Things to do in Chiba, Kanto: The Best Events

The Tokyo Game show is an annual video game expo held in September which highlights both Japanese and international game developers. Open to the general public for two days, the expo invites both established and emerging game designers to promote their new releases and announce upcoming innovations. It includes showcases, demo areas, merchandise booths, and a cosplay area. While video games are the major draw, games for PC and smart devices are also included in the lineup.

A comprehensive event for users of Nico Nico Douga. A variety of projects jostle with the concept of "to reproduce (almost) all of Nico Nico Douga." In cosplay and games areas, stage discussions and live broadcasts by users, watching baseball games, projects in a variety of fields from entertainment to politics, to science and technology, exhibitors and visitors really come alive as one group. There is also product sales and a food court, you can also enjoy gourmet and shopping.

July 14th is the eve of the festival and the main event takes place on July 15th. It is said that if you worship at this annual festival, you receive the same blessing as if you have prayed 365 days of the year. In addition, it is called a major festival for safe childbirth and parenting. Inagesengen-dori street is lined with stalls, and on the main festival day costumed children parade through the town. The Juniza-Kagura dance, which is dedicated at the Kaguraden of this festival, has been designated by Chiba Prefecture as an Intangible Cultural Asset.

This is a regular summer festival at Chiba Jinja Shrine in Chiba city. Since it began in 1127, this historic festival has been held every year without fail. Festivities continue for seven days, starting on August 16th, when the portable shrine is brought out of the shrine grounds, and concluding on August 22nd, when the portable shrine is brought back. In accordance with long-established customs, the portable shrine is carried in a particular manner and the drums are beaten in a certain rhythm, which is quite unlike that of other festivals. Carriers raise both hands high into the air to lift the portable shrine as they bring it back inside the shrine grounds. The Ursa Major constellation is said to be an image of the bodhisattva Myoken. People make wishes on each of the seven stars in the constellation. There is a legend that "if you make a wish during the week of the festival, it is bound to come true". This is known as Hitokoto Myoken Taisai ("Wishing Myoken Taisai Festival").

Chiba Minato Tairyo Matsuri is an event held in the Port Park around Chiba Port Tower. Its purpose is to promote the ocean and port at Chiba. There will be over 150 booths, including the green (village) zone, which mainly has agricultural produce and stalls displaying and selling fresh vegetables, and the blue (ocean) zone, which mainly has seafood products from Funabashi and Katsuura. Visitors can also enjoy a variety of other events. In addition, the admission fee to Port Tower is half price on the day of the festival.

This is the biggest firework display in the prefecture, with around 15,000 fireworks being launched over Makuhari Seaside Park. The audience is treated to a huge variety of fireworks, including 20 intense "shakudama" fireworks, marine fireworks that extend across the edge of the water's surface, musical fireworks where fireworks are set off in time to music, and message fireworks that spell out a message before they launch. There is also a stage for musicians and performers before the fireworks. This event has plenty to help spectators make the most of a summer evening.

Tokyo Auto Salon is the world's largest custom car event and takes place every January at Makuhari Messe. It began in 1983, with the aim of spreading the word about custom car culture. In recent years it has really developed. Now, car manufacturers set up stalls there, all kinds of parts are exhibited and sold, and there are big events for new car announcements. A range of events are happening at the same time, including the Japan Race Queen Award, special live events, and a custom car contest. The salon attracts crowds of people every year, beyond just custom car fans.