Experience details
Explore Kadena Town, a small municipality in Okinawa, Japan, where over 80% of the land is occupied by U.S. military installations, including the largest U.S. air base in the Far East. Discover the complex history and ongoing issues faced by the local community, from noise pollution to tensions surrounding base-related employment and land use.
Begin your tour with a local expert who will guide you through the town, sharing stories and insights into the lives of the people who live next to the base every day. Gain a deeper understanding of the intertwined relationships between the base and the town, America and Japan, and Okinawa and America.
Visit the famous Roadside Station Kadena, known for its observation deck offering panoramic views of the air base. Inside, explore a small but impactful exhibition space documenting the history and present reality of the base and the town. Learn about the complex legacy of coexistence between locals and the military presence.
This tour is not about choosing sides. It’s an invitation to listen, observe, and reflect on a very real part of Okinawa’s modern story—one that’s often overlooked but vital to understanding the island as a whole.