East Fuji Maneuver Area

East Fuji Maneuver Area 陸上自衛隊東富士演習場
Gotemba, Susono, Oyama, Shizuoka Prefecture Japan
JGSDF M110A2 on live fire exercises
East Fuji Maneuver Area
Type	Military Base
Site information
Controlled by	Ministry of Defense (Japan)
Site history
Built	1912
In use	1912-1945 Imperial Japanese Army 1945-1966 United States Army 1966-present Japan Ground Self-Defense Force

JGSDF East Fuji Maneuver Area (陸上自衛隊東富士演習場^?, Rikujō Jieitai Higashi-Fuji Enshūjō) is the major training grounds for the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force on Honshū, Japan. It is one of several military facilities located in the foothills of Mount Fuji and extends over parts of Gotemba, Susono and Oyama, in Shizuoka Prefecture. Its total area is 88.09 square kilometers.

The area around the base of Mount Fuji has been associated with the military since medieval times. The samurai of the Kamakura Shogunate conducted military training in this area in the 13th century. In the modern era, the Imperial Japanese Army began using the sparsely populated area as a training ground since 1898. The "Fuji-Susono Maneuver Area" was formally established in 1912. To support training activities, a number of military bases were established in the vicinity, including Camp Takigahara (1908), Camp Itazuma (1909), and Camp Komakado (1936).

After the surrender of Japan at the end of World War II, these bases were occupied by the United States Army, and continued to be used for training. In 1951, the area was formally returned to the control of the Japanese government, but continued to be used exclusively by the American military under the status of forces agreement.