Tama Hills Recreaton Area in Tokyo recently created a paintball target-shooting range where guests can test their aim on rubber ducks, tin cans, an old frying pan and other objects. (Seth Robson/Stars and Stripes)
TOKYO — Electric mountain bikes, a BMX track and World War II bunker camping are just a few of the new leisure options available to U.S. troops and their families at an Air Force-run recreation area in western Tokyo.
Staff showed off the new activities and amenities Saturday at Tama Hills Recreation Area, a 425-acre facility about 45 minutes’ drive from Yokota Air Base, the home of U.S. Forces Japan.
The site, anchored by an 18-hole golf course, has for years offered horseback riding, mountain bike trails, rental cabins and camping areas.
“We’re trying to do things that people can’t do at Yokota,” Tama Hills manager George DeGrella said while showing off new activities like the e-bikes, BMX track and “bunker camping.” There’s also an outdoor rock-climbing wall and a “family friendly” paintball target-shooting range.
Tama Hills' group reservation coordinator, Joe Zurenko, shows off a World War II-era bunker where visitors can camp at the U.S. military recreation area in Tokyo, Saturday, July 1, 2023. (Seth Robson/Stars and Stripes)
Tama Hills manager George DeGrella poses at a camp site during a tour of the U.S. military recreation area in western Tokyo, Saturday, July 1, 2023. (Seth Robson/Stars and Stripes)
Tama Hills, a U.S. military recreation area in western Tokyo, acquired five electric mountain bikes in 2020, but recently spent $100,000 on about 30 more high-quality e-cycles sized for men, women and children. (Seth Robson/Stars and Stripes)
People can rent an e-bike and explore Tama Hills’ trails for $5 for two hours or $15 for the full day.
The recreation area acquired five e-mountain bikes in 2020, but recently spent $100,000 on about 30 more high-quality electric cycles sized for men, women and children, DeGrella said. For people who want more exercise, there are about 30 regular mountain bikes available to rent.
Starting later this month, visitors can book a $15 two-hour guided tour of the nearby Tama River, which involves riding outside the gate.
The bikes are stored in one of several renovated buildings known as the Apex Center. The pre-World War II structures, which once served as bathhouses, now include an events center with its own kitchen that can accommodate 72 people seated and about 150 standing, DeGrella said.
The center can be rented for $80 for the first day and $40 for each additional day.
Tama Hills’ workers recently sculpted earth to form a BMX track where people can test their skills on small jumps and berms.
Paintballs have been flying at Tama Hills for decades, according to group reservation coordinator Joe Zurenko, a former Navy Seabee who has worked at the recreation area on and off since 1990. Actor Leonardo DiCaprio played paintball at Tama Hills while visiting Japan to promote the 1997 Academy Award-winning film “Titanic,” he said.
Staff recently created a paintball target-shooting range where guests can test their aim on rubber ducks, tin cans, an old frying pan and other objects.
Explorers can download a new smartphone application guide to historical landmarks inside the recreation area, once a Japanese base that included two bomb factories. One of the stops on the tour is an elevator shaft at one of the old Japanese facilities, DeGrella said.
Those who really want to soak up Tama Hills’ history can now camp inside a bunker. They stored Japanese bombs during World War II and American bombs during the Korean War.
Bunker camping costs $3 a night, the same price as regular camping with the advantage of not getting wet if your tent leaks in the rain.
In April, Tama Hills unveiled a new guest cottage, the event center and a revamped clubhouse. The combined projects took nearly a year of construction and cost $2.2 million.
