Yokosuka’s U.S. Naval Base to open to the public for spring festival

The “US-Japan Friendship Yokosuka Spring Festival 2025”, a free to attend event that looks to foster relations between U.S. servicepeople and residents of Japan, will be held again this year.

The festival takes place at the U.S. Naval Base Yokosuka, also referred to as U.S. Fleet Activities Yokosuka, which is normally inaccessible to the general public.

Attendees will have the opportunity to experience the renowned cherry blossoms of Japan within the unique setting of Yokosuka’s U.S Naval Base, all whilst getting a glimpse of the unique American atmosphere that characterizes the city.

A range of activities will be available for visitors to participate in, including a ship tour and a live music performance by the 7^th Fleet Band.

American food stalls will be on hand to provide refreshments, with local pizza and hamburger restaurants set to be at the festival.

Taking place on the 22^nd of March from 09:00 to 17:00, those looking to attend the festival can simply turn up on the day with a valid form of ID.

Access to the event will require visitors to present a valid form of identification for base entry.

Acceptable forms of identification are as follows:

• My Number Card (Japanese nationals only; notification cards are not accepted)
• Basic Resident Registration Card (Japanese nationals only; new issuances have been discontinued)
• Passport (Foreign nationals must have a residence permit stamp. Entry may be denied based on base regulations after identity verification.)
• Residence Card (Special Permanent Resident Card is also acceptable. Entry may be denied based on base regulations after identity verification.)

Visitors should be aware that even with valid identification, entry may be refused in accordance with base regulations.

Entry to the festival will be controlled via the Yokosuka Naval Base Mikasa Park Gate (1) or the Temporary Womble Gate (2), shown on the map below:

Last admission will be at 15:30 via the Mikasa Park Gate, with admission via the Temporary Womble Gate closing at 13:00.

It is however recommended to arrive as early as possible as this once-a-year opportunity to explore the grounds of the U.S. Naval Base Yokosuka is likely to attract a lot of visitors.

Whether you have a connection to the city of Yokosuka or the U.S. Navy or not, the festival encourages visitors to come down and explore the unique surroundings and embrace both American and Japanese culture in the interests of friendship and harmony.

Event Details

Source: Cocoyoko