10 Best Temples and Shrines To Visit in Chiba

2021.07.08

Chiba prefecture, where Narita Airport, the gateway to Japan’s sky, is located.
Chiba has a warm climate and abundant nature, and lots of charms that are still unknown.

You don’t know what you’re missing going directly to sightseeing spots such as Tokyo and Kyoto.
So, please try to stop by sightseeing spots in Chiba when you have a chance.

First of all, why not go to such a wonderful temple or shrine?

1. Naritasan Shinshoji 成田山新勝寺

Naritasan Shinshoji is a temple of the Chisan Sect of Shingon Buddhism located in the city of Narita in Chiba prefecture. It is one of the main temples of the sect.

The principal image is Fudo Myoo, and this temple is major center of Fudō Myōō faith.
It is a sacred place that many people including famous Kabuki actors have visited since ancient times in Edo.

Also, it is one of the best temples in the Kanto region in terms of the number of worshipers.
As a shrine and temple, it is the second largest shrine in Japan after Meiji Jingu. As far as temples are concerned, it has the largest number of worshipers in Japan. They often visit here to pray for preventing illness and disaster.

Address: 1 Narita, Narita-city, Chiba 286-0023
Phone: 0476-22-2111
Access: 10 minutes on foot from JR or Keisei Narita Station
HP: https://www.naritasan.or.jp/english/

2. Katori-jingu Shrine 香取神宮

Katori-jingu is one of the oldest shrines in Japan.

It is known as a deity in Futsunushi who plays an active part in the transfer of the land of Okuninushi in Japanese mythology.

You can see valuable exhibits, for example, one Kaiju Budo Kyo (bronze mirror with a design of animals and grapes) designated as a national treasure and several buildings designated as an important cultural property.

Address: 1697-1 Katori, Katori-city, Chiba 287-0017
Phone: 0478-57-3211
Access: 10 minutes by taxi/15 minutes by bus from JR Sawara Station
HP: https://katori-jingu.or.jp/

3. Daifuku-ji 大福寺

Daifuku-ji is a Buddhist temple of the Chisan, Shingon sect of Buddhism.

Because it is on a steep mountainside, it’s called “Gakekannon 崖観音” which means “Cliff Goddess of Mercy”.
Stone-cliff eleven-faced Goddess of Mercy engraved on the natural wall of the main inner room is a designated cultural property of the city.

Address: 835 Funakata, Tateyama-city, Chiba 294-0056
Phone: 0470-27-2247
Access: 15 minutes on foot from JR (Uchibo-sen) Nakofunakata Station
HP: http://www.gakekannon.jp/

4. Itsukushima Shrine 厳島神社

Itsukushima Shrine (Itsukushima Jinja) is a Shinto shrine located in the Awa District in Chiba prefecture.

It’s surrounded by pine forest, and an old shrine with a solemn atmosphere.

Seven Lucky Gods enshrined in the precincts are made in 1779 by a mason, Sekio Takeda from this area. These seven lucky gods are attracting tourists from afar due to their rich expression and elaborate construction.

Address: 629 Shirahama, Shirahama-cho, Awa-gun, Chiba 295-0102
Phone: 0470-38-2198
Access: 3 minutes on foot from the bus stop “Nojimasaki Todai mae”
You can take the bus bound for Awa Shirahama at JR (Uchibo-sen) Tateyama Station.

5. Atago Shrine (Noda-city, Chiba) 愛宕神社

Because there was a big fire when the village was built, it was decided to worship Kagu-tsuchi, the god of fire.

The main shrine is made of bare wood without painting and uses a lot of sculptures. In other words, it fully demonstrates the characteristics of shrine and temple architecture at the end of the Edo period.

Address: 725 Noda, Noda-city, Chiba 278-0035
Phone: 04-7125-7500
Access: 1 minute on foot from the bus stop “Atago Shrine mae”
You can take the 2 types of bus: Mame bus and Ibakyu bus.

6. Atago Shrine (Sakura-city, Chiba) 愛宕神社

Successive samurai who are highly trusted by the Tokugawa family had done ceremonial transfer of a divided tutelary deity, the guardian deity of fire and disaster prevention in Edo to a new location. That new location is here, sakura-city.

The stone steps leading up to the main shrine are long. But, it’s a shrine full of greenery, so the air is nice and it feels very good.

Address: 102 Kairinji-machi, Sakura-city, Chiba 285-0013
Phone: 04-7125-7500
Access: 10 minutes on foot from Keisei Sakura Station

7. Inage Sengen Shrine 稲毛浅間神社

Inage Sengen Shrine (Inage Sengen Jinja) is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Chiba in Chiba prefecture. The god of easy delivery is the deity.

Kagura, sacred music and dance of this shrine received designation as an intangible cultural property from Chiba prefecture.

Address: 1-15-10 Inage, Inage-ku, Chiba-city, Chiba 263-0034
Phone: 043-245-7777
Access: 5 minutes on foot from Keisei Inage Station/15 minutes on foot from JR Inage Station
HP: http://www.inage-sengenjinja.or.jp/

8. Awa Shrine 安房神社

Awa Shrine (Awa Jinja) is known as a spiritual energy sites, a place where vitality flourishes. So, it’s said that it brings you good luck if you worship here. Scientifically, it seems to be a place with strong Earth’s magnetic field.

Cherry blossoms are planted on the approach to the torii (front guard frame). It’s in full bloom in spring and, needless to say, it’s really beautiful.

Address: 589 Daijingu, Tateyama-city, Chiba 294-0233
Phone: 0470-28-0034
Access: 30 minutes by bus from JR (Uchibo-sen) Tateyama Station→5 minutes on foot from the bus stop “Awa Shrine mae”/30 minutes by car from Tomiura interchange
HP: http://www.awajinjya.org/

9. Tanjo-ji 誕生寺

Tanjo-ji is a Buddhist temple of the Nichiren sect located in the city of Kamogawa in Chiba prefecture.

It’s the head temple of the Nichiren sect, and was erected in the place of origin to commemorate the birth of Saint Nichiren. There is a childhood Nichiren statue in temple precincts. You can visit facilities related to Saint Nichiren here.

Address: 183 Kominato, Kamogawa-city, Chiba 299-5501
Phone: 04-7095-2621
Access: 5 minutes by bus from Awakominato Station
HP: http://www.tanjoh-ji.jp/

10. Akagi Shrine 赤城神社

There is a legend that it was built in the Kamakura period. Also, this is said to be the origin of the place name “Nagareyama”.

There is a huge shimenawa (a Shinto straw festoon) in the torii. It can prevent uncleanness dividing the inside and outside by hanging over in front of the gods and sacred areas.

Autumn festival is held in October every year at this shrine, and people make the shimenawa in advance for preparing the festival. The event to make this shimenawa is a city-designated intangible folk cultural property.

Address: 649 6-chome Nagareyama, Nagareyama-city, Chiba 270-0164
Phone: 04-7095-2621
Access: 10 minutes on food from (Nagareyama-sen) Heiwadai Station