Some of our readers may recall our special series earlier this year on the quaint vintage diesel-car Kominato Line which threads through the countryside of Chiba Prefecture and idyllic Takataki Lake, in the middle of the Boso Peninsula, a great getaway little known to foreign tourists but ever so worthwhile to visit. Beautiful natural scenery, pleasant walks, biking roads, bass fishing, pleasure boats, Takataki Shrine nested in a tall forested hill overlooking the lake, and perhaps most famously, the Ichihara Lakeside Museum, a museum of contemporary art that has earned a reputation for hosting artists from all over Japan and even from abroad.

If you've worked up an appetite walking around the lake and going up and down the stairs of the observatory outside the museum, the perfect place for lunch is Pizzeria Bosso, a wonderful little slice of Italy smack in the middle of the Japanese countryside serving delicious pizzas baked in authentic wood oven, with locally-sourced Chiba Prefecture ingredients.

If you're coming from the museum, you can't miss it once you step outside into the garden area. However, even if you're just walking buy on the main road, you should have no problem finding it with the Italian flag flying in the wind.

The corrugated metal facade of the restaurant matches the contemporary design of the museum.

For those who can't be bothered or have no time to sit down inside, there's a convenient take-out window where you can buy coffee, gelato made with local ingredients and of course, their delicious pizza

To be honest, though, you're really missing out if you don't step inside for a meal. Our recommendation is to come for an early dinner so you can enjoy the sunset. Although the seating is limited, you will immediately notice that the restaurant affords amazing views of Takataki Lake with floor-to-ceiling windows offering a nearly unobstructed view.

In Spring and Summer, you can also sit outside in the garden area.

Pizzeria Bosso uses an authentic Italian wood-fired oven to bake their delicious pizza pies.

Drinks

To begin, you can try their fresh, home-made ginger ale.

Or their freshly blended smoothie with seasonal fruits such as fresh figs in the picture above.

Pizzas

The Otaki Boar Sausage and Yachimata Peanut Pizza made with Otaki boar-meat sausage, Yachimata peanuts, "Yojuemon" mozzarella cheese from Isumi City and black pepper.

Their Boso margherita pizza with Chiba tomatoes, Otaki basil and "Yojuemon" mozzarella cheese from Isumi City.

For those who want to sample a variety, you can try their Pizza Bosso, containing four pizzas representing the four seasons of the year. Spring is represented by their Choshi sardine pizza (nanohana Japanese rapini from South Boso Peninsula, sardines from the coast of Choshi, dried tomatoes, and "Yojuemon" mozzarella cheese from Isumi City); Summer by the Boso Margherita (see above), Fall by their Sakura Mushroom Pizza (specially selected shiitake from Sakura City, Italian ham, tomato sauce and "Yojuemon" mozzarella cheese from Isumi City); and Winter by their Otaki Boar Sausage and Yachimata Peanut Pizza.

There's even a pizza for dessert, their "Dolce Pizza" with a scoop of their homemade gelato featuring fresh locally sourced fruits. Here, we had mulberry gelato

View

When the sun begins to set, you can enjoy your delicious meal together with an amazing view of Takataki Lake

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Restaurant Details

• Name: Pizzeria Bosso
• Address: Funyu 75-1 Ichihara-shi, Chiba-ken (inside the Ichihara Lakeside Museum) 千葉県市原市不入75-1
• Hours: Weekdays from 11am to 8pm (L.O. 7pm), Sat., Sun. and holidays until 9pm (L.O. 8pm)
• Closed: Mondays (Tuesdays when Monday is a holiday)
• Tel: 0436-67-0967
• Website: http://beat-itn.com/bosso-ichihara/
• Email: bosso-ichihara＠beat-itn.com