The city has more than half a million people, and the district here is a mix of apartment blocks, shops and small parks, with the bay a few kilometres to the south. Nakayama racecourse, home of the Arima Kinen, one of Japan's biggest horse races, lies a short way to the north-west.
The ride that ends here has crossed the Bandai-Azuma mountains, so this is a long step down. The roads are busy, flat and full of lights, and the surface is good. The expressway along the bay carries heavy traffic, and the Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line is not far. On race days, the area around Nakayama is thick with cars and buses, so check the calendar. Funabashi's name means boat bridge, a reminder that the city began as a landing place for ships on the old Edo coastal route.
The bay itself has a story. Until the 1960s, the shallow waters off Funabashi were a major fishing ground, and the Sanbanze tidal flat, a protected wetland south of the city, is still a vital stopover for migrating birds. Funabashi was famous for its seaweed and clams, and a few old fishing families remain. The city also has a ski dome and a large shopping centre, a sign of how much the area has changed.
Fuel and food are plentiful, with stations on the main roads and a huge variety of restaurants. The city's fresh seafood and, nearby, the peanut products of Chiba are typical local items, and a bowl of ramen is always easy to find. The JR and Tobu lines, and the subway, connect the city to Tokyo.
If you have time, take the road to the Sanbanze wetland and watch the birds at dusk. The flat light on the water is very calm.