A park built recently in the U.S. Kadena Air Base, which straddles the city of Okinawa and two neighboring towns, is now open to the public, Okinawa Mayor Masakazu Nakasone said.
Visitors are allowed entry to Okinawa Friendship Plaza, which covers about 1,600 sq. meters, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and must enter on foot, he said.
This is the first time a facility on a U.S. base in Japan has been permanently opened to the public, according to city officials.
"I would like to come up with more plans where we can jointly utilize such areas, provided they do not disrupt the activities of the U.S. forces," Nakasone said.