Chiba Nanohana News (April 2019)

 Index

　I.News       II . Festivals and Events

 I.News

 1) Free Legal Consultation for Foreign Residents

Every month, the Chiba International Center in association with the Chiba Prefecture Lawyers Association and the Chiba Prefecture Notary Association provides a variety of free legal consultation services in legal matters, divorces, accidents, inheritance, or labor problems as well as immigration, visas, and business start-up procedures.

The next free consultation will be on Monday, May 13th, and will cover all of the aforementioned legal matters.

※The annual schedule is now available on the Chiba International Center Website at:
https://www.mcic.or.jp/en/Advisory/free_legal_consultation/index.html( External link )

 

• Date and Time: Monday, May 13, 13:00-16:00
• Consultation Time: 45 minutes per person
• Price: Free. Reservation required, interpreters available on 10 days prior request.
• Location: Chiba International Center 14^th Fl. Marive East World Business Garden (WBG) 2-6 Nakase, Mihama-ku, Chiba City
• Access: 5 minutes on foot from the south exit of Kaihin Makuhari Station on the JR Keiyo Line.
• Reservation: Chiba International Center TEL: 043-297-0245 FAX: 043-297-2753
• E-mail：kudo@ccb.or.jp 

 2) Now Looking for CHIBA+KUN Ambassadors

Travel around Chiba Prefecture and introduce Chiba attractions on your blog, Facebook, or web page!

Participate in an idea exchange with regional tourism authorities! (Scheduled for February. Win prizes based on presentation)

Participate in FREE tours around Chiba Prefecture! (Free tours including sightseeing and transportation)

Write about your life in Chiba and introduce Chiba attractions in your native language on social media! (Win prizes for writing articles)

• Qualifications:
  ・Have proper status of residence.
  ・Already maintain a blog or other social media page in your native language (not Japanese).
  ・Live, work, or go to school in Chiba Prefecture (with appropriate legal status).
  ・Be interested in Chiba Prefecture and be motived to promote Chiba on social media.
  ・Be able to read, write and converse in Japanese.
• Period of Appointment: Mid-June 2019 to Mid-June 2020
• How to Apply: Please fill out an application form in Japanese and submit it to the address below with required documents
• ＊Copy of: 1 Residence Card
  2 Your social media page (blog, Facebook, etc.)
• Deadline: Please send applications by 5:00PM April 26, 2019
• Inquiries: International Affairs Division, Chiba Prefectural Government, 1-1, Ichiba-cho, Chuo-ku, Chiba City 260-8667
  TEL: 043-223-2436   EMAIL: kokusaig3@mz.pref.chiba.lg.jp (Japanese only) 

 3) Guide for Living in Chiba

Chiba Prefecture provides multilingual living information "Hello Chiba" for foreign residents in eight languages: Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Portuguese, Tagalog and Thai.

The Guidebook contains the following.

• 1 In Case of Emergency
• 2 Planning for Disasters
• 3 Administrative Procedures
• 4 Health Management
• 5 Education
• 6 Employment
• 7 Housing
• 8 Daily Life
• 9 Communications and Mail Services
• 10 Transportation
• 11 Administrative Agencies

You can download the guidebook in PDF format from the website https://www.pref.chiba.lg.jp/kokusai/english/information/residents/hello/index.html 

Inquiries: International Affairs Division, Chiba Prefectural Government, TEL: 043-223-2436

 II.  Festivals and Events 

 1) Dolphin Watching/Choshi Ocean Research Center (Choshi City)

Up to 30km offshore, in the Oyashio and Kuroshio currents that flow past the Choshi peninsula, dolphins and whales swim almost all year round.  Among the varieties often spotted are the short-beaked common dolphin, the bottlenose dolphin, the striped dolphin, the Pacific white-sided dolphin, the northern right whale dolphin, and Risso’s dolphin. Sometimes dolphin watchers have seen pods of up to 5,000 dolphins.

Besides dolphins, you may also spot sunfish, sharks, flying fish, and albatrosses. Come out on a tour and enjoy the beauty of the waves and sky.

• Season period: April - Friday, May 31
• Time: 3-4 hours
• Boat departure times: Once a day from 10:30
• Golden Week Holidays: Twice a day from 8:00 and 13:00
• Admission: Adults (high school students and older) 7,000 yen; children (elementary school students and older) 5,500 yen, children under elementary school age not permitted
• Capacity: 30 people per boat (minimum of 10 people per boat), reservations needed
• Meeting place: Choshi Ocean Research Center (Choshi Marina)
• Meeting time: 30 min before departure
• Facilities: Bathroom; handwashing station; a/c and heating
• Location: 15-9 Shiomicho, Choshi City
• Access: from Choshi Station on the JR Sobu line, take the bus via the Naarai/ Chiba Institute of Science Line, Get off at the “Chiba Kagakudaigaku Marina mae” stop
• Inquiries: Choshi Ocean Research Center TEL: 0479-24-8870
• URL: http://www.choshi-iruka-watching.co.jp/( External link )

 2) Shibazakura Flower Festival at Tokyo German Village (Sodegaura City)

This event receives universal acclaim every year. Over 250,000 plants of vivid flowers are waiting to greet visitors. Walking on the boardwalk makes it feel like you are walking on a carpet of flowers. Come and be surrounded by a spectacle of colors!

*This year, due to the replanting of certain flowers, some locations may not be accessible. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.

• Best time to go: Until late April
• Number of Plants: 250,000
• Location: Tokyo German Village Shibazakura no Oka/419 Nagayoshi, Sodegaura City
• Admission: Adult 800 yen, Children (aged 4 - elementary school) 400 yen, separate parking fee 1,000 yen
• Access: 3 km from the Anesaki Sodegaura Interchange off the Tateyama Expressway
• URL: http://www.t-doitsumura.co.jp( External link )
• Inquiries: Tokyo German Village TEL: 0438-60-5511

 3) Romantic Forest Republic Foundation Festival/Golden Week Festival 2019 (Kimitsu City)

The forest and lake resort “Romantic Forest Republic” celebrates the 25^th anniversary of its foundation this year on April 27^th (Sat). On that day and the day after, many events are being planned for the festival to celebrate its foundation. With the hope of attracting many visitors to celebrate with, a Golden Week festival has been planned.

Foundation Day 4/27(Sat)

• Celebration Ceremony (Present for the first 30 arrivals!)
• Gift Lottery (Minamiboso Gourmet, Tickets for Food Stalls and Other Attractions, Pleasure Goods, Lifestyle Goods, etc.)

Foundation Day Festival 4/27(Sat) 28(Sun)

Special Accommodation Plan “Forest Garden Party” (Accommodation fee: 1 adult 2 meals 13,284 yen)
A dinner with a wide variety will be served at an outdoor BBQ garden (example menu: BBQ set, local fish carving show, local wild boar steak service, food stall items, salad/fruit bar, kids’ plate).
A character show which can be enjoyed by both parents and kids alike will also be held, along with a lottery in this luxurious meal/performance set accommodation plan.

※A wide variety of other events will also be held. Please check the website for more details.

Foundation Festival / Golden Week Festival 2019

• Time period: Saturday, April 27-Monday, May 6(Holiday)
• Location: Romantic Forest Republic/659-1 Toyofusa, Kimitsu City
• Admission: 600 yen (aged 4 and above) separate fee for ride fees
• Access: 1 hour by bus on the Kamogawa Nitto Bus in the direction of Kameda Hospital departing from the West Exit of Kisarazu station on the JR Uchibo Line
  25 minutes by Kisarazu Kamogawa Express Bus departing from the West Exit of Awa Kamogawa Station on the JR Sotobo Line
  Tateyama Expressway getting off at the Kimitsu Interchange (22 km, 25 minutes)
• URL:http://romannomori.co.jp/( External link )
• Inquiries: Romantic Forest Republic TEL: 03-3319-5116

 4) Shirako Onsen Festival (Shirako Town)

 

Come and enjoy the skin beautifying effects of the Shirako Onsen and the tasty Shirako Onion this Golden Week at the Shirako Onsen Festival. A Shirako Onion and a Shirako Onion dinner will be prepared for guests staying at a hotel within the town during the festival period. A free-entry pass to baths at hotels within the town will also be gifted to guests staying at town hotels.

Festival Time Privileges

• A Shirako Onion present to guests staying at town hotels during the festival time period
• Shirako Onion dinner
• Free-entry pass to baths in town hotels
• Lottery ticket to guests staying at a town hotel on the night before the event day 

Event Day: 4/28 (Son), 5/5 (Sun)

• Lottery event (hotel guests and guests who shopped at the event location)
• Sale of special local goods and seafood
• Free fried onion service

Shirako Onsen Festival

• Time period: Saturday, April 27 - Monday, May 6 (Holiday)
• Location: Nakazato, Shirako Town
• Access: from Mobara Station on the JR Sotobo Line, take the Kominato Bus in the direction of Shirako Shako, getting off at “Nakazato Kaigan” and walking 5 minutes
• Inquiries: Shirako Town Onsen Hotel Cooperative (New Seaside Hotel) TEL: 0475-30-3555

 5) Narita Taiko Drum Festival (Narita City)

Wadaiko (Japanese drum) teams from all over Japan will bring energy and excitement to Naritasan Shinshoji Temple and Naritasan Omotesando Street during this taiko festival. On this 31^st occasion of the festival, the changing of the era will also be celebrated, so the celebration is expected to be even more grand than usual.
The Narita Taiko Festival is regarded as one of Japan’s greatest taiko festivals because of the number of performing groups, their high-quality performances, and the many unique styles that can be heard here. The festival draws over a vast number of visitors with the pairing of intense performances and the backdrop of Naritasan Shinshoji Temple’s Main Gate, making it an event like no other.
At 10:00am on both Saturday the 13th and Sunday the 14th, all performing groups will gather in front of the Main Hall of Naritasan Shinshoji Temple for the “Sengan Hana Daiko.” The simultaneous drum show will feature over 800 performers in a powerful performance. Make sure you get there early to find a good spot to watch from!
At 17:00 on Saturday, April 13th, the Night Drum Concert will be held amongst blazing bonfires surrounding a special stage in front of the Naritasan Shinshoji Temple Main Hall. On Sunday from 15:00, the lively “Taiko Parade” will be held, featuring various drumming cultures from around the world, including steel drumming and samba.

• Dates: Saturday, April 13,10:00-19:00
  Sunday, April 14,10:00-17:00
• Location: Naritasan Shinshoji Temple & Naritasan Omotesando Street, Narita City
• Access: to Omotesando Street: 1minute on foot from the JR/Keisei Narita Stations
  to Naritasan Shinshoji Temple: 15 minutes on foot from the JR/Keisei Narita Stations
• Inquiries: Narita Taiko Festival Planning Committee TEL: 0476-24-3232
• URL: http://nrtm.jp/( External link )

 6) Sakura Tulip Festival (Sakura City)

This April, 720,000 tulips of 100 varieties will blossom in this picturesque plaza, which features a Dutch windmill in the background. Each year visitors come out to see the tulip field, which is one of the largest in the Kanto region. Enjoy the coming of spring with the natural beauty of Lake Imba combined with fully bloomed tulips that paint the field with vivid colors.
The festival includes tulips for sale (10 for 500 yen), rental of Dutch traditional costumes (1,000 yen for 45 min), yakatabune cruises of Lake Imba (1,000 yen for adults, 500 yen for children), Dutch street organ performances, rent-a-cycling (500 yen; 1,000 yen for an electric bicycle), and local product sales. The costume rentals, cruises, performances, and rent-a-cycling will mainly be held on weekends. There will also be a windmill festival featuring Dutch food, trying on wooden clogs, and a windmill photo exhibition on the weekend of the 13th and 14th.

Time period: Ongoing ~ Sunday, April 21, 9:00-16:00

• Location: Sakura Furusato Hiroba, 2714 Usuita, Sakura City
• Access: 10minutes by shuttle bus or Sakura City loop bus from Keisei Sakura Station north exit
• Inquiries: Sakura City Tourism Association TEL: 043-486-6000
• URL: http://www.city.sakura.lg.jp/0000000042.html( External link )

 7) 48th Tokiwadaira Cherry Blossom Festival (Matsudo City)

Selected as one of the top 100 roads in Japan, a cherry blossom festival full of fun and plenty of cherry blossoms is held every year on the Tokiwadaira Sakura Street.

A 2 kilometer stretch from Tokiwadaira to Goko will be closed for vehicles, leaving pedestrians free to roam. Plenty of shops will be set up along the roadsides, drawing many hundreds of thousands of visitors every year to wonder at the fully bloomed blossoms while enjoying gourmet food.

Many performances will be held, including a fife and drum corps and mikoshi (portable shrine) parade. Local middle and high schoolers will also be present doing a volunteer clean-up.

• Dates: Saturday, April 6, 11:00-19:00
  Sunday, April 7, 10:00-18:00
• Location: Tokiwadaira Sakura Street (from the Yurinoki Street  Intersection to in front of Goko Station and Seiyumae Keyaki Street)
• Access: 15 minutes on foot from the Shinkeisei Yabashira Station/JR Musashino Shinyabashira Station
  1 minute on foot from Shinkeisei Tokiwadaira/Goko Stations
• Admission: Free
• Inquiries: Tokiwadaira Sakura Festival Planning Committee TEL: 090-6527-9348 (only on the day of the event)

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