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Enjoy Japanese Culture in Chiba! A Muslim-Friendly Day Trip From Tokyo
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The city of Chiba, which can be accessed in less than one hour from Tokyo, has excellent facilities with Muslim-friendly services. Enjoy a Japanese tea ceremony at the beautiful Mihama-en, shopping at AEON MALL Makuhari Shintoshin, which has a prayer room, and a halal sushi making workshop!
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This is the official account of MATCHA's editorial department. Our articles feature useful travel information for visitors to Japan, from how-to guides to recommended places to visit.
Chiba, a Fun Day Trip Destination Less Than One Hour From Tokyo!
Makuhari Seaside Park. Photo by PIXTA
If you want to enjoy a day trip from Tokyo that allows you to experience aspects of Japanese culture such as traditional gardens and sushi making, Chiba City might just be the ideal destination! Not only does it offer memorable activities, but many of its facilities are Muslim-friendly, providing prayer rooms and halal menus.
This itinerary is a chance to enjoy tea ceremony in a beautiful Japanese garden, learn to make sushi from a professional sushi chef, and shop at one of the largest Aeon Malls in Japan.
9:06 - 9:42 -- Travel to Kaihinmakuhari Station
Our first destination, the Japanese garden Mihama-en, is located close to JR Kaihinmakuhari Station in Chiba. Take a Keiyo Line express train from Tokyo Station and you'll arrive in about 36 minutes to Kaihinmakuhari. The garden can be reached in about 11 minutes on foot from here.
10:00 - 11:30 -- Lovely Scenery and Tea ceremony at Mihama-en
Picture courtesy of Halal Navi
Mihama-en is part of Makuhari Seaside Park, a beautiful green oasis in the heart of Chiba City. The landscape of the Japanese garden, with its pond, rock formations, and greenery, evokes images of mountains and seas in miniature.
Picture courtesy of Halal Navi
The wooden arched bridge adds to the charm of the scenery; it's a great spot to take wonderful pictures.
Picture courtesy of Halal Navi
Visit the tea house Shoraitei located in the garden, and you can enjoy a bowl of fresh green tea along with a Japanese confection (600 yen). The shape of the sweets and the design of the tea bowl differ depending on the season. Take a good look at the tea bowl and try to guess what are the seasonal motifs. Ask the tea master for details--they will be happy to explain why they chose that particular bowl.
Paying attention to seasonal plants and insects is an important part of Japanese culture. A walk around Mihama-en is a chance to fully enjoy this experience and to take in the features of the current season through all senses.
12:30 - 13:30 -- Lunch at Sushi Ichiju Chiba
Picture courtesy of Halal Navi
To reach our recommended lunch destination, travel from JR Kaihinmakuhari Station to Makuhari Hongo Station. The ride takes about 30 minutes.
Sushi Ichiju, located just near Makuhari Hongo Station, is known for its wide array of halal dishes. From sushi to Wagyu beef sukiyaki, you can try excellent dishes made with flavorful local ingredients.
Our recommendation is the Halal Unagi Bento (2,000 yen), which consists of grilled unagi eel and vegetables over a bed of rice. While regular unagi bentos use alcohol in their sauces, at Sushi Ichiju, they use an alcohol-free tare sauce.
Their Chicken Teriyaki Bento or the Sashimi Bento are also excellent options.
14:10 - 14:20 -- Travel to AEON MALL Makuhari Shintoshin
AEON MALL Makuhari Shintoshin can be reached in about 10 minutes by bus. Take the bus from JR Kaihinmakuhari Station North Exit Bus Stop no. 3.
14:30 - 16:30 -- Shopping at AEON MALL Makuhari Shintoshin
Picture courtesy of Halal Navi
AEON MALL Makuhari New City, also known as AEON MALL Makuhari Shintoshin, is one of the largest shopping malls operated by Aeon in Japan, with about 350 shops in total. The facility consists of four areas: the Grand Mall, where you can find food, cosmetics, books, and fashion, the Family Mall, specializing in toy and baby goods, the Active Mall, with sports items and electronic appliances, and the Pet Mall, with pet products and a veterinary hospital.
If you're looking for a piece of fashion or souvenirs from your trip, take your time to explore the Grand Mall. As a visitor to Japan, you can benefit from tax exemption! Make sure to pick up a pamphlet with information about the mall and check out the shops with tax-free services.
Pictures courtesy of Halal Navi
One of the great features of AEON MALL Makuhari Shintoshin is their Prayer Room, which is located on the fourth floor in the Grand Mall. There are separate rooms for men and women, provided with all the necessary features for the ablutions and prayers. When reaching the fourth floor, call on the interphone and say that you wish to use the Prayer Room.
Pictures courtesy of Halal Navi
The mall also has a Muslimah-friendly beauty salon on the third floor. At UNIX, you can get your hair styled in a private cabin by a female stylist.
Picture courtesy of Halal Navi
When you feel the need to refresh, visit the Rooftop Park. It offers a great view of Makuhari Beach and Tokyo Bay, along with wonderful photo spots.
Time will fly away at AEON MALL Makuhari Shintoshin. Before it gets dark, head back for the station for one more fun activity before dinner.
Hotels near AEON MALL Makuhari New City
17:00 - 18:30 -- Sushi Making Workshop and Dinner at Maple Inn Makuhari Hotel
Picture courtesy of Maple Inn Makuhari Hotel
Maple Inn Makuhari Hotel is an elegant accommodation right by JR Kaihinmakuhari Station. Even if you don't plan to stay for the night, you can drop by for an excellent halal dinner at their restaurant.
We highly recommend their Futomaki-Sushi Making Workshop (2,200 yen) (*1). Guided by an experienced chef, you learn to make a large sushi roll (futomaki) and slice it into eye-catching pieces to enjoy with friends or family. This workshop uses halal ingredients and, once you've learned to make it, you can prepare this type of sushi anytime anywhere!
*1 Please note that prior reservation is required for this workshop.
Of course, after the workshop, you get to enjoy the sushi on the spot for dinner along with other delicious halal side dishes that are included in the workshop fee. You'll be enjoying a satisfying Japanese dinner along with the hospitality of the hotel staff.
Picture courtesy of Maple Inn Makuhari Hotel
If you'd like to spend one more day in Chiba, consider staying overnight at Maple Inn Makuhari Hotel as they are a leading accommodation facility in terms of Muslim-friendly services. For details, read this article, which introduces the range of their halal travel service, including their delicious halal breakfast.
After 18:30 - Return to Tokyo
If you've decided to return to Tokyo, take a train on the Keiyo Line back to Tokyo Station and you'll be back in a little over 30 minutes.
We hope you enjoy your time in Chiba and visit again! The city is an extremely appealing destination for those who wish to enjoy various types of halal food in one day. Check this article for details.
For more information on wonderful places to visit in Chiba, visit this page on Halal Navi.
Route Summary
Tokyo Station → JR Kaihinmakuhari Station → Mihama-en → Sushi Ichiju → AEON MAll Makuhari Shintoshin → Maple Inn Makuhari Hotel → Tokyo Station
Expenses
Transportation (train, bus): around 1,400 yen
Mihama-en entrance fee: 100 yen
Mihama-en tea ceremony: 600 yen
Lunch: around 2,000 yen
Dinner and sushi making workshop: 2,200 yen
The information in this article is current as of August 2021. Please check the official website of each facility for the latest information.
Supported by Chiba City
This is the official account of MATCHA's editorial department. Our articles feature useful travel information for visitors to Japan, from how-to guides to recommended places to visit.
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