Ushimaru

While its neighbor to the west, Tokyo, is jam-packed with skyscrapers and apartment blocks, Chiba enjoys an abundance of wide open space. This means that the prefecture can boast some of the best produce in the country, grown in its wide fields and forests. This Italian restaurant near Kujukuri Beach, around two hours by train from central Tokyo, seeks to put that fact on full show. Only local produce is used in the store: mushrooms from the mountains, fish from the oceans, vegetables from the farmers of this wide open region, and wild game from the forests all find their way to the plates. The chef’s family even runs a dairy farm in the area, so expect only the very best cream and cheese. Simple cooking lets these ingredients shine in a range of traditional Italian classics. Tables and private rooms are available, making this a great place for a special meal during your Chiba excursion. Although, the food is good enough that it warrants a trip just for the purpose of tasting it!