Kazusa Ichinomiya Station

Kazusa-Ichinomiya Station is a passenger railway station located in the town of Ichinomiya, Chiba Prefecture Japan, operated by the East Japan Railway Company. The station is served by the Sotobō Line and lies 43.0 km from the starting point of the line at Chiba Station. This gateway station provides convenient access to one of Japan's premier surfing destinations and spiritual centers, connecting visitors to both coastal recreation and sacred sites.

The station serves as the primary entry point to Ichinomiya, a historic town renowned for its Tamasaki Shrine and world-class surfing beaches. The goddess enshrined here is said to have given birth to the very first emperor of Japan, and the shrine also symbolizes the abundant blessings of both the land and sea of the Ichinomiya coast. The highlight of this shrine is the annual matsuri festival on September 13 which has been held for over 1200 years. The area gained international recognition when Tsurigasaki Surfing Beach served as the venue for surfing competitions at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Visitors can explore the Tamasaki Shrine, located within walking distance west of the station, which represents one of Japan's most important fertility and life shrines in Shinto tradition. The historic Kanmyoji temple and Shiroyama park with scenic viewing spots offer additional cultural experiences. The coastal area provides year-round surfing opportunities, with Tsurigasaki Beach being particularly popular among both beginners and professional surfers.

The easiest and fastest way to reach the station is taking the "Wakashio" limited express of JR Keiyo & Sotobo line, which takes just 60 minutes from Tokyo station. Limited express trains operate every 2 hours with tickets costing $18-27 for the one-hour journey. Regular train services are also available via the JR Sotobo Line, with trains running every 30 minutes from Soga station, taking 41 minutes and costing $4-6. The station is accessible from both Narita and Haneda airports, located within 100 km distance. No admission fees apply to visit the station area, though individual attractions may have separate charges.