Maboroshi Hakurankai, or Phantom Exhibition, is a display of creepy, salacious and off-beat art in Ito city, south of Tokyo. The private exhibition has clowns, vintage toys and mannequins. It’s a perfect stop for anyone interested in the quirkier aspects of Japanese culture.
California Roll & Sushi in Pyeongtaek, just a five-minute drive from the main gate at Osan Air Base, specializes in sushi rolls that put an American twist on a Japanese mainstay.
The main attraction at Bear Tree Park in Sejong City is — you guessed it — the more than 100 bears of the Asia black and brown species.
Immerse yourself in a Japanese tea ceremony in proper ceremonial garb at a 300-year-old Zen Buddhist temple on Itsukushima, an island near Hiroshima.
About 60,000 tiles made of mudstone and red clay are being placed on the roof of Okinawa landmark Shuri Castle’s main hall in the latest stage of a reconstruction effort after much of it was destroyed in an October 2019 fire. The main hall was one of seven buildings destroyed in a massive blaze that burned for more than 11 hours and made international headlines.
Grandberry Park, a sprawling shopping outlet in Machida only 30 minutes from Camp Zama, the headquarters of U.S. Army Japan in greater Tokyo, is a breezy option to beat the heat this summer. With more than 240 stores, including a market, a movie theater and multiple play spaces, there’s something for everyone in the family.
This eatery reminiscent of Cajun seafood is a wonderful taste of home for Southerners stationed at Camp Humphreys.
The Tokyo Police Museum, a six-story building a 7-minute walk from the Tokyo Station, showcases hundreds of years of policing history in Japan, and to top it off, it’s a completely free experience.
World Philly Cheesesteaks near Osan Air Base offers the classic American sub and many other items with a tasty Asian twist.
Slowalk Coffee Roasters near Maina on Route 1 is spacious, warm and welcoming, a great place to get a drink and possibly a bite to eat and hang out as long as you like.
Surrounded by mountains, Chichibu is an inviting, nature-filled summer weekend destination.
Climbing Mount Fuji on a trip sponsored by a U.S. military base will cost more this year as Japan seeks to offset the impact of thousands of visitors to the iconic volcano by implementing a new hiking fee.
Chichibu, about 50 miles north of Yokota Air base in western Tokyo, provides a near-perfect outdoor experience, including day camping, barbecuing and a visit to an impressive dam.
Vegan food, especially Japanese curry, can be hard to find in Japan, but at Marugoto Vegan Dining Asakusa in Tokyo, vegan diners can enjoy the Japanese culinary classic.
Prepare to embark on a global journey — and beat drums from around the world — at the Miyamoto-Unosuke Drum Museum in Tokyo.
It’s a great time of year for mountain hikes on Mount Honita and Mount Kawanori. Go quickly, before the summer heat catches up to the area.
Pasta Vino, just five minutes from Osan Air Base’s walk-in gate in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, features such a wide selection of Italian appetizers and pastas with tomato or creamy sauces that narrowing your choice can be overwhelming.
Bikkuri Donkey is a middle-of-the-road Japanese hamburger steak chain known for going overboard from time to time. The eatery’s latest astonishment is a time-limited campaign called We Love Cheeeese.
Aquarium Sagamihara boasts a 131-foot tank of flowing water that replicates a living river environment. Just 30 miles northwest of U.S. Army Japan’s headquarters, it features living and lifelike replicas of creatures in and along the 81-mile-long waterway in Kanagawa prefecture. In addition to 100 species of fish, insects and amphibians, there are multiple interactive learning exhibits for children and adults to enjoy.