[Chiba] Tour the historical spots of Onjuku Town! A day trip with a walking itinerary

Why not take a leisurely stroll through the seaside town , taking in the different scenery and smelling the sea breeze ?

What kind of place is Onjuku Town in Chiba Prefecture?

Onjuku Town is located in the southeast of Chiba Prefecture. Facing the Pacific Ocean, the town has a 2km stretch of pure white sandy beach, which is crowded with many beachgoers every year.

It takes about an hour and a half to get there from Ukishima IC, the entrance to the Aqua-Line, making it a perfect spot for a day trip.

Onjuku Town is also famous as a producer of spiny lobsters, and is garnering attention as a gourmet town where you can eat fresh spiny lobster dishes and seafood.

1

Moon Desert Memorial Park

The nursery rhyme "Tsuki no Sabaku" (Desert of the Moon) was modeled on the coast of Onjuku.
A statue of a prince and princess riding a camel, which appears in the nursery rhyme "Tsuki no Sabaku" (Desert of the Moon), written by Masao Kato, a poet and lyric painter who was active from the mid-Taisho period to the early Showa period, has been installed in the park.

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2

ONJUKU Monument

The ONJUKU monument installed on the central coast of Onjuku
Why not commemorate your visit to Onjuku with a visit to the ocean and monuments?
Climbing on it is prohibited, but you can take photos in various ways.

*Please note that the sun is directly overhead around noon and will cast a shadow on your face. It is best to shoot when the sun is facing you.

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3

Monument commemorating the origin of transportation between Japan, Mexico and the three countries Mexico Memorial Park

The birthplace of transportation in three countries: Japan, Mexico, and Spain
In 1609 (Keicho 14), the San Francis, en route from the Philippines to Mexico, sank at Tajiri Beach in Onjuku Town, and local people offered help. This marked the beginning of exchanges between Japan, Mexico, and Spain in Onjuku Town. To commemorate this, the Monument Commemorating the Origin of Transportation Between Japan, Spain, and Mexico (commonly known as the Mexico Monument) was built.

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4

Desert of the Moon Memorial Museum

Exhibition of works and materials related to Masao Kato, the lyricist of the nursery rhyme ``Moon Desert.''
The Lunar Desert Memorial Museum opened on July 8, 1990. There is a special exhibition room and a shop on the 1st floor, and a ``Masao Kato'' exhibition room on the 2nd floor. The exhibition room displays various works and belongings of Masao Kato, including the nursery rhyme ``Moon Desert,'' which is based on the Onjuku coast.

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Moon's Desert Coastline

After visiting the Tsuki no Sabaku Memorial Museum and buying souvenirs, it's time to soak in the afterglow of Onjuku. There is a bench on Tsuki no Sabaku Kaigan Road in front of you, so sit down here and burn the view of the sea of Onjuku into your memory before heading home! You will also feel soothed by the different sea view.

Access to Onjuku from Tokyo

From here, we will introduce two ways to get from Tokyo to Onjuku using public transportation. We will also explain in detail the budget and travel time required.

Access by bus

The first way is to take a direct bus from Tokyo. From the Tokyo Yaesu bus terminal, it takes about 2 hours 15 minutes to 30 minutes to get there. The fare is reasonable, about 2,100 to 2,500 yen per adult one way.

Access by train

The second way is to travel by JR's "Wakashio Limited Express".

The Wakashio Limited Express is a limited express train that can be boarded from Tokyo and Soga stations. It starts from the Keiyo Line platform at Tokyo Station, and it takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes to get from Tokyo Station to Onjuku Station.

The one-way fare from Tokyo to Onjuku Station is 3,560 yen. As of March 2024, all seats on the Wakashio Express have been reserved, so be sure to purchase a reserved seat ticket before boarding.