Travel

Some say that if you’ve seen one shrine in Japan you’ve seen them all. While many do look alike, there are plenty others which stand out with their unique architecture, artwork or gardens. To each their own, but I actually enjoy perusing old neighborhoods, checking out random shrines and learning their unique story.

Considered a sanctuary for rail-fans of all ages, The Railway Museum, or Tetsudo Hakubutsukan, attracts more than 1 million visitors a year.
Just an hour train ride from Yokota Air Base, the museum offers a great one-day trip for airmen and their families.

A short 20-minute walk from the Railway Museum, Hikawa Shrine is known as one of the most prestigious Shinto shrines in the Kanto Plain. The town of Omiya (literally, large shrine) is named after this great shrine.

If you're staying on Zamami-jima in Okinawa's Kerama island chain, you might hop on a ferry over to these two smaller islands.

Miyajima is defined by the iconic Itsukushima Shrine, a dominant and dazzling presence which imbues Miyajima, Island of the Gods, with its mystique and magic. I also found magic and mystique meandering through some “miracle spots beyond Itsukushima Shrine”, as termed by a tourist brochure. Here are a few:

The Courtney skate park has ramps and a lot of space to just ride if you do not want to ride on the ramps. It is not far from the towers or the housing. The skate park is also the bus stop. If you have a skateboard, bike, or scooter the Courtney skate park is the place for you.