Sobudaimae

 

Sobudaimae Station is a train station located in Zama, Kanagawa Prefecture, in the southwest of Tokyo. The station, which has two island platforms with four tracks, is served by the Odakyu's Electric Railway's Odawara Line.

  

Zama is a city located in central Kanagawa, but as it is situated quite close to Tokyo, it is more of a suburban area. The land here is mostly flat with some hilly parts. Three rivers – Mekushiri, Sagami, and Hato – flow through the city. Zama is best known as the home of Camp Zama, the U.S. Army's base.

  

Camp Zama

 

Camp Zama, which was once the Imperial Japanese Army Academy, became an American army base after World War II. It is now home to US Army Japan/9th Theater Army Area Command, the 17th Area Support Group, the United Nations Command (Rear), the 500th Military Intelligence Brigade, the Japan Engineer District, the 78th Signal Battalion, the 3d Engineer Group of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, and other units.

 

Camp Zama is locally known as “the jewel of the orient” because of its beautiful grounds, which on first look seems more like a resort. Access is through one of the four gates only after strict security checks. The quality of life at the camp, for both the servicemen and their families, is considered to be one of the best in the world.

 

Camp Zama is about 8 minutes walk from Sobudaimae Station.