RENT & RIDE JAPANSouthern Boso: Awa area, Chikura & Nojimazaki
South Boso Coast
Chikura to Nojimazaki
A one-day coastal run from Hachioji via the Aqua-Line and Futtsu down to South Boso, cruising the Pacific shoreline from Chikura to Nojimazaki Lighthouse while enjoying fresh seafood under clear autumn skies.
- DISTANCE
- 330 km
- DURATION
- 11 h
- LEVEL
- Intermediate
Starting from TASHILOG GARAGE in Hachioji, this classic coastal tour heads straight down to the southern tip of the Boso Peninsula via the Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line and Tateyama Expressway. You'll cruise the scenic Boso Flower Line and aim for Nojimazaki Lighthouse, the southernmost point of the peninsula.
Highlights
- Boso Flower Line: A breezy seaside road running from Chikura to Shirahama. In autumn the Pacific is especially clear and the sea breeze is pleasant.
- Michi-no-Eki Chikura Shiosai Oukoku: A seaside roadside station with a grassy plaza, a fishing-boat monument, and plenty of fresh seafood for a rest stop.
- Nojimazaki Lighthouse: One of only 16 "climbable" lighthouses in Japan, offering a sweeping Pacific panorama from the observation deck.
Riding tips
Since the expressway section via the Aqua-Line is long, plan your time so you can enjoy a relaxed cruise along the coast. Stop for a local sashimi rice bowl in Chikura at lunch. The trip works well as a day trip, but an early start is recommended to beat traffic on the way home.
- 1START
Tashilog Garage
Start point (Hachioji)
TIPSStart early to avoid traffic on the Aqua-Line and Tateyama Expressway. Fuel up and check tire pressure before leaving.
- 2VIEW~30 min
Umihotaru Parking Area
A parking area built on the sea along the Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line, with panoramic views of Tokyo Bay.
TIPSA perfect first break on the way to Boso. The observation decks offer refreshing sea views, and you can grab breakfast or a snack here.
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Photo: Yoshio Kohara / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 3.0 - 3SPOT~40 min
Michi-no-Eki Chikura Shiosai Oukoku
A seaside roadside station along Senda Beach, ideal for a rest and seafood shopping.
TIPSKnown for its roughly 7,000-sqm grassy plaza and a real fishing-boat monument. Shops sell South Boso seafood such as spiny lobster and abalone. Open 9:00–17:00, closed Wednesdays (open daily in Jan–Mar and Aug).
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Photo: Filler / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 - 4FOOD~60 min
Shunsai Ajidokoro Hama-no-Sato
A Japanese restaurant in Chikura serving local fish, famous for seafood bowls and simmered-fish set meals.
TIPSEnjoy Boso's seafood in a homey setting. The limited 20-a-day "Tairyo-don" topped with 17 kinds of fish, the "Hamango-don" seafood bowl, and rare whale dishes are popular. It gets busy at lunch, so go early.
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Image - 5VIEW
Boso Flower Line
A seaside road running from Chikura through Shirahama toward Tateyama, the signature coastal route of South Boso.
TIPSAn open stretch with the Pacific on your right. Fields of rapeseed in spring and marigolds in early summer line the roadside.
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Photo: oimo / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 - 6VIEW~50 min
Nojimazaki Cape & Lighthouse
A white lighthouse at the southernmost cape of the Boso Peninsula, with a grand Pacific panorama.
HISTORYOne of Japan's first Western-style lighthouses (built 1869) and one of eight promised under the 1866 Edo Treaty. After collapsing in the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake, it was rebuilt in white concrete and is nicknamed the "Swan Lighthouse." It is a registered national tangible cultural property.
TIPSOpen in Google MapsOne of only 16 "climbable" lighthouses in Japan. Climb the spiral staircase to the deck for sweeping views of Boso and the open sea. Admission around 300 yen for adults; free parking at Shirahama Nojimazaki Park.
- 7SPOT~25 min
Furari Tomiyama (Roadside Station & Highway Oasis)
A roadside station in the Tomiyama area, convenient for a break on the way home, with local produce and light meals.
TIPSDirectly accessible from the Futtsu-Tateyama Road highway oasis. Handy for last-minute souvenirs and a final rest before the drive home. Take a short break before traffic builds up.
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Photo: Filler / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 - 8GOAL
Tashilog Garage
Return (Hachioji)
