The open base event Yokosuka Spring Festival 2025 is scheduled Saturday March 22, 2025.
Similar to last fall’s Friendship Festival, there is no pre-registration process.
Spring Festival is entering its 29th year. The event is hosted annually by Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka (CFAY) celebrating the friendship between the U.S. Navy and their Japanese hosts. Last year, approximately 35,000 people attended, including an estimated 23,000 visitors from various cities around the country.
During Spring Festival, the installation commander, Capt. Les Sobol, opens some of the base’s pedestrian gates to much of the general public. This allows guests who normally don’t have access to the installation an opportunity to experience a slice of “Little America.”
日本語の情報
日米親善よこすかスプリングフェスタ 2025 | 横須賀市観光情報
“We’re not only embracing the arrival of spring today, but we also honor the lasting camaraderie between the U.S. Navy and Japan,” Sobol said. “Since 1993, Spring Festival is a tradition that has bridged our two communities.”
Off base guests are asked to walk through either Womble Gate’s pedestrian access or Mikasa Gate. Mikasa Gate is located inside the City of Yokosuka’s Mikasa Park. Guests will go through base security and need to provide acceptable identification. They are also asked to review the CFAY Security Visitor Control Center (VCC) webpage to verify which forms of identification are required. The link is available here:
A direct link to the Acceptable Forms of Identification PDF is located here:
SOFA-sponsored and base community members with regular base access don’t need to do anything different to attend Spring Festival. Attendees with regular base access may be asked by military security personnel to present ID to pass certain checkpoints.
Personnel living in Main Base Navy Housing units are encouraged to walk to the festival area. Personnel living off base and in Ikego Heights Housing Area may notice public transportation significantly busier than normal and heavy vehicle traffic.
All community members are reminded that much of the installation will have restricted parking to allow vendors to operate. Many roads on base will either be restricted or limited to allow pedestrians to walk safely.
Also of note, pets are not authorized in the event area.
The Yokosuka Spring Festival 2025 event schedules, booth locations, traffic restrictions, and other information are scheduled to release at a later time.
Vendors interested in participating in Yokosuka Spring Festival 2025 are asked to contact CFAY MWR Special Events at MWR_Yokosuka_Special_Events@us.navy.mil for more information.
Community members who prefer information in Japanese may visit the City of Yokosuka’s tourism website at https://www.cocoyoko.net/event/spring-fes.html.
No pre-registration required
Japan-US Friendship Yokosuka Spring Festival 2025
Date & Time: Saturday, March 22, 2025, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (The event may be cancelled in case of bad weather. No rain date.)
For more information in Japanese, please check the Yokosuka City Tourism Information:
https://www.cocoyoko.net/event/spring-fes.html
For more information in English, please check the CFAY MWR: website:https://www.navymwryokosuka.com/activity/0d2b0866-d4dd-45b5-a9e5-cb499ee5e40e
Last inbound time:
Mikasa park gate until 3:30 p.m.
Womble Gate until 1 p.m. (Exit possible until 5 p.m.)
Nearest stations:
Keikyu Keihin Kyuko Line: 15 minutes on foot from Shiori Station,
15 minutes on foot from Yokosuka Chuo Station
JR Yokosuka Line: Approximately 25 minutes on foot from Yokosuka Station
Event content may change or be canceled without notice. There is no parking or bicycle parking. Please use public transportation. Dangerous items, bottles, cans alcohol, and pets are not allowed. Drone flying is prohibited! The base has the authority to refuse entry to anyone for any reasons.
To enter the base, you must present identification:
Japanese Nationals
One of the following:
- Japanese passport OR
- My Number card with photo OR
- Driver’s license + Residence card with registered domicile
(Japanese junior and senior high school students -> A set of student ID with photo+ Residence card with registered domicile is also acceptable. Not necessary for elementary school students and preschoolers)
Examples here: https://cnrj.cnic.navy.mil/Portals/80/CFA_Yokosuka/Documents/Security/VCC/ACCEPTABLE%20ID%20CARDS.PDF
Non-Japanese nationals without SOFA Status
- Your nation’s passport with valid entry stamp
- Residence Card (Zairyu Card)
Any Nationality with SOFA Status
- Military-issued ID
Please direct all questions on base access and acceptable identification to the CFAY Security Visitor Control Center before the event date.
