I recommend living or visiting Ikego because of the big, fun, campground. If you live in ikego you can tell the difference between Yokosuka, Ikego is quiet most times, you can get a house or a room in a tower. If you get a house you can get two pets. Just remember to clean up after your dog if you get one because nabors most likely, won’t like it. In Ikego we have paintball. paintball is super fun, paintball is located in the camp grounds. We also have about 3 tennis courts, 2 baseball fields, and a gym. The only thing Ikego does not have a commissary (an on base grocery shop), but that is the only thing we kinda need. Most of the people that live in Ikego are nice, but sometimes annoying when they scream at the parks. The parks in Ikego are located in good/ convenient places.
By SL
By SL
Have you ever wanted to take a selfie with a monkey? Well, on the Snow Monkey ITT Tour, you can! It’s also possible that a monkey might climb on your head.
The monkey park is a very interesting and historic place. Before the monkey park was opened, it was a hot spring resort was built up in the mountains, the makers of the resort went hiking and found a natural hot spring with monkeys everywhere! People would come to the resort for weeks at a time to heal, but soon after the resort was opened, it became a monkey park. Today, the resort is still in business.
I chose this place because it’s a national landmark and it was probably the coolest place I’ve visited in the four years that I have lived in Japan. The trip is hosted by ITT, so there are limited seats per tour. Once the bus reaches the park, you have to hike up the mountain to reach where the monkeys are. There are signs in English and Japanese that tell you how far you are from the spring, and fun facts about the history of the park and the monkeys.
I am not sure how much the tour costs, but I recommend that you’d bring lots of Yen, Japan’s national currency. On the way to the park you stop at multiple restaurants and rest stops. At one rest stop near the park there are lots of apples and apple flavored candies, I recommend that you get some because that area is known for their apples.
I also recommend that you bring cameras so that you can take pictures, and you should bring snacks and things to keep you occupied on the bus there, the bus ride is around six hours long, not including rest stops.
This is an all day trip, the times may change due to traffic, but I left at 4:00 AM and got home at 9:30. You probably will not need to know any Japanese, or 日本語, because there was someone who speaks english at every stop.
This trip was amazing, and I will remember it forever. I hope I can go back someday, and that you can go too.
By ES
The monkey park is a very interesting and historic place. Before the monkey park was opened, it was a hot spring resort was built up in the mountains, the makers of the resort went hiking and found a natural hot spring with monkeys everywhere! People would come to the resort for weeks at a time to heal, but soon after the resort was opened, it became a monkey park. Today, the resort is still in business.
I chose this place because it’s a national landmark and it was probably the coolest place I’ve visited in the four years that I have lived in Japan. The trip is hosted by ITT, so there are limited seats per tour. Once the bus reaches the park, you have to hike up the mountain to reach where the monkeys are. There are signs in English and Japanese that tell you how far you are from the spring, and fun facts about the history of the park and the monkeys.
I am not sure how much the tour costs, but I recommend that you’d bring lots of Yen, Japan’s national currency. On the way to the park you stop at multiple restaurants and rest stops. At one rest stop near the park there are lots of apples and apple flavored candies, I recommend that you get some because that area is known for their apples.
I also recommend that you bring cameras so that you can take pictures, and you should bring snacks and things to keep you occupied on the bus there, the bus ride is around six hours long, not including rest stops.
This is an all day trip, the times may change due to traffic, but I left at 4:00 AM and got home at 9:30. You probably will not need to know any Japanese, or 日本語, because there was someone who speaks english at every stop.
This trip was amazing, and I will remember it forever. I hope I can go back someday, and that you can go too.
By ES
Snow Monkeys
Review by: AZ
One place most people find interesting is the snow monkey tour. This tour is a lot of fun when spent with friends and family. The bus ride there takes a couple hours, but on the way there are bathrooms breaks and lunch breaks. Make sure you bring lots of water, and comfy jackets because you never know when it’s going to get very cold.
Also, don’t forget to bring your camera to take a bunch of pictures to share. . For the lunch break, the restaurant you go to isn’t bad,but if you think you’re not going to like the food, then it would be a good idea to bring your own lunch and snacks.
Before you get to the snow monkeys, you first go to an ancient Japanese Palace. It is like a house where you have to climb up a good number of stairs; it’s like a museum . What kind of sucks is that once you are at the top of the palace, you have to go back down. After that, it would take maybe two hours to get to the snow monkeys. Well, maybe a little bit more with bathroom breaks in-between those two hours.
There is a lot of snow on the way there which you can see from your bus window. It looks like cotton candy. Once you get to the snow monkeys place, you have to walk about thirty minutes or so to get to the monkeys. Meanwhile, when you're walking you can play with the snow . So when you get there you might see some monkeys but when you get to the main place there are a lot of monkeys bathing, sitting, or walking around in the water.
It’s really cool how close you can get to the monkeys maybe than arm length. there is a good amount of baby monkeys and families of monkeys together. They run around, and chase each other it’s so funny.
The Snow Monkeys that are sitting in the water are cute. You spend like and hour and a half or two hours and plus you have to walk back down to the bus in those two hours you can go to a little cafe that’s close to the Snow Monkey entrance place the quality f the food is pretty good.
Then if you have some time left you can play around in the snow to have fun.When time is up you go back to the bus and head home with breaks in between the bus ride you get to buy snacks or dinner because the ;last stop would be at least fifty minutes long .This whole trip take up the whole day that will leave you exhausted by the end of the day.
Overall, I think that this trip is a lot of fun a new experience. I mean who knew there could such thing called “Snow Monkey Tour” But even though it takes up the whole day for this trip it will still be a new experience to try out with friends and family . Hopefully you found this helpful to try and get the chance to meet Snow Monkeys.
Review by: AZ
One place most people find interesting is the snow monkey tour. This tour is a lot of fun when spent with friends and family. The bus ride there takes a couple hours, but on the way there are bathrooms breaks and lunch breaks. Make sure you bring lots of water, and comfy jackets because you never know when it’s going to get very cold.
Also, don’t forget to bring your camera to take a bunch of pictures to share. . For the lunch break, the restaurant you go to isn’t bad,but if you think you’re not going to like the food, then it would be a good idea to bring your own lunch and snacks.
Before you get to the snow monkeys, you first go to an ancient Japanese Palace. It is like a house where you have to climb up a good number of stairs; it’s like a museum . What kind of sucks is that once you are at the top of the palace, you have to go back down. After that, it would take maybe two hours to get to the snow monkeys. Well, maybe a little bit more with bathroom breaks in-between those two hours.
There is a lot of snow on the way there which you can see from your bus window. It looks like cotton candy. Once you get to the snow monkeys place, you have to walk about thirty minutes or so to get to the monkeys. Meanwhile, when you're walking you can play with the snow . So when you get there you might see some monkeys but when you get to the main place there are a lot of monkeys bathing, sitting, or walking around in the water.
It’s really cool how close you can get to the monkeys maybe than arm length. there is a good amount of baby monkeys and families of monkeys together. They run around, and chase each other it’s so funny.
The Snow Monkeys that are sitting in the water are cute. You spend like and hour and a half or two hours and plus you have to walk back down to the bus in those two hours you can go to a little cafe that’s close to the Snow Monkey entrance place the quality f the food is pretty good.
Then if you have some time left you can play around in the snow to have fun.When time is up you go back to the bus and head home with breaks in between the bus ride you get to buy snacks or dinner because the ;last stop would be at least fifty minutes long .This whole trip take up the whole day that will leave you exhausted by the end of the day.
Overall, I think that this trip is a lot of fun a new experience. I mean who knew there could such thing called “Snow Monkey Tour” But even though it takes up the whole day for this trip it will still be a new experience to try out with friends and family . Hopefully you found this helpful to try and get the chance to meet Snow Monkeys.
Review by JT
The place that I went was a cold, snowy area near the mountains. It was very cold,and it smelled. I could smell it when the car window was down it was horrible. We came to a stop, and we went to the bathroom and after that we sat down. Some of were sitting down, and some of us were walking around seeing what was there. At the place I saw that there was a zip line and a ferry ride. The thing we did first was the zip lining, it was cool to see things from a high place. I saw a lot of cars and buses that were going up the hill. When we got to the top there was a little store we went there and just looked around we didn’t buy anything. We came back down and took a break went into the store, and then went on the ferry ride. for the ride, we went across the river my dad and his friend were outside and they were taking pictures. I was sitting down with my until we got to the end of the ride.
How we got to this place by driving. I had to get up at 5 a.m. and get ready to leave. It took a couple hours to get there, but we made a few stops before we got there. the first stop we made we got some food and I got some breakfast. The second stop was that my dad and his friend got out of the car, while I stayed in the car. After that the drive took two hours and I was bored by the time we got there.
My first impressions was that I honestly didn’t care at the moment I was just wanted to be home playing my games and watching TV. After a while, I began to like some things like the zip lining and the ferry ride. I really enjoyed the zip line it was cool. I like the trip overall and if I had to rate the trip on a scale of one to ten I would give it an eight.
The place that I went was a cold, snowy area near the mountains. It was very cold,and it smelled. I could smell it when the car window was down it was horrible. We came to a stop, and we went to the bathroom and after that we sat down. Some of were sitting down, and some of us were walking around seeing what was there. At the place I saw that there was a zip line and a ferry ride. The thing we did first was the zip lining, it was cool to see things from a high place. I saw a lot of cars and buses that were going up the hill. When we got to the top there was a little store we went there and just looked around we didn’t buy anything. We came back down and took a break went into the store, and then went on the ferry ride. for the ride, we went across the river my dad and his friend were outside and they were taking pictures. I was sitting down with my until we got to the end of the ride.
How we got to this place by driving. I had to get up at 5 a.m. and get ready to leave. It took a couple hours to get there, but we made a few stops before we got there. the first stop we made we got some food and I got some breakfast. The second stop was that my dad and his friend got out of the car, while I stayed in the car. After that the drive took two hours and I was bored by the time we got there.
My first impressions was that I honestly didn’t care at the moment I was just wanted to be home playing my games and watching TV. After a while, I began to like some things like the zip lining and the ferry ride. I really enjoyed the zip line it was cool. I like the trip overall and if I had to rate the trip on a scale of one to ten I would give it an eight.
Nagano Shiga Kogen Ski Resort
Review by EC
If I were to recommend one place to visit while here in Japan, I would say Nagano Shiga Kogen Ski Resort. If you want to go on a short ‘getaway’, you can sign up seasonally for this trip with the ITT, located right here on Yokosuka Naval Base.
Once you sign up and pay your fee, you get a date that you will leave. On a regular basis, you stay one night in their resort and have two full days of skiing. Depending on which group you signed up for, you can get equipment and even restaurant reservations.
The first day of your trip will consist of leaving at around 3:00 A.M., driving for two and a half hours stopping at a Japanese truck stop for the restroom and to get some snacks, and then driving for another two and a half hours. At the time of your arrival, you are greeted by the ski resorts employees who show you inside to the front desk. After you go to the front desk and check in, you receive a key to your room and a set of lockers. You then have to take your luggage up to your assigned room. NOw you have the option of either skiing, snowboarding, shopping, or out to eat.
The stores here aren't that big and don't offer that much, but they have a health store, a convenient store, and a souvenir store, in which you can buy shirts, tumblers, magnets, etc.
Food options here are slim, but they still have some places. First, you can go to the convenient store if you are just looking for a snack. If you are looking to be served or are just hungrier than a snack, you can eat at the pizza shop they have opened her. .
This pizza store that is opened sells, pizza, pasta, salad, french fries etc. Located inside the resort is a big open room, used for serving a buffet breakfast. This breakfast consists of almost every food you can think of. They serve waffles, eggs, english muffins, rice, potatoes, sausage, fish, chicken, and tons more. Finally, depending on the group you signed up and payed for, you might get a dinner reservation option. During this dinner, you have the option to order off of the provided menu, or get something from the offered buffet, not to add you get to overlook the beautifully lit ski resort.
Your last two productive options are either to go skiing or snowboarding. No matter which one you pick, you first get your equipment on and place any of your belongings in a provided locker. You then head outside to the snow, here you put on your skis, or snowboard, and go get your gondola passes. Inside this ski resort there are many slopes you can choose to ride, they range from height, steepness, and obstacles. Once you know which slope to ride, you get on the gondola and pass over the trees and slopes, these rides aren't long, they range from thirty seconds to two minutes. Once you reach the end of your gondola line, you ski or board over to the top of your slope and go for it. I recommend taking a picture with your fellow travelers because the top of most slopes has a stunning background. Once you finish your slope, you can get back on the gondola and choose and another one. After a couple of trips on the gondola and a couple of runs on the slopes, you may be tired so you can take a break at one of the two cafes on the resort. The option of night skiing and snowboarding is available also. At the end of the two days offered on this trip, you will be amazed at all the things you saw and did, and at how sore you are. Around 5:00 P.M. on the second day of your trip, you get back on the bus and follow the same schedule used to get there.
ITT drops you off at the equipment rental place on base and you need to get home by yourself from there.
Review by EC
If I were to recommend one place to visit while here in Japan, I would say Nagano Shiga Kogen Ski Resort. If you want to go on a short ‘getaway’, you can sign up seasonally for this trip with the ITT, located right here on Yokosuka Naval Base.
Once you sign up and pay your fee, you get a date that you will leave. On a regular basis, you stay one night in their resort and have two full days of skiing. Depending on which group you signed up for, you can get equipment and even restaurant reservations.
The first day of your trip will consist of leaving at around 3:00 A.M., driving for two and a half hours stopping at a Japanese truck stop for the restroom and to get some snacks, and then driving for another two and a half hours. At the time of your arrival, you are greeted by the ski resorts employees who show you inside to the front desk. After you go to the front desk and check in, you receive a key to your room and a set of lockers. You then have to take your luggage up to your assigned room. NOw you have the option of either skiing, snowboarding, shopping, or out to eat.
The stores here aren't that big and don't offer that much, but they have a health store, a convenient store, and a souvenir store, in which you can buy shirts, tumblers, magnets, etc.
Food options here are slim, but they still have some places. First, you can go to the convenient store if you are just looking for a snack. If you are looking to be served or are just hungrier than a snack, you can eat at the pizza shop they have opened her. .
This pizza store that is opened sells, pizza, pasta, salad, french fries etc. Located inside the resort is a big open room, used for serving a buffet breakfast. This breakfast consists of almost every food you can think of. They serve waffles, eggs, english muffins, rice, potatoes, sausage, fish, chicken, and tons more. Finally, depending on the group you signed up and payed for, you might get a dinner reservation option. During this dinner, you have the option to order off of the provided menu, or get something from the offered buffet, not to add you get to overlook the beautifully lit ski resort.
Your last two productive options are either to go skiing or snowboarding. No matter which one you pick, you first get your equipment on and place any of your belongings in a provided locker. You then head outside to the snow, here you put on your skis, or snowboard, and go get your gondola passes. Inside this ski resort there are many slopes you can choose to ride, they range from height, steepness, and obstacles. Once you know which slope to ride, you get on the gondola and pass over the trees and slopes, these rides aren't long, they range from thirty seconds to two minutes. Once you reach the end of your gondola line, you ski or board over to the top of your slope and go for it. I recommend taking a picture with your fellow travelers because the top of most slopes has a stunning background. Once you finish your slope, you can get back on the gondola and choose and another one. After a couple of trips on the gondola and a couple of runs on the slopes, you may be tired so you can take a break at one of the two cafes on the resort. The option of night skiing and snowboarding is available also. At the end of the two days offered on this trip, you will be amazed at all the things you saw and did, and at how sore you are. Around 5:00 P.M. on the second day of your trip, you get back on the bus and follow the same schedule used to get there.
ITT drops you off at the equipment rental place on base and you need to get home by yourself from there.
Izu Beach
Review by ES
“Izu beach” is a fun place with a relaxing scenery right outside of the city of Izu. Izu has a few beaches but I'm not sure which one I went to. I took a bus with the Teen Center, as a summer trip. The bus ride is supposed to be five hours; but since there was little to no traffic the ride only took a little more than three hours. It’s still lengthy, but it’s also very relaxing. Once we got out of the city and into the country, it was okay, nothing much to look at but houses and rice fields. There were a few grass fields on the way there. We passed other beaches as we made our way through Izu city. The warm summer air smelled strongly of salt water.
My first impression of Izu was great. I’ve been to Zushi beach, located about thirty to forty minutes from Yokosuka close to Ikego base, and it was super dirty. Izu is a thousand times better in my opinion. Izu is really clean but there are little to no waves. The sand is a soft and is tanned white color on shore but under the water is looks golden. The water is so clear and the perfect shade of turquoise, you can see to the bottom of the ocean floor. It’s simply gorgeous!
While I was there I just relaxed after swimming in the soothingly cool water, listened to music, and took in the beauty of the beach. The sand was soft and golden; the water was calm and extravagant. It was very lulling scenery. The beach wasn’t that crowded. There were a few families, a handful of couples, and a sparse amount of friend groups. We were allowed to play music through our speakers but we found it more respectful not to. There were about to five to seven restaurants but they were all selling ramen, fried chicken, French fries, etc. There were plenty of vending machines for drinks but the restaurants also sold beverages. It was a great experience.
Overall, this beach is a great to visit with family and friends. The beach is fun and relaxing. Even though the ride is lengthy, the quality of the beach makes up for it. It’s an amazing experience and a very fun, relaxing, enjoyable trip.
Review by ES
“Izu beach” is a fun place with a relaxing scenery right outside of the city of Izu. Izu has a few beaches but I'm not sure which one I went to. I took a bus with the Teen Center, as a summer trip. The bus ride is supposed to be five hours; but since there was little to no traffic the ride only took a little more than three hours. It’s still lengthy, but it’s also very relaxing. Once we got out of the city and into the country, it was okay, nothing much to look at but houses and rice fields. There were a few grass fields on the way there. We passed other beaches as we made our way through Izu city. The warm summer air smelled strongly of salt water.
My first impression of Izu was great. I’ve been to Zushi beach, located about thirty to forty minutes from Yokosuka close to Ikego base, and it was super dirty. Izu is a thousand times better in my opinion. Izu is really clean but there are little to no waves. The sand is a soft and is tanned white color on shore but under the water is looks golden. The water is so clear and the perfect shade of turquoise, you can see to the bottom of the ocean floor. It’s simply gorgeous!
While I was there I just relaxed after swimming in the soothingly cool water, listened to music, and took in the beauty of the beach. The sand was soft and golden; the water was calm and extravagant. It was very lulling scenery. The beach wasn’t that crowded. There were a few families, a handful of couples, and a sparse amount of friend groups. We were allowed to play music through our speakers but we found it more respectful not to. There were about to five to seven restaurants but they were all selling ramen, fried chicken, French fries, etc. There were plenty of vending machines for drinks but the restaurants also sold beverages. It was a great experience.
Overall, this beach is a great to visit with family and friends. The beach is fun and relaxing. Even though the ride is lengthy, the quality of the beach makes up for it. It’s an amazing experience and a very fun, relaxing, enjoyable trip.
Shin Yokohama Skate Park
Review by MM
If you’re a skater you should visit this skatepark. It’s called Shin Yokohama. It’s a really nice skate park with smooth ground. How to get there is the problem because it takes awhile when you’re riding a train. By car, it’s a very quick trip to get there. By car, it takes thirty minutes and trains takes two to three hours.
Once you get there, you’re under a soccer stadium. It’s called Nissan Stadium. Near the skatepark is a whole bunch of food places you could go to such as seven eleven or CoCo’s or anyplace else. The skatepark is usually flooded with skaters and people. The day that it is usually flooded with skaters are Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. There are also huge ramps there at the skate park. Some are so scary they go straight down!
The skatepark is a very nice place and it’s very clean. I would advise anyone to go to this skate park. It’s an amazing skatepark, so if you're new to this school and you’re a skater, go to Shin Yokohama- an amazing skatepark.
Review by MM
If you’re a skater you should visit this skatepark. It’s called Shin Yokohama. It’s a really nice skate park with smooth ground. How to get there is the problem because it takes awhile when you’re riding a train. By car, it’s a very quick trip to get there. By car, it takes thirty minutes and trains takes two to three hours.
Once you get there, you’re under a soccer stadium. It’s called Nissan Stadium. Near the skatepark is a whole bunch of food places you could go to such as seven eleven or CoCo’s or anyplace else. The skatepark is usually flooded with skaters and people. The day that it is usually flooded with skaters are Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. There are also huge ramps there at the skate park. Some are so scary they go straight down!
The skatepark is a very nice place and it’s very clean. I would advise anyone to go to this skate park. It’s an amazing skatepark, so if you're new to this school and you’re a skater, go to Shin Yokohama- an amazing skatepark.
Sagamihara
Review by AS
I’m in the car waiting for a one to two hour drive to Sagamihara. Sagamihara is kind of like the country side of Japan and there’s not much buildings, and cars barley driving past at night. The way there is pretty boring unless you take time to look at the surroundings, like what I am doing now. You can see a lot of the houses that look quite old and there are a lot of green grasslands to see. Since it's spring, the cherry blossoms are blooming and you can see the cherry blossom trees all lined up together, showing off their vibrant colors, like pink, white and green. While you drive past all the trees and flowers, you can smell all the sweet smells of nature around us. I usually lose track of time looking out the window.
It’s already been 30 minutes since we left Yokosuka, and we haven’t even seen half of the buildings. We haven’t even seen all the hotels and outlets malls we pass by yet. There’s barely any people to see as well. The sidewalks are fairly small and it’s not a place people usually walk at. You can usually see tons of people and bicycles roaming around when we get to the housing areas and the busy streets. It’s usually really packed during the day and there’s lots of traffic, so it takes an extra 30 minutes to get back to Yokosuka.
peace and quiet. I hope one day, everyone who visits Japan/Yokosuka has the opportunity to go to Sagamihara.
Review by AS
I’m in the car waiting for a one to two hour drive to Sagamihara. Sagamihara is kind of like the country side of Japan and there’s not much buildings, and cars barley driving past at night. The way there is pretty boring unless you take time to look at the surroundings, like what I am doing now. You can see a lot of the houses that look quite old and there are a lot of green grasslands to see. Since it's spring, the cherry blossoms are blooming and you can see the cherry blossom trees all lined up together, showing off their vibrant colors, like pink, white and green. While you drive past all the trees and flowers, you can smell all the sweet smells of nature around us. I usually lose track of time looking out the window.
It’s already been 30 minutes since we left Yokosuka, and we haven’t even seen half of the buildings. We haven’t even seen all the hotels and outlets malls we pass by yet. There’s barely any people to see as well. The sidewalks are fairly small and it’s not a place people usually walk at. You can usually see tons of people and bicycles roaming around when we get to the housing areas and the busy streets. It’s usually really packed during the day and there’s lots of traffic, so it takes an extra 30 minutes to get back to Yokosuka.
peace and quiet. I hope one day, everyone who visits Japan/Yokosuka has the opportunity to go to Sagamihara.