There may not be too many cherry trees at Naval Air Facility Atsugi, and their blossoms may be past their prime by April 8, but the base is still celebrating Japan’s most treasured and fleeting icon: the cherry blossom.

Atsugi is celebrating its first cherry blossom party this year and reviving an old tradition of showing off the facility’s famous jets and other aircraft.

Newly arrived base commander Capt. Justin D. Cooper II decided to start a cherry blossom party to welcome the local community onto base. And to make sure there’s interest, he’s using Atsugi’s jets and aircraft as a lure.

Across the Kanto Plain, military communities are joining Japanese communities to celebrate hanami season, the cherry blossom viewing party. And if there aren’t blooms on display, there are plenty of other things to do. The parties represent the first of the season’s open-base events and are capped with music and dance parties, food, entertainment and, in the case of Atsugi, planes.

Atsugi stopped its air show six years ago when complaints from neighbors about jet noise persuaded base leaders to halt the annual event. This year static displays at the flight line will allow people to get up close and personal with U.S. and Japanese planes. About 20,000 people are expected.

Elsewhere in the Kanto Plain, bases are opening their doors to welcome the off-base community.

During open-base events, Japanese nationals are invited to come onto installations. People should bring identification for entrance (photo ID at many locations), and in most cases pets, coolers and alcohol are forbidden. Expect security checks when entering the bases.

Here is a list of the cherry blossom open base events in the region.