9 Recommended Sightseeing Spots in Onjuku! Is There Charm Beyond Summer?

Introducing sightseeing spots in Onjuku, Chiba.

Onjuku Town is known as the birthplace of the nursery rhyme "Tsuki no Sabaku" (Desert of the Moon). Located in Isumi District in the southern part of Chiba Prefecture, Onjuku Beach features vast sandy shores and numerous swimming areas. During summer, many tourists visit to enjoy swimming. The town also has a thriving fishing industry, offering fresh seafood as one of its main attractions. You can fully enjoy both sightseeing and delicious seafood.

Onjuku has many tourist spots where both children and adults can have fun and lose track of time. There are must-visit places that will make you think, "You can't come to Onjuku without stopping here!" In this article, we have carefully selected and introduced nine such sightseeing spots. Be sure to check them out!

1.Onjuku Beach

Onjuku Beach stretches for about 2 km with white sandy shores. This beach includes Hama-Kai Swimming Beach, Onjuku Central Swimming Beach, and Iwawada Swimming Beach, attracting many tourists during summer. Additionally, a fireworks festival is held, bringing even more excitement. In autumn, the Ise Ebi (spiny lobster) Festival is also held! It’s hard to decide which season is best to visit Onjuku.

Many of the sightseeing spots introduced below are located near Onjuku Beach. Therefore, if you visit Onjuku, it is recommended to start by exploring Onjuku Beach!

2.Tsuki no Sabaku Memorial Park

Have you heard of the nursery rhyme "Tsuki no Sabaku" (Desert of the Moon)? The setting of this song is a beach in Onjuku. Today, statues of a prince and princess riding camels, as depicted in the song, stand in the park. This place is called Tsuki no Sabaku Memorial Park.

Nearby, there is also the Tsuki no Sabaku Memorial Museum. This museum displays the works and materials of poet Masao Kato, who loved Onjuku. Occasionally, special exhibitions are held! There is also a museum shop, so be sure to check it out.

3. Kurafife Onjuku

Kurafife Onjuku offers a hot spring experience using water pumped up from 800m underground. The thick, silky water is said to leave the skin feeling smooth. It is even ranked as the second-best “silky hot spring” in Japan. The water contains sodium bicarbonate and is known to be beneficial for frozen shoulders, sprains, hemorrhoids, cold sensitivity, chronic digestive disorders, and post-illness recovery.

The bath area is fully equipped with various facilities such as sprinkling baths, steam boxes, jet baths, walking baths, reclining baths, and waterfall showers! Additionally, the facility includes a training room and table tennis tables, making it a great spot to enjoy some activities.

Kurafife Onjuku is conveniently located about a 6-minute walk from Onjuku Station. It is also close to the Tsuki no Sabaku Memorial Museum, making it a great addition to your sightseeing plans.

4.Water Park

Water Park is a luxurious facility where you can enjoy the pool while feeling the sea breeze, as it is located near the ocean. It features a lazy river, a multipurpose pool, and even water slides. There is also a pool for toddlers, making it a safe and enjoyable place for families with young children. Because of its well-equipped pools, many Onjuku residents use this facility during summer.

Inside the facility, there is a snack stand where you can have a meal. Additionally, there is a municipal parking lot nearby, so visitors traveling by car can feel at ease. Since summer leisure activities often involve a lot of baggage, being able to visit by car is a great advantage.

5.Japan-Spain-Mexico Friendship Monument

In 1609, a Spanish galleon traveling from the Spanish-controlled Philippines to Mexico was caught in a typhoon and wrecked on the shores of present-day Onjuku. Of the 373 crew members, 317 were rescued by local residents. They later met with Tokugawa Ieyasu and were given a ship the following year to return home safely.

To express gratitude for this act, Spain sent Sebastián Vizcaíno to Japan, where he met with Ieyasu and Date Masamune. This historical event later led to a Japanese delegation being sent to Spain and Rome. In 1928, the Japan-Spain-Mexico Friendship Monument was erected. The monument bears an inscription by Tokugawa Iemasa and messages from the King of Spain and the President of Mexico.

Since this monument commemorates an important piece of history, it is worth visiting when sightseeing in Onjuku.

6.Onjuku Natural Hot Spring Motoyu

Onjuku Natural Hot Spring Motoyu is an accommodation facility, but it also allows for day-use bathing. It is a popular spot where you can enjoy a natural hot spring with reddish-brown water. It is known for making the skin feel smooth and soft! The water is a sodium bicarbonate spring, beneficial for conditions such as neuralgia, joint pain, bruises, sprains, cuts, stiff joints, hemorrhoids, chronic digestive disorders, cold sensitivity, chronic skin diseases, and post-illness recovery. Towels are available for rent, so you don’t have to worry about bringing your own.

If you plan to have lunch here, consider their special lunch set that includes hot spring bathing—an excellent deal! Another highlight for railway enthusiasts is the detailed railway diorama. For a fee, visitors can bring their own N-gauge model trains and run them on the diorama freely. Both children and adults will surely enjoy this attraction!

7.Farm Resort Keiran Ranch

Farm Resort Keiran Ranch in Onjuku Town is a tourist farm. There is a direct sales store where you can buy fresh eggs and locally harvested agricultural products. But that’s not all!

You can also purchase train-related goods and Plarail toys here. This is because the facility houses the Retro Bubu Museum, which displays a collection of rare cars and valuable railway-related items, making it a paradise for enthusiasts. Additionally, there is a Fire Truck Museum, which children will surely love! Both kids and adults are guaranteed to have a great time.

The farm also occasionally hosts events, so be sure to check for updates!

8.Onjuku Town History and Folklore Museum

The Onjuku Town History and Folklore Museum plays a vital role in preserving valuable cultural assets for future generations and using them as educational materials. It features numerous exhibitions related to the history and folklore of Onjuku.

Interestingly, this museum is a sister institution to the Struwwelpeter Museum in Frankfurt, Germany. Because of this, the museum displays translated versions of the famous children's book Struwwelpeter along with related literature.

It is conveniently located just a 2-minute walk from Onjuku Station. There is also a parking lot, so visitors traveling by car can rest assured. Additionally, admission is free, making it an even more attractive destination.

9.Saimyoji Temple

Saimyoji Temple is home to a Kannon Hall, which serves as the seventh temple on the Shin-Kazusa 33 Kannon Pilgrimage Route. It is said to have been founded in 822. From here, you can enjoy a panoramic view of Onjuku Town and even see the white sandy beach.

Additionally, the temple enshrines the Naminori Kannon Bosatsu (Surfing Kannon Bodhisattva), which is believed to protect surfers from accidents. If you're visiting Onjuku for marine sports, stopping by this temple might be a good idea.

It is about an 8-minute walk from Onjuku Station.

◎ Summary

How did you find these 9 sightseeing spots in Onjuku Town, Chiba Prefecture? Weren’t they all places worth visiting? Whether you're with family, friends, or a loved one, there are plenty of exciting attractions to enjoy!

In summer, the beaches and pools showcase Onjuku’s beauty, but even in colder seasons, there’s plenty to do! Relax in a hot spring drawn from 800m underground, warm both your body and soul, immerse yourself in Onjuku’s history, and indulge in delicious local cuisine for an unforgettable experience.