Off-base festivities
Events are as accurate as possible at press time. Since times or event schedules can change, please verify events before attending.
Japan
KIRIN CHALLENGE CUP SOCCER 2012 (Shizuoka prefecture): May 23, 7:15 p.m.; preliminary friendship match before 2014 FIFA World Cup features Japan national team vs. Azerlaijan national team; Shizuoka ECOPA Stadium, 15-minute walk from JR Aino Station on Tokaido-Line; 3,000-4,500-5,500-7,500 yen; 0570-05-2255; www.jfa.or.jp/eng/topics/2012/125.html.
EU FILM DAYS 2012 (Tokyo): May 25-June 16; European Union film fair featuring 21 movies including “The Guard” of Ireland, “Si Puo Fare” of Italy, “Looking for Eric” of England and “Leiutajatekula Lotte” of Estonia and “Karo Undo Der Liebe Gott” of Germany, “Sonny Boy” of The Netherlands, “Lat Den Ratte Kommain” of Sweden and others; National Film Center, one-minute walk from Kyobashi Station on Metro Ginza Line; 500 yen; 0305777-8600; http://eufilmdays.jp/en/index.php.
AIKIDO PERFORMANCE (Tokyo): May 26, noon-5 p.m.; five-minute walk from Kudanshita Station on Metro Tozai and Hanzomon Lines; free; 03-3203-9236.
AJINOMOTO STADIUM FLEA MARKET (Tokyo): May 27, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; about 800 booths; free; five-minute walk from Tobitakyu Station, Keio Line; 03-3226-6800.
SPRING ROSE FESTIVAL IN JINDAI BOTANICAL GARDENS (Tokyo): until May 27, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m., until 8 p.m. weekends, closed Mon.; 100,000 trees and shrubs, and 5,100 varieties of roses grow here, and flowers bloom year-round and 2 & 5 p.m. May 20 & 27, concerts and the garden is illuminated until 8 p.m. weekends; 500 yen for garden entrance; 5-31-10 Jindaiji Motomachi, Chofu City, Tokyo; Bus from Mitaka Station, JR Chuo Line, or Chofu Station, Keio Line, Jindaiji Shokubutsu Koen Mae bus stop; 0424-83-2300; www.tokyo-park.or.jp/english/park/detail_03.html#jindaibotanical.
AZALEA BONSAI EXHIBITION (Yokohama): Through June 3, 9 a.m.-4:45 p.m.; historic buildings and seasonal flowers are displayed in this Japanese-style garden in Yokohama and azalea bonsai are in the Outer Garden; Sankeien Garden, 10-minute bus ride from JR Negishi Station; 500 yen adults, 300 yen seniors, 200 yen kids; www.sankeien.or.jp/pdf/guidemap_english.pdf; 045-621-0634/5.
KURIHAMA FLOWER GARDEN (Yokosuka): ends June 3; about 1 million poppy flowers in bloom and 2-4 p.m. June 3, guests can pick flowers; 15-minute walk from Keikyu Line or JR Kurihama Station; free; 046-833-8282.
SPRING ROSE FESTIVAL IN IKUTA RYOKUCHI GARDEN (Kawagawa prefecture): Through June 3, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m., 9 a.m. weekends, closed Mon.; 4,700 trees and shrubs and 533 varieties of roses grow in this garden, and flowers bloom year-round; free; 15-minute walk from Shukugawara Station on JR Nambu-Line; 044-978-5270.
KYU-FURUKAWA TEIEN GARDEN (Tokyo): ends June 10, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., until 9 p.m. through May 20; Spring Roses Festival features nightly illumination until 8:30 p.m. through May 20; seven-minute walk from JR Kaminakazato Station; 150 yen; 03-3910-0394; www.tokyo-park.or.jp/english/.
CORMORANT FISHING (Gifu prefecture): ends Oct. 15; cormorant fishing (Ukai) on Nagara River is a famous type of traditional fishing in Japan and more than 40 sightseeing ships are set on Nagara at 6:15, 6:45 & 7:15 p.m. to observe usho (cormorant fishermen) catch sweetfish using trained cormorants; fare is 3,000-3,300 yen/person; Nagara River Cormorant Fishing Boat Reservations 058-262-0104; www.gifucvb.or.jp/en/01_sightseeing/01_01.html. Other places to observe cormorant fishing are Uji River in Kyoto, 0774-23-3334; Katsura River in Kyoto, 075-861-0302; Kiso River in Inuyama city, Aichi prefecture, 0568-61-0057; Hiji River in Oozu, Ehime prefecture, 0893-24-2664; and Nishiki River in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi prefecture, 0827-41-0470 or www.ukai-iwakuni.com/content/en.html.
FANTASMIC (Chiba prefecture): open-ended run; night-time show, featuring 27 animated characters such as Mickey Mouse and Cinderella, filled with special effects using water and fire on Mediterranean Harbor; Tokyo DisneySea, three-minute ride from Resort Gate Station/Maihama Station, JR Keiyo Line; one-day passport 6,200 yen adults, discount passport after 3 p.m. 4,900 yen adults; 0570-00-8632; www.tokyodisneyresort.co.jp/en/tds/index.html.
MEIJI JINGU ICE SKATING (Tokyo): year-round, noon-6 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. weekends; adults 1,300 yen/day, children 900 yen/day and after 3 p.m., adults 1,000 yen and children 700 yen and 500 yen for shoe rental; Kasumigaoka, Shinjuku-ku, one-minute walk from Kokuritsu Kyogijyo on subway Oedo Line or five-minute walk from JR Shinanomachi Station on Sobu Line; 03-3403-3458, www.meijijingugaien.jp/english/ice-skating.html.
Okinawa
22ND GINOWAN-KUME ISLANDS YACHT RACE: May 26, 6 a.m.; 55 mile yacht race from Ginowan Port marina to Kume Islands; 40 minute ride from Naha Airport; 098-985-8001.
South Korea
EXPO 2012 YEOSU KOREA: through Aug. 12; with the theme “The Living Ocean and Coast”; Yeosu, South Korea, one-hour flight from Seoul, plus a 30-minute bus ride from the Yeosu airport to the expo or by high-speed KTX train, three hours from Seoul to a train station near the expo site; one-day tickets are about $30, two days, $50, three days, $60. www.worldexpo2012.com/.
MUSICAL “WICKED” (Seoul): May 29-July 31, Blue Square Musical Hall, 50,000-70,000-90,000-130,000-160,000 won; http://ticket.interpark.com/Global/index.asp.
MUSICAL “LOVERS IN PARIS” (Seoul): ends May 30; D Cube Art Center; 40,000-70,000-90,000-110,000 won; http://ticket.interpark.com/Global/index.asp.
THE MUSICAL, “GWANGHAMUM LOVE SONG” (Seoul): ends June 3; Chungmu Art Hall, Grand Theater, 50,000-80,000-110,000-130,000 won; http://ticket.interpark.com/Global/index.asp.
THE MUSICAL “ROLY POLY – OUR YOUTH” (Seoul): ends June 3; Universal Art Center, 55,000-70,000-88,000-99,000 won; http://ticket.interpark.com/Global/index.asp.
"POONGWALLJU” THE MUSICAL (Seoul): ends July 29; Culture Space NU, 40,000-50,000 won; http://ticket.interpark.com/Global/index.asp.
MUSICAL “GREASE” (Seoul): open-ended run, 8 p.m., Mon., Wed.-Fri., 3 & 7 p.m., Sat., 2 & 6 p.m., Sun. & holidays, Dongsoong Art Center; 40,000-60,000 won; 1588-5212; http://tinyurl.com/782z6du.
To submit listings email PSSEDTLibrary@mail.pstripes.osd.mil.
