On clear days looking east from Yokohama and Tokyo, you might spy the scenic inside coast of Chiba Prefecture with green and rolling hills. This region, within Minami Boso Quasi-National Park, is surprisingly accessible, only 90 minutes by ferry or road from Tokyo proper. Along the south coast of the Boso Peninsula of Chiba prefecture is the resort city of Minamiboso City. This is where you’ll find Cape Taibusa, a promontory and park which wraps around the three-star Hotel and Resorts Minamiboso.
The hotel looks like a modern resort on the outside, but inside you’ll experience old-fashioned Japanese hospitality with friendly and helpful staff. The hotel accommodates a great variety of guests with Japanese-style and western-style rooms for single travelers, families with small children with kid-sized furniture. There are even facilities for visitors with dog companions. For large groups, the hotel provides guest space in tatami rooms for up to 10 people. Some rooms have accessible bathrooms to accommodate wheelchairs.
All room amenities include yukata in various sizes, bath towels, hairdryers, body soap, and personal care items. You can easily come empty-handed to this hotel. Since the hotel is located in a park, your wake-up call may be bird song or the citywide chime at 7 a.m.
The hotel has dining options to suit big and small appetites. On the first morning of my stay, I opted for the breakfast buffet at Brasserie Restaurant Mikaze. The buffet has both western breakfast staples, fruit and smoothie offerings, and local Japanese specialties. One dish that delighted me was simmered pumpkin with peanuts, a very local dish. Dinner in the restaurant is a sumptuous feast, so bring your appetite. Since I was visiting in summer with a diminished appetite, I visited the on-premises izakaya where I had kiriotoshitzukedon, lightly pickled seasonal fish over rice. The izakaya staff is friendly and helpful, recommending local cuisine and jizake, local osake specialties.
After a day’s exploring, the spacious bath is a great way to relax. While it’s not an onsen, it’s a great way to unwind with an outdoor bath. The hotel staff can provide bathing items for children and covers for tattooed guests. I relaxed while watching the tobi, black kites, flying overhead, and listening to the waves crashing against the coast.
