Fussa Base Side Street

In short

Fussa Base Side Street is a shopping street stretching about one kilometer along National Route 16, facing the US Yokota Air Base in Fussa City. Lined with vintage clothing, antiques, imported general goods shops, and American-style cafes and restaurants, it is also referred to as "the shopping street closest to America."

• ​American Townscape​​: Signs in English and shops accepting US dollars give the area an exotic, foreign atmosphere.
• ​Fussa American House​​: A community space for the shopping street that uses a former US military house built in 1958.
• ​Shop Hopping​​: You will find a variety of spots, including vintage clothing stores, antique furniture shops, miscellaneous goods, and live music venues.

History and Highlights

Fussa Base Side Street is a shopping street that extends for about one kilometer along National Route 16, directly facing the US Yokota Air Base. National Route 16 runs along the perimeter of the base, and shops line the road outside the base.

The street began when local residents opened shops catering to base personnel. Over time, restaurants, imported goods shops, and vintage clothing stores from various countries—centered around the United States—opened, cloaking the neighborhood in a multinational cultural atmosphere. Even today, signs in English, English menus, and stores that accept US dollars are common.

Fussa was once lined with single-story homes called "houses" where US military personnel lived, and many artists later chose to live here in search of a free lifestyle. In the 1960s and 1970s, people involved in music and art gathered in the area, and traces of that culture can still be felt in unique shops and live music venues today.

Highlights & Things to Do

• ​Peek into the Fussa American House​​: Located along the street, the Fussa American House is a community space housed in a former US military residence built in 1958. Its light blue exterior walls and lawn recreate the look of a house from the 1950s. It is managed by the shopping street promotion association.
• ​Browse Vintage Clothing and Goods​​: The street features shops offering vintage items such as jeans, aloha shirts, and military wear, as well as antique furniture, and miscellaneous goods imported directly from the United States. Just strolling along allows you to soak in the foreign atmosphere.
• ​Savor American Flavors​​: There are many cafes and restaurants serving American-style food, such as hamburgers, steaks, and pancakes.

Tips for Walking Around

The street is about a 10-minute walk from the East Exit of Ushihama Station on the JR Ome Line. You can also start walking from Fussa Station on the JR Ome Line or Higashi-Fussa Station on the JR Hachiko Line. General tourists are not normally permitted to enter Yokota Air Base freely. Please enjoy your visit while remaining aware of the boundary between the base and the outside town. Please refrain from street parking and avoid taking photos that obstruct pedestrian traffic. In May in most years, the Japanese-American Friendship Festival is held, opening part of the base to the general public. Fussa City has two sake breweries along the Tamagawa Aqueduct dating back to the Edo period, of which Ishikawa Sake Brewery is located approximately 2.7 kilometers south of this street.