Stuck in Sasebo! US Navy Midshipman Needs Daytrip Ideas!

Tsuwabuki

Tsuwabuki

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Konbanwa,

I am a US Navy midshipman who may be stationed in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture for a month starting May 31st. Here's the problem: stationed means sleeping ont he ship at night. I need to know what I can reasonably do. It's always been my dream to go to Japan, but with Sasebo being so south it looks like Tokyo is out of the question (please tell me I'm wrong). I've been working on my Japanese and can have pretty basic coversation, so I think I'll be okay on trains, planes, and automobiles. I've been saving up so cash isn't an object, I knew I'd be spending a lot of it, and I'm willing to because this may be a once in a life time opportunity, and I'll have a good amount of time off in that month.

So, Japan Forum, Help!
 
Two very important Navy resources you need to learn to make good use of:

Family Services Center (yes, for single sailors too)
MWR (Morale, Welfare & Recreation

On one of my port visits to Sasebo, the ship arranged a bus tour to Nagasaki through MWR. It was a very interesting day trip.

And if you've never been to Japan, one place is pretty much like another as far as opportunities for the adventurous soul. Get a bicycle and just enjoy exploring the town on your own and remember one of the most important tenets of masculinity: As long as you can find your way back, you ain't lost. If you can't sell the bicycle when you leave, then how about displaying magnanimity of spirit and making a present of it to one of the young single sailors from whom you will be learning things important to your future career as a naval officer?
 
Thanks for the info and ideas! I was aware of MWR, but not the Family Services Center. The bike is a wonderful suggestion, and I definitely plan to get to know Sasebo before I move on. Considering the amount of time I will have in port though, a couple weeks, I hope to get somewhere with a little bit more... excitement, as it were. I'm 21, and we both know what that means for port visits!
 
Be sure to make good use of your time aboard ship too. Your midshipman cruise will be your last reasonable chance to have anything resembling a frank discussion with enlisted men.
 
Of course, but that's been drilled into me for the last couple of years. Mostly I came here interested in how I can balance my duties and my desires. Basically how to get the most Japan even with my restrictions. Japan is my travel spot of choice. I asked specifically for it.
 
What ship will you be going to? When I was in the Navy the only ship actually stationed at Sasebo was a cargo ship, I believe it was USS Saint Louis (LKA-116). I'm not even sure what they have there now.
 
I have no idea, actually. There's still a chance I can not go to Japan (Yeah, I know, 19 days before my departure date, and there's no certainty on where I'm going, even if this si the most likely place!). There are some Amphibs there, I know that. Otherwise *shrug*.

I was slated for USS Chosin, CG-65 in Hawaii, but my lieutenant has been working extra hard for me, since I requested Japan like last year. He couldn't get me a FOREX (foriegn exchange) cruise, even with my conversational Japanese, even though the designator wanted to give it to me. Unfortunately, as I've never seen active duty shiptime before, I wasn't qualified. But they both promised to find me another Japanese cruise if it existed. I found out about this yesterday morning. After several weeks of being told I was going to Hawaii. Now I'm having to rush to get my passport for an outrageous amount, have to pull out all my extra cash, and start making plans based on what I'm near enough to go visit.
 
 
Wow, thanks for all the great information! definitely going to check out that light festival. Is Osaka or Kyoto too far for me to travel back and forth in a day even with flights? I'm guessing Tokyo is probably entirely out of the question.
 
The Shinkansen is used in order to go to Osaka and Kyoto.
In order to ride on the Shinkansen, it goes to Hakata.
To Hakata, it takes 2 hours at a special express from Sasebo.
From Hakata to Osaka, it takes 2 hours and 26 minutes.
http://grace.hyperdia.com/cgi-english/hyperd11.cgi?

From Sasebo to Tokyo.
It takes 77 minutes by bus from Sasebo to the Nagasaki airport.
It takes about 2 hours from Nagasaki to Tokyo.

When waiting time is added, they are about 4 hours and about 30 minutes.
It seldom changes to time to go to Kyoto and Osaka.
http://grace.hyperdia.com/cgi-english/hyperd11.cgi?

It is serious although a day's trip is not impossible to Kyoto, Osaka, and Tokyo.
 
Yeah, I would say wake up early, catch the Shinkansen and you could make it further north. Kyoto and Osaka, are definately some reccomended places to go.
 
Cool! Thanks for all the help. Now, how do I get the passes that I'd be required to take? I know some of them have to be purchased prior to departure.
 
Kionon, the ITT office on the base should know exactly where to go and what to do. But remember if you are on limitations (time restrictions) they are usually closely tied to travel distance limitations as well. Don't assume that just because the Shinkansen can get you there means that you can go there!

Don't feel bad about being in Sasebo. I have friends there and you just need to change your point of view. Instead of thinking "Damn I'm so far from Tokyo" Think of how lucky you are to have this opportunity anyway! From what my friends have told me, it is a very beautiful place to visit!

btw...have you checked out the Sasebo base website? http://www.cfas.navy.mil/
 
From the website I posted...some of the places that look pretty interesting:

Miura-cho Church (Seishin Cathedral)
A symbol of Sasebo, built in 1930 and standing opposite Sasebo Station.

[DATA]
A 3-min. walk from Sasebo Station

J.M.S.D.F.Sasebo Historical Museum (Sail Tower)
A museum displaying many historical materials with models of the former Imperial Japanese Navy and its successor, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.
DATA
0956-22-3040 Hours: 9:30 to 17:00 Admission: Free Closed: 3rd Thursdays, New Year's holidays 10min. by bus from Sasebo Station (get off at Motomachi and a 2-min. walk)

Eboshidake Highland Sports Resort
An outdoor amusement place for everyone, with facilities such as artificial lawn skiing, go carts, roller skate rink, and, miniature golf course. The place is surrounded by nature.

[DATA]
0956-25-5528
Hours: 9:00 to 17:00 Closed: Thursdays, New Year's 32 min. by bus from Sasebo Station

Yumiharidake Outlook
You can enjoy a panoramic view of all of Sasebo, with the 99 Islands visible in the west, Sasebo Port in the south, and the town in the east. At night, city illumination and fishing fires present a fantasy.

[DATA]
25 min. by bus from Sasebo Station

Mikawachi-yaki Art Museum (Traditional Arts and Crafts Hall)
Displaying precious old Mikawachi pottery from the Edo through early Meiji periods, including modern masterpieces.

Senpukuji Cave
The Toryumon pottery dating back 12,000 years unearthed here in 1973 changed world history, and has been designated important national cultural property.

[DATA]
19 min. by bus from Sasebo Station (get off at Setogoe, and a 15-min. walk)




These are just a few of the local things you can see....in no particular order of preference. Not to mention you could just get out and meet the locals and make some wonderful friends.
 
CC1, actually that was the first place I checked before even coming onto boards! For one thing I could not access the PDF files available. Actually, I was told to call the MWR and tell them what my plans are to see if they could help me out, but I have no idea how to call Japan.

I live with two other midshipmen. One went to Japan last year, the other goes to Yokosuka as brand new ensign on June 2nd. The former told me that there were no distance restrictions that he was aware of, as long as you had a buddy and were back to the ship on time.

Although I agree that any Japan is better than no Japan (my other option is Hawaii, and I gladly turned it down), I had a set of objectives I really wanted to accomplish in Japan. Just a couple. Most specific ones are in Tokyo:

1) Find Orange Road. Don't know where it is, but if it exists I want to find it.
2) Go to Juuban.
3) Visit Tokyo Tower . I've been to Paris and I want to compare it to its French cousin.
4) Shopping in Shibuya.

And those are the things that I really would feel bad about leaving Japan without doing, even if it meant flying. Although it's a fair bet I'll be stationed in Japan again in my career, maybe even starting next December (everyone from my unit goes to Japan, which nationally makes us the oddball), if it is a once in a lifetime opportunity, I want to treat it like one.
 
Orange Road?
---Place? The name of a store? The title of anime?

Juuban?
---Possibly, it is Azabu-juban.

Tokyo Tower
---Construction of new Tokyo Tower is planned. About 600m
 
It is the title of an anime, a very famous one. My favorite in fact. Kimagure Orange Road by Izumi Matsumoto. I have heard that Orange Road is an actual place (or at least the stairs are). If it is, it's a very personal dream to go there and get a picture of it.

Juuban - Tenth Street, I believe. A section of Tokyo, or so I have been led to believe.
 
They are very nostalgic comics.
Comics in 1984.
Animation was made in 1987.
The place of stairs was not found although I investigated.

Since Kyushu will enter from now on at the season of a rainy season, please take care about food.
 
I knew those dates, as I said, KOR happens to be my favorite series, and so I know much about its history.

How did you find out that the stairs did not exist, or did you just find no reference to them?

Can you explain why rainy season would affect where I eat food (would I not eat it in a restaurant?).
 
KOR being an abbreviation of Kimagure Orange Road, the anime mentioned earlier. I apologize if I was unclear.
 
It is different. :p
"Kimagure Orange Road" does not have the newest information at a homepage of Japan for the work of 20 years ago. 😌
 

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