For our Fourth of July weekend, we booked a cabin at Tama Hills Recreation Area. Tama Hills Recreation Area is part of the Yokota Air Base, but not located on the base. You will be surrounded by lush greenery, right in the middle of Tokyo.
This was a last minute plan, so we were only able to get a standard cabin for our stay. B went to the commissary, brought some things to cook on the grill and some snacks for us on our two-night stay. The standard cabin had a bedroom with a queen size bed, a small kitchen, a loft with a futon mat, a bathroom, and the living room with a futon sofa.
Blowing bubbles with toddler girl.
It took us about 2 hours to get there using directions provided by the Yokosuka Fleet Family Service Center (FFSC). It was easy to follow and did not have any problems finding it. Trip back we use our navigation and it took us an hour, as it took us on the expressway, versus city streets. If you are traveling from Yokota Air Base, it is about 60 minutes.
Tama Hills is 500-acres! The recreation area is one half and the golf course takes up the other half. Not only are there cabins, there are campgrounds, a 15-room lodge, and a restaurant. Tama Hills has a number of things to do entertain you doing your stay. There is horseback riding, paintball, bicycling, tennis courts, hiking, miniature golf, and a children’s play park. The golf course also has its own restaurant as well. You are also not far from local attraction like Sanrio Puroland (Hello Kitty), Tama Zoological Park, Suntory Brewery Musashino Factory, and shopping. I did try to reserve a spot for us at the Suntory Brewery Factory, but it was booked full. You can reserve a spot online to tour the factory.
Toddler girl enjoyed exploring the grounds in the golf cart. There are trails everywhere for hiking, biking, and just taking the road within Tama Hills Recreation Area to explore. We all had a good time, even with the rain.
Here is a little history about Tama Hills from their website. The history of Tama Hills dates back to 1938 before World War II. It was established as a munitions processing and storage plant. According to historical records, the plant was constructed exclusively for the production of explosive chemicals. Today, you are able to walk through the beautiful woods on your stay at Tama Hills Recreation Area. You will also see bunkers, foundations, and tunnels as you explore. There are historical plaques at points of interest.
B said it looks like it’s some time of boiler. I, however, said it was an incinerator.
One of the many paths to drive the golf cart on to explore
A tunnel that leads to a hiking trail.
One of the bunkers we came across while exploring.
You can get the full history by visiting Tama Hills website.
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Jay Creed
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Jay is the Content Creator + Manager here at Life of Creed. She shares her adventures in homeschooling, traveling, beauty, mental health, fashion, product + music reviews, DIY, and more. She is also a blog coach + mompreneur consultant over at Jay Creed.
I enjoyed reading about your mini vacation! The pictures were a nice touch as I can’t get enough of pictures! I especially love the one of the tunnel that leads to the hiking trails. It sounds like a wonderful place to visit. Thank you for sharing about your trip!
This place looks so relaxing. Seeing a bunker would be so cool for my boys.
Yes, it was very relaxing. The bunker doors were open too, so you could go inside and check it out. But we didn’t bring a flash light when we took off exploring the grounds, so we didn’t go inside of them.
What a nice place to take a vacation. I loved your pictures and adored the bubble blowing. That is what life is about. Looks like a perfect place for a family to spend quality time.
Thank you! It is always a fun time with bubbles. And Tama Hills is located in the city!! You wouldn’t even guess you were vacation in a fast pace city like Tokyo when you are tucked away in the cabins and campgrounds.
I love historic places – this looks beautiful, what a great place to visit!
I do too! That is one of the things I love about being in Japan, so much history to see that I would not get to see if we were not stationed here. I will have to do a post on WWII places I have explored here as well.
This is soooo stunning. What a treat to get away from it all and enjoy some fresh greenery. I’ll have to check it out!
That looks like so much fun. Gorgeous photos!
Thank you! Yes, we had a great time!
WOW! It’s beautiful there!! I have a friend who is stationed over in Japan with the Marines (I think?). That looks like such a great place to visit. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks! It is a very beautiful place, especially when you see high-rise building everyday, it is a good change of scenery.