Chiba Nanohana News (January 21, 2026)

 Index

I.News    II.Festivals and Events  

I.News

1)About the FY2026-2027 CHI-BA+KUN Global Partners Recruitment

The Chiba Prefectural Government is promoting the creation of a society of multicultural coexistence in which prefectural residents of different nationalities and cultural backgrounds can all live and work at ease with each other, as well as have active roles in the community.

To utilize diverse perspectives in the prefecture’s policies, we are recruiting CHI-BA+KUN Global Partners who have foreign roots.

1. CHI-BA+KUN Global Partners will participate and cooperate in the following activities at the request of the prefecture:

• Opinion exchange meetings as well as questionnaires, surveys, etc.
• Cooperation in the dissemination of information provided by Chiba Prefecture, such as during disasters, to foreign residents
• Attend events and “monitor tours” held by the prefecture and promote Chiba’s appeal
• Contribute ideas to help make the prefecture a more comfortable place to live for foreign residents

*There is no remuneration for participating in these activities. However, the prefecture will provide transportation expenses.

2. Application Guidelines

(1) Term of appointment: April 2026 - March 2027

(2) Number of accepted applicants: about 30

(3) Applicants must meet all the requirements listed below:

• Legal status of residence in Japan for those without Japanese citizenship, or roots in a foreign country for those with Japanese citizenship
• Living, attending school, or working in Chiba Prefecture
• Ability to communicate in Japanese
• Run an active information dissemination tool
• Interest in Chiba Prefecture and in helping to make it a better place for foreign residents

(4) How to Apply

Fill out the application form (Form No. 1) in Japanese and submit it together with the following documents:

• A photocopy of your residence card
• A document showing the status of your information dissemination tool (e.g. social media page)
  *You can download the application form from the CHI-BA+KUN Global Partners website.

(5) Deadline:by February 10, 2026 (Tuesday), 5 p.m. (via post or email)

(6) Selection review: The appointees will be decided based on a document review. Applicants will be notified of the results of the screening via post mail by the end of March 2026.

(7) Application Submission/Inquiries:

• Chiba Prefectural Government, International Affairs Division, Multicultural Coexistence Promotion Section
• 1-1, Ichiba-cho, Chuo-ku, Chiba City 260-8667 (Chiba Prefectural Government Office Main Building, 9th floor)
• Phone: 043-223-2436
• Fax: 043-224-2631
• E-mail: kokusaig3@mz.pref.chiba.lg.jp

 

II.Festivals and Events 

1)Strawberry Picking/Strawberry Road（Sammu Naruto Strawberry Trust Association） 〔Sammu City〕

CHI-BA+BERRY

Akihime

The area around National Route 126 that runs through the Naruto district in Sammu City has many strawberry farms dotted along it, making it a top strawberry picking spot within the Kanto area. It is called “Strawberry Road” due to all the greenhouses and sales stalls that line it.

They cultivate a variety of strawberries, ranging from rare to popular, including the Chiba Prefecture-original variety “CHI-BA+BERRY.”

The Sammu Naruto Strawberry Trust Association, with its eye-catching yellow storefront curtains, red banners, and signs with the association’s mascot character Ichiko-chan, has had its farms certified as environmentally friendly and is committed to growing fresh, safe-to-eat strawberries.

All their strawberries have a sweet, unrivaled flavor that is best enjoyed without the added flavor of condensed milk. Those who visit can also enjoy picking poppy flowers or purchase strawberry jam, ice cream, and sherbet at some of the farms.

 

※ CHI-BA+BERRY: an original strawberry variety developed by Chiba Prefecture over a number of years, characterized by its large size and sweet flavor enhanced by a perfect tartness

 

• Duration: January to May
  *Varies by farm, ends when strawberries run out
• Business Hours: 10 AM to 3 PM
  *Varies by farm, ends when strawberries run out
• Admission: Varies by farm, so please inquire for details
• Strawberry Varieties: Akihime, Oi-C Berry, Kaorino, Tochi-otome, Fusa-no-Ka, Benihoppe, Yayoihime, CHI-BA+BERRY, etc.
• Location: Please refer to the list below. *If you are using a wheelchair, you will need to make a reservation.

List of Sammu Naruto Strawberry Trust Association Farms

Name	Location	TEL
Midorikawa Strawberry Farm * Wheelchair Accessible	273 Tomida, Sammu City	0475-82-4304
Junko Strawberry Farm	249-4 To, Tomida, Sammu City	0475-82-5948
Akira Strawberry Farm * Wheelchair Accessible	764-4 Tomida, Sammu City	0475-82-0938
Nagomi Strawberry Farm * Wheelchair Accessible	718-1 Tomida, Sammu City	090-8779-7103
Ishibashi Strawberry Farm * Wheelchair Accessible	1468 Hayafune, Sammu City	090-6149-4910
Strawberry House Ote * Wheelchair Accessible	1487 To, Hayafune, Sammu City	090-1803-3144
Hiroguchi Strawberry Farm	1584 Hayafune, Sammu City	0475-82-3553
Kaji Strawberry Farm * Wheelchair Accessible	1482 Hayafune, Sammu City	0475-82-5758
Kawatsura Strawberry Farm * Wheelchair Accessible	478 Hayafune, Sammu City	080-7704-4967
Sakuda Strawberry Farm * Wheelchair Accessible	1250 Wada, Sammu City	0475-82-2343
Sugiya Strawberry Farm	430 Tonodai, Sammu City	0475-82-4416
Maruki Strawberry Farm * Wheelchair Accessible	484 Tonodai, Sammu City	0475-82-4392
Kubohara Strawberry Farm * Wheelchair Accessible	734-3 Naruto, Sammu City	0475-82-5717
Aiba Strawberry Farm * Wheelchair Accessible	344 Yusaka, Sammu City	090-8046-0015
Koyasu Strawberry Farm	53-5 Itatsuki, Sammu City	0475-82-4493
Ishida Farm	354-1 Yabe, Sammu City	0475-88-2367
Koyama Farm * Wheelchair Accessible	1912 Shimoyokoji, Sammu City	0475-84-4115
Arinomi Farm * Wheelchair Accessible	224 Itanakashinden, Sammu City	0475-89-1719

 

• Access:【By Train】About a 5 to 40-minute walk from Naruto Station on the JR Sobu Main Line (please ask each farm for exact details）
             【By Car】Take Prefectural Road 76 towards Naruto from the Sammu・Naruto Interchange on the Ken-O Expressway
• Inquiries: Sammu Naruto Strawberry Trust Association TEL: 0475-82-2071
• Sammu Naruto Strawberry Trust Association Website

2)Early Spring Flowers〔Minamiboso Region〕

1.Nanabatake Road／around Kamogawa City Hall〔Kamogawa City〕

Nanabatake Road, with its abundance of yellow “nanohana” (rapeseed blossoms) in fields that are within walking distance from JR Awa-Kamogawa Station, is a sightseeing attraction unique to the Boso Peninsula, where spring arrives early.

Experience spring to the fullest surrounded by a sea of vivid yellow. Visitors can also pick flowers during the event period. In addition, the Dr. Yellow shinkansen mini train will be running within the flower fields on Sundays in February.

• Duration: January 10^th to March 8^th
• Flower Picking: 9:30 AM to 3 PM, 200 yen for 10 flowers
• Dr. Yellow: Runs on Sundays in February 10 AM to 3 PM, 200 yen per person
  *Cancelled in case of rain
• Location: Hiroba, Kamogawa City
• Access:【By Train】 About a 15-minute walk from Awa-Kamogawa Station on the JR Sotobo/Uchibo Line
• Inquiries：Nanabatake Kamogawa Executive Committee TEL: 04-7092-0086
• 【Official Website】Minamiboso-Kamogawa Nanabatake Road

2.Flower Fields in Chikuracho (Minamiboso City）

Due to the effects of the Kuroshio Ocean Current, it’s always springtime in the Shiramazu and Nanaura districts in Chikuracho, with no frost even in the middle of winter. Cultivated flowers thrive there in open fields, and numerous varieties such as rape blossoms, snapdragons, poppies, calendulas, safflowers, and stocks are in bloom from early January to mid-March. The vast flower gardens envelop the road and extend along both mountain and ocean sides, creating a scene that spreads out before you like a carpet of flowers.

• Duration: early January to mid-March
• Location: Shiramazu and Nanaura districts in Chikuracho, Minamiboso City
• Admission: Varies by garden
• Access:【By Train】From JR Chikura Station on the Uchibo Line, take the Tateyama Nitto Bus bound for Awa-Shirahama and get off at the Nanaura or Shiramazu Ohanabatake Bus Stops
• Inquiries: Minamiboso City Tourism Association Chikura Office TEL: 0470-44-3581

3.Gancho-zakura Cherry Blossoms／Hokoen〔Minamiboso City〕

Called “gancho-zakura” because they bloom on the morning of Lunar New Year’s Day, about 60 winter-blooming cherry trees with a slightly deep pink color will be in full bloom at Hokoen.

Wadacho in Minamiboso City is famous nationwide as a flower-growing area. A long time ago, a pharmacist named Mamiya Shichirobei lived in the former Wada Town and was the first in the Awa Area to successfully cultivate flowers. Shichirobei hoped above all else that flower growing would benefit people’s livelihoods in the half-agricultural, half-fishing town of Wada. Having succeeded in flower farming, he then set his mind to clearing mountains and growing flower trees. Shichirobei himself took a hoe and cultivated the land around the dam on the mountain behind the Hanazono area, named it “Hokoen,” and planted flowering trees there.

• Peak Period: late January to late February
• Location: Hokoen／Hanazono, Wadacho, Minamiboso City
• Admission: Free
• Access:【By Train】 From Wadaura Station on the JR Uchibo Line, take the Tateyama Nitto bus, get off at “Hanazono” bus stop and walk 10 minutes
• Inquiries：Minamiboso City Tourism Association TEL: 0470-28-5307

 

 

I.News    II.Festivals and Events