[TRAVEL] Top 8 Things to Do in Boso-no-Mura Open-Air Museum, Chiba Prefecture, Japan

Konnichiwa from Chiba Prefecture Open-Air Museum, Boso-no-Mura! ❤

I must admit that something magical in Japan that keeps me coming back is the strong cultural footprint from the Edo Period which I'd love to discover more. And during this Chiba trip, I found it in Boso-no-Mura.

Unlike all the museums I've been, the entire village of Boso-no-Mura is an open-air 'museum' specially built to tell the tale of Japanese history, culture and heritage. With fleets of shophouses in traditional Edo architecture, interesting paraphernalias from prehistoric times, and a beautiful natural surrounding with vast lands for farming, this is probably the largest museum I've ever been. How amazing!

Boso-no-Mura (房総のむら)

Chiba Prefecture Open-Air Museum 

1028 Ryukakuji, Sakae Town, 

Imba County, Chiba Prefecture 270-1506.

Tel: 0476-95-3333

Fax: 0476-95-3330

Email: mura@chiba-muse.or.jp

Website: www.chiba-muse.or.jp/MURA

Opening hours: 9am - 4.30pm, Tuesday - Sunday

(*subject to change for special events)

Parking lot: Free of charge
Recommended time spent: 3-4 hours

Entrance fee:
300 yen per adult (20 pax or more: 240 yen per adult)
High school and college students: 150 yen

*Free entry for junior high school students and younger, seniors 65 years of age and older, and disabled visitors and one accompanying caregiver.

How to get there:

❤1. From Nishiguchi, JR Narita Station
Take the Chiba Kotsu bus “Ryukakujidai Shako" from Narita Station (JR Narita Line) West Exit to the Ryukakujidai 2-chome bus stop (20 minutes), then walk for 10 minutes from there.

❤2. From JR Ajiki Station
Take the Chiba Kotsu bus “Ryukakujidai Shako”from Ajiki Station (JR Narita Line) to the Boso-no-Mura bus stop (10 minutes), then walk for 3 minutes from there.

❤3. From Narita International Airport
25 minutes drive by car

In Boso-no-Mura complex, there are so many activities that you probably can't find elsewhere!

Here are among the top 8 things you can do in Boso-no-Mura:

1. Rent a Kimono

For a complete experience, I'd strongly recommend you to explore the village in a traditional kimono / samurai outfit. You can rent according to your style at Cosplay no Yakata, located right next to Boso-no-Mura.

Cosplay no Yakata

Call: 0476-85-8155

Rentals are available from 10am to 3pm

(latest time to return: 4pm) 

Adult rental fee: From 2,000 yen onwards (for 3 hours) 

Kids rental fee: From 1,000 yen to 2,000 yen (for 3 hours)

As I prefer something more elaborated and elegant, I choose the "Samurai's Daughter" kimono (Rental fee: 5,000 yen for 3 hours) in red and gold silks, one of the most popular items from the premium range. Perfect for photoshooting!

2. Enjoy the architectural charms in the village

The Boso-no-Mura complex features the “Fudoki-no-Oka Area”, where you can learn about Japanese history from the exhibited archaeological artifacts.

Whereas “Furusato-no-Waza Arts and Crafts Area” features the reproduction of the houses of farmers and merchants from late Edo Period to the beginning of Meiji Period. Believe it or not, walking around here is already a unique experience on its own.

3. Learn about Japanese tea ceremony

Let's do it the traditional Japanese way! As it is my first time learning the proper etiquette of preparing and drinking matcha (powdered green tea), I find it pretty interesting and the whole process, although only 15-20 minutes long, is very detailed. Highly recommended for first timers.

4. Chiyogami Rosoku

It means “decorating a conical candle with patterned paper”. Interestingly, there is a shop which teaches how to DIY your own design on cone-shaped candles, subject to small charges. Get your creativity juice flowing!

5. Painting with papier-mâché

Another popular activity there is to create your own artistic papier-mâché masterpiece, be it a mask or an animal decorative sculpture. Alternatively, there are plenty of ready-made options for you to bring home as souvenir!

6. Bake your own Senbei rice crackers

Ever get hooked on rice crackers? How about baking your own rice crackers over a charcoal fire, then adding flavours to them with soy sauce? Yes, you can DIY them here too. Unfortunately, it is not available during my visit, otherwise I am sure it'd be a good experience.

7. Experience rice harvesting and crop cultivation

(Image source: HERE)

Boso-no-Mura is not just a 'museum', but also a farm! I don't mind getting my hands dirty to experience the process of rice planting, harvesting and threshing. During certain seasons, you can even harvest crops such as the local specialty peanuts and sweet potatoes here!

8. Enjoy a meal in the farm

After the hour-long series of activities, remember to complete the visit with a good meal. Most of us order the Executive Set Lunch which comes in a rice bento set or cold soba set. Fresh, well-portioned and beautifully flavoured. Love it!

Verdict:

If you wanna experience the traditional lifestyle from prehistoric times and learn about the evolution in terms of clothing, food, architecture and handcrafts over the ages, Boso-no-Mura is a great place to immerse into Japanese culture and history.

[TRAVEL] 10 Things to Do in Mother Farm, Chiba, Japan

Hello from the alpaca and I! ❤

Welcome back to my Chiba travelogue series! ❤ After an underwater adventure in Kamogawa Sea World, we are here at Mother Farm to enjoy an up-close experience with the cute farm animals. I have only been to sheep farms in Taiwan, Thailand and Malaysia so far, but never once have I stepped into such a huge place like Mother Farm that is not only a "farm",but also an amusement park, flower viewing point and camping site for visitors!

Entrance Fees:

Individual: 1,500 yen(adult) / 800 yen (child)

Group (20 pax and above): 1,200 yen (adult) / 700 yen (child)

*Child is 4 years old to elementary school students

Parking Fees: 

1,000 yen (passenger cars) 

300 yen (motorcycles)

3,000 yen(large buses)

How to Get There:

❤ 1. Tokyo Station - Sanukimachi Station - Mother Farm

Board a train (JR Uchibo Line) to Sanukimachi Station and then board a direct bus to Mother Farm (25 mins bus ride)

Bus frequency: 6 round trips on weekdays, 9 round trips on weekends and holidays

❤ 2. Tokyo Station -Kimitsu Station (South Exit) - Mother Farm

Board a train (JR Uchibo Line) to Kimitsu Station and then board a direct bus to Mother Farm (40 mins bus ride)

Bus fare: 700 yen (adult) /350 yen (child)

❤ 3. Haneda Airport- Kimitsu Station - Mother Farm

Take Aqua-Line Nonstop Bus to Kimitsu Station and then board a direct bus to Mother Farm (40 mins bus ride)

Opened since 1962, this 5-decade-old Mother Farm is one of the first farm attractions in Japan. One thing I really love about Japan is the constant effort of preserving the place in its best condition. Of course, this farm doesn’t look old or shabby at all. In fact, it is so clean and well-equipped with modern facilities to make your visit memorable here. Perhaps that’s because livestock-raising industry is essential for the future of Japanese!

So what are the top 10 reasons of making a trip to Mother Farm in Chiba? Here you go…

1. Meet and feed the animals!

The first thing to do here is joining the Mother Farm Tour, where we ride on a tractor train to tour around the farm, passing by the beautiful meadow pasture where all the little sheep and cows live. Here we get to meet plenty of farm animals which are rather uncommon for us. The train will make a stop midway for us to feed the young cute sheep, alpacas and cows too.

The tour guide will also tell fun and interesting stories about the farm along the way, unfortunately itis in Japanese which we can’t understand.

Duration of Mother Farm Tour: 60 minutes (Riding time: 35 minutes)

Fee: 1,200 yen (adult) / 700 yen (child)

2. Animal shows and petting sessions

Usually I only see cow milking session offered to the visitors in a farm, but here at Mother Farm there are so many interactive activities that attract me! For instance, the super cute Sheep Show, Duck's Parade, Sheep's Grand Parade, Piggy Race, Rabbit and Guinea Pig Touching.

*You can check the live schedule of all events in Mother Farm by scanning its QR code there.

3. Enjoy the dairy produce!

Mother Farm Milk is undoubtedly the richest-tasting milk I've ever tried! Love how it is made into such luscious soft-serve ice cream -- You can have it directly for the most original flavour, or add the bestselling toppings of caramel sauce and crunchy nuts.

If you plan to have a complete meal here, then try the Genghis Khan BBQ cooked with Mother Farm's secret tasty sauce. I literally start salivating when I heard there are homemade sausages, ribeye steaks, burgers, etc.

4. Seasonal flower viewing / flower picking

Flower viewing at Mother Farm is a must!! During the blooming season, you'll find yourself being surrounded by flower walkways with romantic whiffs of sweetness.

The best time to visit is around mid-February to mid-April where the farm is filled with a beautiful sea of 3.5 million vibrant yellow Field Mustard flowers. How lovely the view is!

I wanna watch the romantic pink Momoiro Toiki (Petunia) as well! Too bad they will only bloom around mid-May to mid-September.

Check out the schedule below to catch your favourite blooms in Mother Farm!

❤ Hydrangea (mid-June to mid-July)

❤ Salvia (early September to mid-October)

❤ Narcissus (late December to mid-February)

❤ Wintersweet (late January to late February)

❤ Japanese apricot or flowering peach trees (mid-February to early April)

5. Seasonal fruit picking

Yummy! What could be more delicious than natural farm fruits? Mother Farm is the home of Kanto's largest blueberry garden (over 2,000 bushes of blueberries!) and also A-frame hanging strawberry gardens.

Subject to additional fees, fruit picking is available based on the following seasons:

❤ Tomato (early December to late May)

❤ Strawberry (mid-January to late May)

❤ Blueberry (late July to late August)

❤ Sweet Potato(mid-September to late October)

❤ Kiwi Fruit (early to late November)

6. Hop onto the cutest bus in the farm!

Meet the two iconic buses in the farm: Ton-ton Bus (Pig) and Wan-wan Bus (Dog).

Take a ride with your little ones around the farm, I’m sure they’d be delighted.

7. Feel the excitement & thrills in Waku-Waku Land & Amusement Park

Don't you feel excited to see such a huge amusement park? There are plenty of adventurous and fun activities such as zipline, bungy jump and horse riding too. Unfortunately, due to the weather condition, we can't enjoy any rides there :(

8. DIY - Do it yourself!

Mother Farm's Food Tasting Studio is where chefs are born! :P Here you can make butter, cheese and jam on your own!

Not a fan of cooking? How about dropping by at Yamanoue Handicraft Studio and DIY your own leather key chains and fluffy wooden chicks?

9. Experience living in a farm!

Being a city girl, I am very much attracted to the cottages available here. Fully equipped with shower and kitchen facilities, I think they are great for a night stay or two. What's cooler here is the summer camp site (open only in July and August) for bigger groups.

10. Enjoy the special annual event

If you are lucky, you'll get to see Mother Farm with totally different vibes. The "Flower Garden of Light" Illumination festival in every November / December will make us feel the warmth of Christmas in the sea of flowers, how I'd wish to experience it on my own too!

Verdict:

Mother Farm is an eye opening experience, full of surprises, especially for city girls like me. There are so many things to do in the farm, and I can easily spend a full day here with the cute little farm animals while appreciating the beauty of nature.

Mother Farm is sure to offer beyond just a "farm visit", so highly recommended for leisure visits especially for families with young children.

Mother Farm
940-3, Tagura, Futtsu-shi, 
Chiba Prefecture, 
299-1601 Japan.
Call: 0439-37-3211
Fax: 0439-37-3337

Website: www.motherfarm.co.jp
Facebook: fb.com/motherfarm
Instagram: @motherfarm_official
Operating Hours: 9.00am - 5.00pm (Differ by season, so make sure you check its website for more accurate information)

Dear Diary | Recap of 2023

 Hi, December! ❤

It's a wrap for 2023! Time to revisit the monthly diaries I have penned down here:

❤ January 2023;

❤ February 2023;

❤ March 2023;

❤ April 2023;

❤ May 2023;

❤ June 2023;

❤ July 2023;

❤ August 2023;

❤ September 2023;

❤ October 2023;

❤ November 2023.

Christmas Floating Forest @ The Shoppes, Marina Bay Sands

It's the magical month of joy and sparkles! ❤ Lovin' the vibes here.

Just remember, the true spirit of Christmas lies in your heart.  

02.12.2023 | The first weekend of December started off well with several meetups with old and new friends. It felt like being a tourist once again, visiting the iconic places in Singapore. 

Such beautiful view from SkyPark Observation Deck, Level 57 of Marina Bay Sands.

Merry Christmas, Penguins! ❤

Christmas came early this year with this super fluffy baby. I secretly told Santa that he doesn't need to bring me any presents this year - being happy is the only thing I ask for. Anyway thank you Santa for this puffy plushie! 

12.04.2022 - 18.12.2023 | Happy to be back here to the place where magic began.

16.12.2023 | Homebound. Happy to be back home for year-end break and enjoyed the lovely moments with my dearest family and friends. And here we were again in CC by Mel - it had been 1 year 8 months since our last visit here. Things hadn't changed much in this lovely café - food had been consistently amazing and I enjoyed the vibes here.

Yet for the past 20 months, it felt like magic had happened on me - so beautiful and unforgettable. Thanks for the memories! ❤

Christmas celebration with dearest fam @ Putien

Happy to have our year-end family gathering before we meet again in 2024! It was a heart-warming Chinese meal in Putien, with a Christmas-themed cake which got the waitstaff puzzled on what occasion was this family celebrating. It sounded odd, but we were in good spirit and mood being able to spend quality time together. 

Christmas Day in Kuala Lumpur

Spending this year's Christmas in the city centre felt a little different this year and it reminded me of those younger days where I always wanted to try the signature Valrhona Chocolate Cake in Grand Hyatt. Thanks for the lovely experience! ❤

Boxing Day | Dinner at Entier French Dining

Blessed to be able to spend some quiet and happy moments here in Entier; the food is simply amazing -

Prawn & Chorizo, Foie Gras Stuffed Quail and Seared Salmon with Sorrel Cream ❤

Kaohsiung bound ❤ | Best way to end 2023

The year ended with a 7D6N solo trip to Kaohsiung - which I felt glad that I made it there and met so many Taiwanese friends along the way. It was a rewarding trip for myself - to discover what I really want in life, to make up my mind on what matters the most to me. 

2023 in a nutshell

2023 marks my first full year working and staying in Singapore.

I am blessed with several people in my life who are constantly giving me unconditional support and bringing me simple happiness on a daily basis. I am blessed to have the sweetest person being my most loyal companion throughout the year. 

I am blessed that people at work have been treating me well and never shy to lend a helping hand whenever I need them. I am blessed that work life is a lot more comfortable now as compared to the good ol' days in Malaysia. 

I am blessed that I made 5 overseas leisure trips this year - twice to Japan (spring in Tokyo and summer in Ibaraki, Atami, Kawagoe and more), twice to Thailand (Bangkok and Phuket), and once to Taiwan (Kaohsiung).

I am blessed that I get to fly home every month for my dearest family and for the dental appointments. I am blessed that the braces journey has been smooth sailing thus far, and I am getting closer to the finishing line each day.

I am blessed for all the lessons I learned from the heartbreaks and disappointments, which make me a stronger person now. These lessons are harsh but life changing :) 

❤ ❤ ❤

Have a blessed and happy year in 2024!

xoxo,

FiSh

31.12.2023