
Tour of Duty – Episode 1: Camp Zama
The Camp Zama community is comprised of three main housing areas on mainland Japan: Camp Zama, Sagamihara and Sagami Depot. All three are located in Kanagawa Prefecture, about 25 miles southwest of Tokyo. There are also several satellite locations located in Yokohama, Kure, Tokyo and other areas. The military community comprises a very small percentage of the prefecture population. Japan, in general, is a high cost of living area, but one can save on purchases by shopping on base at the post exchange and commissary. The weather is similar to that of the United States' mid-Atlantic east coast. In less than two hours by train, one can be shopping in downtown Tokyo, picking up seashells at the beach in Enoshima or soaking in a hot springs in Hakone.