Beyond the Gate: Navigating CFAY and Japan’s Public Transportation System

Photo By Taylor Ardito | ARAKAWA, Japan (December 28, 2023) - A JR East E231-0 series train on the Jōban Line (JJ) arrives at Nippori Station. This station is on the route required for the 2023-24 Tokyo Stamp Rally Event. Train stamp collecting is a hobby across Japan and anyone can participate in the event. One of the featured lines for the event is the Keikyu Line, the train line most commonly used by personnel assigned to Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka (CFAY) due to the proximity of the stations near the base. Jimmuji Station, the closest station used by Sailors living in the Ikego Housing area, is one of the stations that have a custom event stamp. For more than 75 years, CFAY has provided, maintained, and operated base facilities and services in support of the U.S. 7th Fleet's forward-deployed naval forces, tenant commands, and thousands of military and civilian personnel and their families. (U.S. Navy photo by Taylor Ardito)  

YOKOSUKA, KANAGAWA, JAPAN

04.05.2024

Story by Taylor Ardito 

Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka

Spread across the Great Kanto Plain, the Greater Tokyo area, with a population of over 13 million, is one of the most densely populated places in the world. Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka (CFAY), located on the south side of the vast urban sprawl and tucked along the coast of Tokyo Bay, is a unique community that serves as a home away from home for thousands of service members and their families. Despite being separated from their hometowns by oceans, CFAY residents are connected to the Greater Tokyo area and mainland Japan via the modern marvel of Japan’s public transportation system.

Due to the limited parking space and narrow streets designed before the invention of automobiles, alternative transportation methods are necessary. Japan’s public transportation system is known for its extreme efficiency and comprehensiveness, consisting of buses, trains, ferries, and airports. Each transportation method is connected to the other through hubs, creating a giant and consolidated network spanning the entire county, eliminating the necessity of owning an automobile.

CFAY is intertwined with the nationwide public transportation network through multiple means of transportation, making traveling to and from the base easy and efficient. The location of the gates provides quick navigation to the local train and bus stations and connections with the on-base shuttle routes. Three train stations and about a dozen bus stations are within walking distance of CFAY’s gates.

The Yoko-Pon Shuttle is one of the buses that operates around the base continuously and has a stop for each gate. With frequent pickups and drop-offs, the shuttle ensures prompt and reliable transportation for Sailors, eliminating the need for lengthy walks or reliance on personal vehicles.

The Ikego Home-to-Work (HTW) Shuttle operates on a dedicated route, sharing some of the same stops as the Yoko-Pon Shuttle, and caters specifically to Sailors living in Ikego housing and working at CFAY. With regular pickups and drop-offs, the shuttle ensures punctual arrivals and departures, allowing sailors to optimize their time and minimize commuting stress.

“The [HTW] shuttle is free and convenient,” said Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Conner Houghtaling, a CFAY Sailor who uses it twice a day for his commute. “It’s an easy way to get to work without a car.”

Personnel working onboard CFAY commonly use other means of transportation for their daily commute.

Kazuyuki Takagi, a Japanese Master Labor Contract (MLC) employee of CFAY who lives in Kawasaki and commutes to CFAY, prefers to take the train to and from work every day.

“I used to have a car, but I like to take the [Keikyū Main Line] train to work. It’s easier and more time-efficient. The trains are punctual and easy for me to use every day.”

Personnel can use the public transportation network to travel almost anywhere in Japan, including to and from the installation as a work commute. The local Japan Railways (JR) and Keikyu Corporation train lines that run through Yokosuka have connections with the other train lines in the Tokyo Metropolitan area. The local train lines that run through Yokosuka can also be used to travel to the Tokaido Shinkansen stations. The Shinkansen is a high-speed rail network that connects most cities on mainland Japan and their local train networks, creating one massive single rail system that spans most of the country. Many train lines connect to hub stations where multiple means of public transportation come together. Ferry piers, bus depots and airport terminals often have train connections, allowing for easy transfers. Whether you are going to work or going to another city on leave, using Japan’s public transportation might be a cheaper, easier or faster option than driving a personal vehicle.

If you want to learn more about Japan’s public transportation options or how to use them, check out the CFAY Public Transportation Guide series. The guides are instructional pamphlets created by the CFAY Public Affairs Office as part of the #WelcomeAboardYokosuka campaign, a program designed to help personnel forward-deployed in Japan transition to living in a foreign nation. You can find more helpful information on the Welcome Aboard page of the official CFAY website. https://cnrj.cnic.navy.mil/Installations/CFA-Yokosuka/Welcome-Aboard/

For more than 75 years, CFAY has provided, maintained, and operated base facilities and services in support of the U.S. 7th Fleet’s forward-deployed naval forces, tenant commands, and thousands of military and civilian personnel and their families.

• Date Taken: 04.05.2024
• Date Posted: 04.29.2024 03:34
• Story ID: 469311
• Location: YOKOSUKA, KANAGAWA, JP