Yokosuka to host Friendship Day fest Aug. 3

Yokosuka Naval Base will open its gates Aug. 3 for its annual Friendship Day festival, which features live music and entertainment, food booths, ship tours, static vehicle displays, and many more activities for the whole family. The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Visitors must enter through the base main gate, but CAC holders can use Mikasa Gate.

As part of the Friendship Day festivities, Yokosuka City will light up the sky between 9:15 – 9:45 p.m. with 5,000 fireworks for its Kaikokusai Matsuri, or Open Country Festival. This festival commemorates Commodore Matthew Perry’s 1853 arrival in Japan. 
Yokosuka’s Friendship Day began in 1976 draws more than 35,000 Japanese visitors each year looking to experience a piece of American culture.

For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/cfayokosuka, or call Yokosuka MWR at 046-816-1215 or email MWR_SPECIAL_EVENTS@fe.navy.mil.

Yokosuka Friendship Day

Yokosuka Naval Base

Entrance: Main Gate for visitors without military ID 
Mikasa (Womble) Gate for ID holders
Hours: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
URL: MWR_SPECIAL_EVENTS@fe.navy.mil
Tel: 046-816-1215

Yokosuka City Fireworks/ Kaikokusai Festival
Location: Mikasa Park, U.S. Naval Base
Hours: 9:15 – 9:45 p.m.
URL: https://www.cocoyoko.net/event/kaikoku-fes.html
Tel: 046-822-8301 (Japanese)

Upcoming Base Festivals

Yokota AB 

Japanese-American Friendship Festival 2019
Date: Sept 14 and 15
Time and access to the festival site is TBD.
Information: http://www.airliftmagazine.com/

Camp Zama

Bon Odori 2019 – 60th Anniversary
Date: Aug 3, 1-9 p.m.
Access: Main Gate and Gate 4
Information: 046-407-4177 or https://www.facebook.com/armymwrjapan/

NAF Atsugi 

American Festival and Bon Odori
Date: Aug 17, 2 – 8:45 p.m. (last entry 8 p.m.)
Access: Guests may enter through the main gate of NAF Atsugi. Elementary students must be accompanied by guardians. Middle school and high school students are allowed to enter with student picture ID. Anyone 18+ must have official ID.
Information: 0467-78-2664

Misawa AB

Misawa Kokusai (Air Fest)
Date: Sep 8, Time is TBD. More info expected by mid-August
Access: Main gate 
Information: https://www.facebook.com/MisawaAirBase/ or http://www.misawa.af.mil/airfest/

Sasebo Naval Base

Friendship Day
Date: TBD
Location: Nimitz Park (off-base)
Information: https://www.facebook.com/CFASasebo