Tateyama Wild Bird Forest

Tateyama Wild Bird Forest is a wildlife protection area and migratory point for numerous species of wild birds located on the southern tip of the Boso Peninsula in Chiba Prefecture. The forest has been selected for inclusion in the Top 100 Forested Valleys in Japan compiled by the Forestry Agency, reflecting its ecological importance and status as one of Japan's officially designated best forests.

The sanctuary sits next to Awa Shrine and comprises a natural habitat dense with diverse plant and animal life. The forest is thick with evergreen broadleaves such as Japanese stone oak and deciduous trees like konara oaks, providing habitat for many flowering plants and wild birds. Visitors can observe migratory birds such as grey-faced buzzards and lesser cuckoos in the summer, and thrushes and buzzards in the winter, allowing year-round bird observation.

The facility offers multiple ways to experience the landscape. The office building includes a gift shop, an exhibition room recreating the local forest, a digital corner, and a hand-craft experience area. Visitors can listen to bird sounds at the Fureaikan entrance to learn about different bird types before exploring the forest freely.

The sanctuary features three main hiking trails: the Family Hiking Course (1.9 km, approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes), the Bird Watching Course (2.7 km, approximately 2 hours), and the Green Shower Course (3.4 km, approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes). Additional facilities include a picnic area and observation towers for wildlife viewing.

Admission to Tateyama Wild Bird Forest is free. The facility is located at 553 Daijingu, Tateyama, Chiba Prefecture 294-0233, Japan. For inquiries in Japanese, contact the facility at 0470-28-0166. By car, the sanctuary is accessible from central Chiba via local roads. Public transportation options include trains and buses serving the Tateyama area; visitors should consult local transit information for specific routes from major stations.