Caroline Kennedy on Tuesday made her first visit to Okinawa since she became U.S. ambassador in November.
She will meet officials of the prefecture that hosts the bulk of the U.S. military presence in Japan.
Arriving at Naha Airport on an evening flight with her husband, Edwin Schlossberg, Kennedy was scheduled to meet with Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima on Wednesday.
She was expected to seek cooperation from Nakaima over the relocation of the U.S. Marines' Futenma Air Station from a densely populated area in Ginowan to an offshore area in Nago, northern Okinawa.
In December, Nakaima approved landfill work to build a replacement facility in the Henoko coastal area of Nago, but a staunch opponent of the plan was re-elected as mayor of Nago last month.
During her three-day visit, the U.S. side is also considering arranging a helicopter flight for her over Henoko.
