6:46——I want to witness that moment with my comrades.
The first day of hiking to Inugawara-shima and Chichibu begins with a late-night departure, and private taxis are the best choice for this journey.
The first sunrise at Inugawara-shima (Choshi City, Chiba Prefecture) is the earliest in Japan, and the time of dawn is atAround 6:46 a.m.To get there in time, you need to leave from areas like Saitama or Tokyo between midnight and 2 a.m. However, the train leaves much later—private taxis are chosen as a means of support for traveling at night. This page will introduce the real experience of traveling to Mt. Fuji on the first day with a group of 4 to 9 people while comparing trains, private cars, and private taxis.
"It's better to take the train"—the first sunrise of New Year's Day isn't that easy.
When I search for a way to see the first sunrise, I find a lot of articles about “access.” But when I actually try to take the train, I encounter several hurdles.
Departure is required by midnight—the first train won’t make it in time.
To see the sunrise at Inugawarajima, you want to arrive at least 5 hours before sunrise. From Tokyo, it takes 2 to 3 hours by the JR Sobu Line or the Uemura Line. If you calculate it, you need to leave at 2 to 3 a.m. However, the trains at that time do not run on New Year's Eve. The only way for you to decide your own departure time and move around is with your own car or a charter service.
Cold-weather gear, tripods, and blankets make luggage heavy.
The temperature at Inogebashi on January 1st is often around 5 degrees Celsius, and the sea breeze is also strong. Wearing warm clothes, a neck warmer, gloves, a blanket, and a travel mat—all the gear for the group—together with a camera and a tripod—is a sight that anyone who has experienced it would feel like “I’m fed up with it.”
How are the means of transportation different?
| Means of transportation | Departure in the middle of the night | The amount of luggage | Group behavior | Freedom of return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Train | ✕ Often not enough time to make the first train | ✕ Heavy luggage is difficult to carry on the train | ✓ It is possible for everyone to go together, but it varies depending on the route. | ✕ Bound by the timetable |
| Private car (shared ride) | ✓ You can leave at night too | ✓ Stacking | △ Possibility of splitting into more than 2 units | ✓ Freedom |
| share cab | ✓ Pick-up service available at designated times | ✓ You can load everyone’s belongings into the HiAce’s cargo compartment at once | ✓ All passengers ride in the same vehicle; it’s a one-stop solution | ✓ Set the time and destination freely |
Compared to a private car:Even private cars can be used at night, but the driver has to drive both ways, and they can’t drink alcohol. There are also times when the return journey involves a struggle to stay awake. With a charter taxi, everyone can relax and go home while napping in the car.
Three reasons why charter taxis are suitable for the First Sunrise group
You can set your departure time freely.
Whether it’s 1 or 2 a.m., we will pick you up at your home or nearest station at your desired time. You can set your departure time by calculating the time to arrive at the location 30 minutes before sunrise.
We loaded all the luggage and everyone got on the bus together.
Winter gear, tripods, blankets, and lunch—we packed all the group’s luggage into the trunk of the HiAce, leaving plenty of space inside. There’s no need for anyone to be the baggage handler—we all do it together.
I’ll take the car back and go to sleep right there.
Once you finish watching the sunrise, you can go to breakfast or just go home. On the way home, you can all talk about the excitement together, or even fall asleep while going home. The drowsiness from the late-night departure can be relieved in the car on the way home.
Sunrise spot in 2027: Kanobeza or Chichibu
Both are in the JumboTaxi.com area and have a proven track record of group travel. Choose your preferred location.
Inuverasaki (Choshi City, Chiba Prefecture)
The earliest sunrise spot in Japan. The cliffs and lighthouse with the rising sun over the horizon are breathtaking. Choshi City is within the area. From Saitama or Tokyo, you can arrive with plenty of time by departing in the late hours of 1 or 2 a.m. Since it is by the sea, you must bring warm clothing.
Sanmi Shrine, Chichibu (Chichibu City, Saitama Prefecture)
The stunning first sunrise, where fog and mountains combine to create a magical scene, is popular. You can enjoy the first prayer at the shrine at an altitude of over 1,100 meters and the sunrise at the same time. Chichibu City is within the area. Another advantage of renting a private taxi is that you don’t have to drive your own car at night on the mountain roads.
Reservation Flow
- Contact us via web form:Please let us know the expected date (January 1, 2027), departure point, destination, and number of people. It would be helpful if you also include the details if the departure is at midnight.
- Proposal for route estimation:We will suggest the time required to get there, the approximate cost, and the departure time.
- Reservation Confirmed:Once you are satisfied with the content, it is final. You can also discuss any fine-tuning of the departure time until the day of departure.
- Boarding on the day:We will pick you up at the designated location even in the middle of the night. All you have to do is enjoy the first sunrise.
Summary: Leaving at the last minute is worth leaving to a professional.
The experience of seeing the first sunrise with friends and in a group is a lifetime memory that overcomes even the hurdles of the journey. Leaving at midnight, carrying a large luggage, and having everyone in the group together—in situations where these three conditions overlap, the option of a private taxi makes sense.
"I don't know which one is better between Inuverasaki and Chichibu," "How many people is OK?" etc., first of all.Consultation via web formPlease do. During this busy time of year-end preparations, let us take care of the moving process for you and make it easy.
Consultation for Sunrise on the First Day of 2027: Click here
Departing late at night, for large groups and with large luggage—leave it to us. You can contact us 24 hours a day through the web form.
Contact via web form
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