Japan

Gen. Robert Abrams, commander of U.S. Forces Korea, United Nations Command and Combined Forces Command, meets with media at Camp Humphreys, South Korea, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2019. MARCUS BUTLER/U.S. ARMY
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USFK commander weighs in on dispute over intel-sharing pact between Japan, South Korea

South Korea’s decision to end a military intelligence sharing pact with Japan risks sending the wrong message on security in the region, the top American commander on the peninsula said 11 days...
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Hit the slopes on the mainland Japan

It will soon be skiing and snowboarding season, and if you are in Japan, you couldn’t be in a better place!
Photo by Sarah Hodge
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Take a fantastic day trip to Kamakura

A convenient 20-minute train ride from Yokosuka or approximately one hour from Tokyo Station, Kamakura is a fantastic choice for a day trip that offers visitors a variety of experiences: towering bamboo groves, mysterious caves, elegant Buddhist vegetarian cuisine, and hands-on workshops that will leave a lasting impression of this ancient capital.
Photos by Takahiro Takiguchi
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Shuzenji: Traditional hot spring resort boasts of natural beauty and rich history

If you are on a U.S. military installation in the Kanto Plain and are looking for a one-day trip to experience a traditional Japanese hot spring resort, a strong option would be Shuzenji.
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Food & Drink
Cuisine: Japanese

A look at some great Izakaya alleys in Tokyo

The moment you step inside waiters and cooks behind the busy counter exclaim in unison “Irrashaimase!”, thus welcoming you with typical Japanese hospitality.
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Be smart and know how, where to park in Japan

You are stationed in Japan for the first time. You just got your government driver’s license, purchased a car at the lemon lot, filed all the proper paperwork and paid road taxes.
Gordon Campbell
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Base contractor’s new book a page - turner

Gordon Campbell has been working on military installations in the Pacific for a long time. He’s now taken his experiences with him into storytelling in his first in series of novels, The Courier.
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Manga Kissa: Japan's manga cafes more than just comic books

You have probably at least heard of Japan’s ubiquitous Internet or manga (comic book) cafés. They are everywhere and hard to miss. But there are also some out there that have been supersized – and they are well worth checking out.
Kenrokuen, photo by Sarah B. Hodge
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Go for the Gold: Exploring the riches of Kanazawa

Kanazawa, easily accessible via the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station, offers travelers a wide range of experiences, from hands-on craft and cooking classes to strolling beautiful Japanese gardens and samurai and tea districts.
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Food & Drink
Cuisine: Japanese

Famiresu: Everything you wanted to know about family restaurants in Japan

Located from the northern island of Hokkaido through the southernmost island of Okinawa, family restaurants, aka ‘famiresu’, offer a variety of unique menu items at a reasonable price, providing an indispensable dining facility for anybody in Japan.
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Cuisine: European

On Georgian Feasts & Family Traditions

I have dined in luxurious restaurants and exotic tiny local eateries around the world, yet when it comes to naming the most memorable meal of my life there is only one that comes to mind – our family dinners on New Year’s Eve at my grandfather’s house back in Tbilisi, Georgia.
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Submit photos for the cover of Welcome to the Pacific

Have you ever dreamed about having your photo featured on the cover of a magazine?
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Stretching that holiday budget: Remember your commissary for Thanksgiving savings

Spending for the Thanksgiving meal can quickly spiral out of control. By shopping the commissary, military members can save money on this one meal and help manage their budgets for the rest of the holidays.
Dessert at Hotel Koe in Tokyo's Shibuya district on a recent Saturday was a small hill of pudding, ice cream and whipped cream in a berry sauce. JOSEPH DITZLER/STARS AND STRIPES
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Cuisine: International

Front-row seat, first-class lunch at Tokyo’s Hotel Koe

A hotel restaurant is a traveler’s gamble — the worst a penitentiary cafeteria, the best a gourmet’s destination.
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Food & Drink
Cuisine: Japanese

Shigetsuso: A tasty and peaceful sobanoodle lunch

There are handful prominent soba noodle shops in Shuzenji, such as Bokunenjin, Yamabiko and Zenpuutei Nanaban. They are, however, always crowded with tourists on weekends and throughout the autumn leaves season.
Photos courtesy of Kujukushima Pearl Sea Resort
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Food & Drink
Cuisine: Japanese

Get your hands on oysters at fest near Sasebo

As the temperature drops around the country, it’s time again for one of the delicacies of the season – oysters! King amongst winter foods, the tasty white, plump and meaty shell can’t be beat.