Tateyama

Tateyama sits at the southernmost tip of the Bōsō Peninsula and spreads across 110 square kilometers between the Pacific Ocean and the entrance to Tokyo Bay. The coastline alternates between beaches, small harbors, and rocky cliffs, with hills inland rising gradually from the water.

The Satomi family ruled the region from the 15th to the 16th century from a fortress on a nearby hill. After the clan's decline, the area developed as a coastal settlement and was formally organized into a town in 1889, before becoming a full city in 1939.

The name comes from a castle tower on a hill that served as a landmark for fishermen returning to the bay. Summer celebrations along the shore still show the old connection to the sea, when boats are decorated and families gather at the beach.

Reaching the city from Tokyo takes about 80 minutes by express bus, and the visitor center offers support in several languages. The mild coastal winter and sea breezes in summer make visits comfortable all year, though strong winds can occur in spring and fall.

A national maritime school trains young people for careers at sea, and many graduates later work on cargo ships or ferries. A naval air base also sits here and operates aircraft for search and rescue missions over the Pacific.

Location: Chiba Prefecture

Inception: November 3, 1939

Capital city: Tateyama Domain

Shares border with: Minamiboso

Website: https://city.tateyama.chiba.jp

GPS coordinates: 34.99658,139.86997

Latest update: December 4, 2025 23:05