Kisarazu, Commercial harbor city in Chiba Prefecture, Japan
Kisarazu sits on the eastern shore of Tokyo Bay and spreads over flat terrain, where port facilities alternate with residential neighborhoods and forested hills inland. Sandy beaches run along the waterfront, while rice paddies and small villages shape the countryside farther from the coast.
During the Edo period, this settlement controlled shipping routes between the western Bōsō Peninsula and the capital, giving it economic importance. After World War II, the waterfront transformed into an industrial zone with port facilities and factories.
The Koizumi Brewery continues traditional sake production across several generations, letting visitors watch rice wine fermenting in large wooden barrels. During tastings, staff explain how dry and sweet varieties differ and how local rice shapes each flavor.
The Aqua-Line across Tokyo Bay links the waterfront directly to Kawasaki, shortening travel time from the capital to roughly one hour. Beach areas grow busy during summer, while hiking trails in the hills stay accessible year-round.
The Kazusa DNA Research Institute was the first facility in Japan devoted exclusively to genetic studies and now draws scientists from several countries. Guided tours show laboratories where researchers work on sequencing plant and microbial genomes.
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