Funabashi (船橋) is a large city in the northwest of Chiba Prefecture. The area has easy access to Tokyo via the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line (running to Nishi-Funabashi) and the JR Sobu Line which connects it directly to Tokyo Station.
While there’s not much there of general interest, if you’re into massive malls and large scale retail, you might appreciate LaLaPort Shopping Center (there’s another one in Toyosu) and the closest branch of IKEA to central Tokyo. Both are located near JR Minami-Funabashi Station.
