10 Best Things to Do for Couples in Chiba

While Disneyland has the thrills and characters, Tokyo DisneySea® is something of a calmer experience. You can take a stroll through the European-style streets inspired by Venice, enjoy popular attractions such as "Toy Story Mania", "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" and "Venetian Gondolas", and then enjoy a relaxing dinner with drinks at night. There are also shows to watch from the Ristorante di Canaletto in the Mediterranean harbour area, but you'll need to book seats in advance. Key-chains and mugs sold in pairs are ideal as souvenirs of your romantic time here.

Kamogawa Sea World is a wet and wonderful theme park. You can see, touch and get close to about 800 species of marine life including fish, marine mammals, and birds from Japan and the wider world. The dolphin and killer whale shows are not to be missed. Shows are scheduled just 30 minutes apart, so you can watch a variety of creatures for as long as you like. The killer whale show is a riot, with the whales jumping and splashing and generally having a great time. Even audience members in the 4th row of seats will get quite wet, so it's a good idea to bring a cagoule. A pair of killer whale key-chains could me a nice souvenir.

With its landmark windmill, Funabashi Andersen Park is a natural theme park inspired by Northern Europe and Denmark in particular. This isn't a typical theme park with gaudy attractions, but it's a beautiful spot to visit nonetheless. The vast site covers an area equivalent to 6 Tokyo Domes, and you'll find a pond for boating, a forest obstacle course, and an animal interaction area. Various flowers bloom here and it's a great location for viewing the cherry blossoms in spring. The "Fairytale Hill Zone" is inspired by the cityscape of Odense, Denmark and the stories of Hans Christian Andersen, and the iconic windmill is also located in this area. For lunch, try an outdoor barbecue at Restaurant Meruhen.

Chiba Port Tower is a certified Lover's Sanctuary that originally opened as an observatory in 1986. Standing 137 metres tall, its observation deck gives a 360-degree panorama. On a clear day you can see Tokyo Skytree, Chiba Port, and the Makuhari subcentre. Other points of interest include a coffee shop on the 3rd floor, with a counter deck overlooking Tokyo Bay. In the observation room on the 2nd floor, there's a place where you can lock a heart-shaped padlock to declare your undying love. Padlocks are sold at the shop inside the tower, and what better way to commemorate your special time here? Nearby attractions include Port Park and a pleasure boat that goes on a 40-minute cruise around Chiba Port.

Mother Farm is an agritourism facility located on Mt. Kano overlooking the mountains of the Boso Peninsula, Mt. Fuji, and Tokyo Bay. If you both like the great outdoors, Mother Farm is the place for you. One of the best things to do here is collect fruit and veg in season. For example, you can harvest strawberries, blueberries, and sweet potatoes. There's also horse riding that even beginners can try and an impressive sheepdog show in which around 150 sheep are herded. Rich soft serve ice cream made with milk from the farm's own cows is another plus. And for lunch, you'll find the excellent Genghis Khan Garden restaurant near the Makiba Gate.

Tokyo German Village in Sodegaura City is a flower-filled, green theme park on a vast site that covers an area equivalent to 19 Tokyo Domes. The whole look is modelled on the medieval architecture of German town Rothenburg ob der Tauber. The site is large enough to explore by car, which means a drive like nowhere else in Japan. Beauitful seasonal flowers light up the village. You'll see rapeseed flowers and moss phlox in spring, sunflowers in summer, cosmos in autumn, making for a romantic setting at any time of year. And in winter, there are spectacular illuminations based on different themes each year. As soon as the sun goes down, the lights come up and the whole place becomes even more romantic.

The Umihotaru parking area in Tokyo Bay is a popular destination for car-based dates with spectacular views of the bay. The observation deck on the 5th floor is a must-visit. You can see Kisarazu in the direction of Chiba and, on a clear day, even Mt. Fuji is visible. The 4th floor features a "bell of happiness" that couples ring to commemorate their dates. The full-scale "Cutter Face" monument, which is more than 14 metres in diameter and was used for excavating undersea tunnels, is highly Instagrammable landmark not to be missed. The food court is full of reasonably priced gastronomic adventures, including the famous Asariman (a steamed bun made using clams), conveyor belt sushi serving fresh fish from Chiba, and cafés. If you make a U-turn at Umihotaru and head back, you'll only need to pay a one-way fare for the Tokyo Bay Aqua Line.

Forest Adventure Tarzania is a natural adventure park that features ziplines measuring up to 445 metres long. The vast forest is a perfect setting for some active outdoor fun. Ziplines are popular around the world, and here you use a pulley to slide down a wire rope stretched between the trees. If you visit Tarzania, you really must give it a go. Depending on the time of year, there are also collaborations on special events with pop culture such as the "Attack on Titan" manga, so make sure you check the website for upcoming attractions.

Probably the most sure-fire date spot in Japan is of course Tokyo Disneyland®. As soon as you enter, you'll want to take a photo in the Decoration Area right in front of the gate. The decorations change frequently, so this is a great way to remember your date. Bear in mind that you'll sometimes need to queue for two hours or more for popular attractions such as "Splash Mountain" and "Big Thunder Mountain", so using the Fastpass system is a very good idea. Simply hold your admission ticket over the Fastpass ticketing machine, and a ticket with a printed time will be issued. Then, if you go to the attraction at that time, you'll be guided to the Fastpass lane, which can greatly reduce the waiting time. You can also check the waiting times and current situation in real-time on the official website or the Tokyo Disney Resort® app. And of course you're better off buying tickets online in advance.

The Farm UNIVERSAL CHIBA is a stylish garden centre. Each area of the vast site is planted with trees and flowers based on specific themes, giving the sense of exploring forests in different countries. A leisurely walk here makes for a perfect relaxing date. At the pleasant "FARMER'S KITCHEN" café, surrounded by plants on the outside and full of plants on the inside, you can enjoy delicious sandwiches made from vegetables, soybean gelato, and many other tasty snacks. This is also a good place to shop, with a wide selection of plants and other goods.