Funabashi City	–	61.38	641,499	204
Tateyama	館山市	Tateyama-shi	Tateyama City	–	110.05	44,692	205
Kisarazu	木更津市	Kisarazu-shi	Kisarazu City	–	138.95	136,118	206
Matsudo	松戸市	Matsudo-shi	Matsudo City	–	61.38	492,367	207
Noda	野田市	Noda-shi	Noda City	–	103.55	152,227	208
Mobara	茂原市	Mobara-shi	Mobara City	–	99.92	86,446	210
Narita	成田市	Narita-shi	Narita City	–	213.84	130,689	211
Sakura	佐倉市	Sakura-shi	Sakura City	–	103.69	169,059	212
Tōgane	東金市	Tōgane-shi	Tōgane City	–	89.12	57,560	213
Asahi	旭市	Asahi-shi	Asahi City	–	130.45	63,507	215
Narashino	習志野市	Narashino-shi	Narashino City	–	20.97	174,990	216
Kashiwa (Core city)	柏市	Kashiwa-shi	Kashiwa City	–	114.74	433,941	217
Katsuura	勝浦市	Katsuura-shi	Katsuura City	–	93.96	16,723	218
Ichihara	市原市	Ichihara-shi	Ichihara City	–	368.17	268,038	219
Nagareyama	流山市	Nagareyama-shi	Nagareyama City	–	35.32	200,298	220
Yachiyo	八千代市	Yachiyo-shi	Yachiyo City	–	51.39	200,538	221
Abiko	我孫子市	Abiko-shi	Abiko City	–	43.15	130,290	222
Kamogawa	鴨川市	Kamogawa-shi	Kamogawa City	–	191.14	31,554	223
Kamagaya	鎌ケ谷市	Kamagaya-shi	Kamagaya City	–	21.08	109,370	224
Kimitsu	君津市	Kimitsu-shi	Kimitsu City	–	318.81	81,355	225
Futtsu	富津市	Futtsu-shi	Futtsu City	–	205.47	42,280	226
Urayasu	浦安市	Urayasu-shi	Urayasu City	–	17.30	169,749	227
Yotsukaidō	四街道市	Yotsukaidō-shi	Yotsukaidō City	–	34.52	93,233	228
Sodegaura	袖ケ浦市	Sodegaura-shi	Sodegaura City	–	94.93	63,975	229
Yachimata	八街市	Yachimata-shi	Yachimata City	–	74.94	66,430	230
Inzai	印西市	Inzai-shi	Inzai City (In[ba] West City)	–	123.79	103,677	231
Shiroi	白井市	Shiroi-shi	Shiroi City	–	35.48	61,673	232
Tomisato	富里市	Tomisato-shi	Tomisato City	–	53.88	49,470	233
Minamiboso	南房総市	Minami-Bōsō-shi	Minami-Boso City (South Boso City)	–	230.10	35,454	234
Sōsa	匝瑳市	Sōsa-shi	Sōsa City (after Sōsa District)	–	101.52	34,427	235
Katori	香取市	Katori-shi	Katori City (after Katori District)	–	262.35	71,391	236
Sanmu	山武市	Sanmu-shi	Sanmu City	–	146.77	48,196	237
Isumi	いすみ市	Isumi-shi	Isumi City	–	157.50	35,570	238
Ōamishirasato	大網白里市	Ōami-Shirasato-shi	Ōami-Shirasato City (merger of Ōami Town & Shirasato Village)	–	58.08	47,722	239
Shisui	酒々井町	Shisui-machi	Shisui Town	Inba	19.01	20,278	322
Sakae	栄町	Sakae-machi	Sakae Town		32.51	19,902	329
Kōzaki	神崎町	Kōzaki-machi	Kōzaki Town	Katori	19.90	5,663	342
Tako	多古町	Tako-machi	Tako Town		72.80	13,804	347
Tōnoshō	東庄町	Tōnoshō-machi	Tōnoshō Town		46.25	13,085	349
Kujūkuri	九十九里町	Kujūkuri-machi	Kujūkuri Town	Sanbu	24.46	14,652	403
Shibayama	芝山町	Shibayama-machi	Shibayama Town		43.24	6,916	409
Yokoshibahikari	横芝光町	Yokoshiba-Hikari-machi	Yokoshiba-Hikari Town (merger of Yokoshiba Town & Hikari Town)		67.01	22,271	410
Ichinomiya	一宮町	Ichinomiya-machi	Ichinomiya Town ([Kazusa] provincial shrine Town)	Chōsei	22.99	11,622	421
Mutsuzawa	睦沢町	Mutsuzawa-machi	Mutsuzawa Town		35.59	6,761	422
Chōsei	長生村	Chōsei-mura	Chōsei Village		28.25	13,656	423
Shirako	白子町	Shirako-machi	Shirako Town		27.50	10,280	424
Nagara	長柄町	Nagara-machi	Nagara Town		47.11	6,664	426
Chōnan	長南町	Chōnan-machi	Chōnan Town		65.51	7,368	427
Ōtaki	大多喜町	Ōtaki-machi	Ōtaki Town	Isumi	129.87	8,762	441
Onjuku	御宿町	Onjuku-machi	Onjuku Town		24.85	6,769	443
Kyonan	鋸南町	Kyonan-machi	Kyonan Town	Awa	45.17	7,027	463
Chiba	千葉県	Chiba-ken	Chiba Prefecture	–	5,157.50	6,275,916	000 ISO: JP-12

Chiba's Economy

Big Industries

Chiba Prefecture is home to one of Japan's largest industrial areas. Before World War II, factories in Chiba mainly made brewed products like soy sauce, sake, and mirin (a sweet cooking sake). After the war, manufacturing grew a lot.

In 1950, a big Kawasaki Steel factory was built here. At the same time, the local government started a huge land reclamation project. They used dredging to create large areas of new land along the waterfront. Many factories, warehouses, and docks were built on this new land around Tokyo Bay. This area became the Keiyō Industrial Zone.

Today, Chiba Prefecture is 6th in Japan for industrial output. Most of its industry focuses on oil, chemicals, steel, and machine industries. These industries make up 45% of the prefecture's exports. The government has also funded over 80 industrial parks to bring more development inland.

Farming and Food

Farmers working in the rice fields in Sawara, Katori.

Chiba Prefecture also has the second-highest agricultural output in Japan. Only Hokkaidō produces more farm products. Chiba actually grows more vegetables than Hokkaidō.

Peanuts are a special product of Chiba. About 78% of all peanuts in Japan come from this prefecture. You can find fresh peanuts in markets, and they are often eaten boiled as a snack. Miso paste mixed with peanuts is also made in Chiba.

Chiba Prefecture leads the country in growing several vegetables, including carrots, cabbage, daikon radish, and negi (Japanese green onions). It also grows loquats, nashi (Japanese pears), tomatoes, and spinach. Chiba is the second-largest producer of corn. Rice is also grown, and nori (seaweed) is harvested in large amounts from Tokyo Bay.

Futomaki, which are large sushi rolls, from Katori, Chiba Prefecture.

Kaisō, a jelly-like food made from seaweed. It's thought to have started in Chōshi city.

The traditional food in Chiba Prefecture is similar to the rest of Japan. Chiba grows a lot of rice and vegetables, and its coastal areas provide plenty of fish and seafood. Chōshi has been a major center for making soy sauce for a long time, and Chiba is still the top producer in Japan. Kikkoman, a famous soy sauce company, has its main office in Noda, Chiba. These are all important parts of Japanese cuisine.

Some local products are grown in large amounts and have led to unique dishes. Peanuts, as mentioned, are a big deal. Takenoko (whole bamboo shoots) are harvested in the central Boso Peninsula. The takenoko from Ōtaki can even be eaten raw as "takenoko sashimi" because they don't have as much of a certain natural chemical usually found in raw bamboo shoots.

Futomaki or futomakizushi, meaning "fat roll," is a large sushi roll. The futomaki made in Chiba Prefecture can be up to 10 centimeters wide. These rolls often use different ingredients to create a pattern, like a flower or a kanji character, when they are sliced.

Climate

Chiba Prefecture has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot, humid summers and mild, cool winters. The tsuyu (rainy season) lasts for about 50 days from June to July. The average yearly temperature is about 15.7 degrees Celsius. The average high is 19.6 degrees Celsius, and the average low is 12.3 degrees Celsius.

Education

Universities in Chiba

The Chiba University Library.

Chiba Prefecture has many universities. Here are some of them:

• Chiba
  • Chiba University
  • Chiba Economic University
  • The Open University of Japan
  • The Meteorological College of Japan
  • Heisei Teikyo University
  • Shukutoku University
  • Tokyo Information Sciences University
  • Tokyo Dental College
  • Kanda University of International Studies
  • Tokyo University of Career Development
• Funabashi
  • Toho University – Narashino Campus
  • Nihon University – Funabashi Campus
• Matsudo
  • Nihon University – Matsudo Campus
  • Ryutsu Keizai University
  • Seitoku University
• Ichikawa
  • Chiba Commerce University
  • Wayo Women's University
• Kashiwa
  • University of Tokyo – Kashiwa Campus
  • Chiba University – Kashiwanoha Campus
  • Kaichi International University
  • Nishogakusha University – Kasiwa Campus
  • Reitaku University
• Narashino
  • Chiba Institute of Technology
  • Nihon University – Narashino and Mimomi Campus
• Ichihara
  • Heisei Teikyo University – Ichihara Campus
• Yachiyo
  • Shumei University
  • Tokyo Seitoku University
• Sakura
  • Keiai University – Sakura Campus
• Noda
  • Tokyo University of Science – Noda Campus
• Nagareyama
  • Edogawa University
  • Toyo Gakuen University
• Urayasu
  • Juntendo University – Urayasu Campus
  • Meikai University
  • Ryotokuji University
• Abiko
  • Chuo Gakuin University
  • Kawamura Gakuen Woman's University
• Kisarazu
  • Seiwa University
• Togane
  • Josai International University
• Inzai
  • Juntendo University – Sakura Campus
• Kamogawa
  • Kameda College of Health Sciences

High Schools

The Chiba Prefectural Board of Education is in charge of public high schools in the prefecture.

Culture and Museums

Museums to Explore

The Chiba Museum of Science and Industry.

Chiba Prefecture has one national museum and several prefectural and local museums.

• The National Museum of Japanese History in Sakura teaches about Japan's history, old findings, and folk culture.
• The main Chiba prefectural museum is the Natural History Museum and Institute, Chiba in Chiba City. It has six smaller museums around the prefecture.
• The Chiba Prefectural Museum of Art is also in Chiba City.
• The Chiba Prefectural Boso-no-mura in Sakae shows what local life was like in the late Edo period.
• The Chiba Prefectural Otone Museum in Katori focuses on the culture of the Tone River area.
• Rebuilt Japanese castles like Sekiyado and Ōtaki also have local history museums.
• The Chiba Museum of Science and Industry in Ichikawa is built on an old factory site.
• The Coastal Branch of Natural History Museum and Institute, Chiba in Katsuura focuses on the ocean environment of the Pacific coast. Many other towns and villages in Chiba also have their own museums.

Libraries and Archives

The Chiba Prefectural Library has three locations. The main one, the Chiba Prefectural Central Library, is in Chiba City. It has a general collection and a research collection for the prefecture. The Chiba Prefectural West Library in Matsudo focuses on natural history and fine arts. The Chiba Prefectural East Library in Asahi has a research collection about the prefecture's literature and history.

The Chiba Prefectural Archives keep a collection of rare books and materials from all over the prefecture. They also have documents about how Chiba Prefecture is run. Every city and town in Chiba has its own local library. Many shrines and temples also keep old records related to their history.

Sports in Chiba

Zozo Marine Stadium, home of the Chiba Lotte Marines baseball team.

Chiba Prefecture hosts two major athletic events in Japan: the International Chiba Ekiden (a long-distance relay race) and the Chiba International Cross Country (a running race).

Many professional sports teams are based in Chiba:

American Football

• X-League: Obic Seagulls (Narashino)
• X-League: IBM Big Blue (Yachiyo)

Soccer

• J.League (J1): Kashiwa Reysol (Kashiwa)
• J.League (J2): JEF United Ichihara Chiba (Chiba, Ichihara)

Baseball

• NPB: Chiba Lotte Marines (Chiba)

Basketball

• B.League: Chiba Jets Funabashi (Funabashi)

Rugby

• Nihon IBM Big Blue (Yachiyo)
• Kubota Spears (Funabashi)
• NEC Green Rockets (Abiko)

Futsal

• F.League: Bardral Urayasu (Urayasu)

Volleyball

• V.Challenge League II: Chiba Zelva (Chiba)

Getting Around Chiba

Narita International Airport

Most visitors flying into Tokyo from other countries land at Narita International Airport. This airport is in Narita, in the northern part of the prefecture. You can get to Tokyo from Narita by train using the East Japan Railway's Narita Express or the Keisei Electric Railway's Skyliner.

Train Lines

Trains on the Jōban Line.

A train on the Narita Line.

A train on the Kominato Railway.

A train on the Isumi Railway.

Chiba Prefecture has many train lines that connect its cities and towns, and also link to Tokyo.

• East Japan Railway Company (JR East)
  • Sōbu Main Line (including Chūō-Sōbu Line and Sōbu Line (Rapid))
  • Jōban Line (including Jōban Line (Local) and Jōban Line (Rapid))
  • Narita Line
  • Uchibō Line
  • Sotobō Line
  • Keiyō Line
  • Musashino Line
  • Tōgane Line
  • Kashima Line
  • Kururi Line
• Keisei
  • Main Line
  • Narita Sky Access
  • Chiba Line
  • Chihara Line
  • Higashi Narita Line
• Shin-Keisei Line
• Hokuso Line
• Toyo Rapid Line
• Shibayama Railway
• Tobu
  • Noda Line
• Tsukuba Express
• Tokyo Metro Tozai Line
• Toei Shinjuku Line
• Nagareyama Line
• Choshi Electric Railway
• Kominato Railway
• Isumi Railway
• Disney Resort Line

Monorails and People Movers

• Chiba Urban Monorail
• Yamaman Yukarigaoka Line

Roads and Highways

Chiba has a good network of roads and expressways:

• Joban Expressway
• Narita Airport Expressway
• Higashi Kanto Expressway
• Tokyo Gaikan Expressway
• Tateyama Expressway
• Shuto Expressway
• Keiyo Road
• Togane Road
• Tokyo Bay Aqua Line

Fun Things to Do in Chiba

A beach in Chiba.

The Tokyo Disney Resort is located in Urayasu, right near the western border of the prefecture. The Kamogawa Sea World is in Kamogawa.

There are also many other cool places to visit on the Chiba peninsula:

• Nokogiriyama
• Kujūkuri Beach
• Onjuku beach

Famous People from Chiba

• Jun Ishikawa – a composer
• Yoshiko Sakakibara – a voice actress
• Yuuri – a singer and songwriter
• Hassei Takano – an actor
• Kei Shindō – a voice actress

Police Force

The Chiba police headquarters.

Chiba's police force is one of the ten largest in Japan, with over 10,000 members. This includes the police who work at Narita Airport. Like in all prefectures, the police are watched over by a public safety commission. Its five members are chosen by the governor and approved by the local assembly.

International Friends

Chiba Prefecture has special "sister city" relationships with places around the world:

• Wisconsin, United States (since 1990)
• Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, United Kingdom
• Juanjuí, Peru
• Düsseldorf, Germany (since 2019)

Images for kids

• 

  Chiba City

• 

  Ichikawa

• 

  Narita

• 

  Kamogawa

• 

  Katori

• 

  Katsuura

See also

In Spanish: Prefectura de Chiba para niños