Saturday launches the start of cherry blossom season at U.S. military installations across the Kanto Plain.
The base parties are open to the public and include a variety of food, games and entertainment — whether the blossoms are out or not.
At Naval Support Facility Kamiseya, part of Naval Air Facility Atsugi, the first cherry blossom party is scheduled for Saturday.
The party will feature booths with Japanese and American food, a Navy working dog demonstration and a free pet health consultation.
Scheduled events include baton and Japanese drum performances from Yokohama Hayato High School; the 7th Fleet Band’s “Orient Express”; cheerleading performances; and Kozuru-Kai taiko drummers.
The festival is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Kamiseya and performances start at 11 a.m. It will be canceled in the event of rain.
Last year, an estimated 6,000 people attended.
Other base cherry blossom festivals coming up in the Tokyo area:
¶ Yokota Air Base offers a cherry blossom viewing day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 2. On that date, the East Gate will be open to visitors to view the tree-lined East Gate road on base.
¶ The Yokosuka Naval Base 12th annual Cherry Blossom Festival, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 3. Yokosuka leaders welcome visitors to the base from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the festival. The Mikasa Park Gate opens at 9 a.m.
The festival includes a parade, tea ceremony, games and entertainment. There will be food booths and other events.
The events will be held on Clement Boulevard, Kosano Park and fields 1 and 2. Contact the base Morale, Welfare Recreation office at DSN 243-4731.
¶ Camp Zama’s Cherry Blossom Festival is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 9.
The day is scheduled to start with an adult 7K run and a youth 3K run. Gates 1 and 4 open to the public at 11 a.m.
The festival will include food booths serving American and international cuisine including Russian, Mexican and Indian food. There will be games, rides and face-painting for children and performances by taiko drummers and the U.S. Army Japan Band.
There also will be displays of military vehicles and aircraft.
The festival will take place at the Community Cultural Center and outside in the amphitheater.
For recorded information about the festival in Japanese, call DSN 263-4177, or from off-base, call the operator at (046) 251-1788 and punch in the full DSN number.
