Okinawa Japan Marine Corps Bases

MILITARY HOUSING  |  ABOUT OKINAWA BASE   |   AREA SCHOOLS 

 RESTAURANT GUIDE  |  YOUTH CARE, ACTIVITIES & SPORTS

 GETTING TO AND FROM   |   RESOURCES

Okinawa is a great place to get stationed if you are up for an adventure and love water. You can use it as a stepping stone to travel through Asia or Europe, just know that travel off the island in most cases is not cheap.

This is a whole different lifestyle than the U.S. The Okinawans are very laid back, and you may feel like you are going back in time when everything closes early and you need cash more than cards. While it is much safer than America, you still need to take precautions with locking your cars and houses. It is common for people to open your door for deliveries off base and there have been cases of military id theft in cars.

The island of Okinawa is very small, 67 miles long and 2-17 miles wide. Don’t let that fool you, it can take hours to get places. Even though the distance between some of the bases is quite short, traffic can be heavy, the speed is slow, and the roads are very curvy which results in traffic jams and longer commutes.

There are seven USMC camps on Okinawa. Courtney, Foster, Lester, and Kinser are for Marines and families to live. Hansen, Schwab, and Futenma are for Marines to live. Click here for a map of Okinawa.

There is also Kadena Air Base, that has many restaurants (including Chili’s) and other activities that the Marine Corps bases may not have. Torii Station (Army) and White Beach (Navy) offer different activities as well.

Japan is a great place to get stationed if you are up for adventure. You can use it as a stepping stone to see much of Asia or Europe because the destinations are so much closer than the states.

Weather

We have a very humid climate here because we are surrounded by the water and live in a sub-tropical place. The summer is HOT HOT HOT; more hot than Oklahoma and Vegas but if you are from Texas you’ll do fine!  Be prepared to feel moisture and heat when you step outside. The fall is very nice for it is very warm. The winter is mild usually in the 60′s. Spring 60′s and 70′s. People say May-June is rainy season but in my opinion it’s always the rainy season. Typhoon season is from June-Nov. Typhoons cause for a lot of wind and rain and the base will usually shut down. Everything here is built to typhoon standards, so when a warning is issued, everyone goes home. Some typhoons cause more damage than others, but with renters insurance, you will be covered.

USMC Weather Page and Kadena USAF Weather Page

What is there to do in Okinawa Japan?

Area Activities

Aquarium: The second largest aquarium in the world is housed here in Okinawa. It is located on the northern end of the island. It has the world’s largest single tank which houses 3 large whale sharks along with hundreds of other fish. From Foster to the Aquarium it takes about 90 minutes by car on the tollway.

Ocean: The ocean in Okinawa is truly spectacular. If you have a love for the water, this might just be the place for you! Okinawa is a tropical environment and the water is the most beautiful shade of blue. It is a huge hotspot for snorkeling and scuba diving. You can get certified for scuba diving once you are here!

MILITARY HOUSING  |  ABOUT OKINAWA BASE   |   AREA SCHOOLS 

 RESTAURANT GUIDE  |  YOUTH CARE, ACTIVITIES & SPORTS

 GETTING TO AND FROM   |   RESOURCES

4 Comments

  1. […] the late 1970s my uncle was a Marine and stationed in Okinawa, Japan. One day he showed up at our door in Sun Valley, near Los Angeles with a large box. He said he […]

  2. […] Sergeant First Class Koum transfer data were taken from http://usmclife.com/bases/okinawa-japan/ […]

  3. Robin Ewert

    My 93 year old father was an officer in the marine corps on Okinawa during wwII…..he usually goes to yearly reunions in the us….this year he was looking forward to going to Okinawa as part of an organized military group which was going to commemorate the 70th anniversary…
    Much to my fathers disappointment, the tour was cancelled…
    I was wondering,if he were to travel to Okinawa on his own, might there be a way that he could visit places that are now just wartime memories? I would appreciate it if you could let me know if any local tours exist that cater to American veterans..I would love to make this trip happen for him..

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