Japan

[reynswife]

We have a ways to go before we can get orders again but I wanted some input on those of you who have been to Japan.

I've heard good and bad things. We have 3 young sons and I want to make the most of the time hubby is in the Navy. I figure getting stationed around the world is going to give us opportunities that we might not otherwise get. We have already done 3 years in Italy. Although I was pregnant most of those 3 years, and I did have some problems so we didn't get to travel as much as I would have liked. But as our kids get older, I would love to travel more.

Okay, enough with the rambling. So my question is, where are the best places to get orders to, what is there to do, would you recommend it with young children, what did you dislike the most and what was the hardest thing for you to go without by being away from the States?

[Amber V]

I was just talking to a friend about Japan and she said she liked that they could put a lot of money in Savings but she never really saw her Dh. He was always out to sea. She said she might see him 2 months out of the year they were gone so much. And she said it stunk. That is all I have been told about Japan. Oh and they are thinking of going back.

[MontanaSweetie]

I think it depends on where you get stationed in Japan too. My DH is on deployment in Iwakuni, Japan and he doesn't really like it there. It rains all the time. The base housing is very small. Food is expensive. But, he has been able to visit some really interesting places, so he likes that aspect of it. Since he's on deployment, he doesn't get COLA or anything like that, so I don't know how much extra money you could expect to make.

Britt and her husband are stationed in Japan, you might ask her about it.

[reynswife]

My husband is a SeaBee so the chances of him being assigned a ship are very small. Plus he hates being on a ship so I'm sure he'd avoid those orders.

One of his deployments sites is Okinawa and he wasn't overly impressed. But I think that has something to do with being there without family. And he didn't travel too much while he was there.

I have heard that housing and living spaces are really small.

I'm thinking of going to visit hubby the next time he deploys to Japan to kind of see things first hand.

I'm in Japan right now and love it! But my husband is Air Force and we don't have an kids yet, so that might make a difference. Things are more expensive here but the amount of COLA he's been pulling in makes up for that and some. We've only been here since February and we've already been saving a lot of money compared to being stationed where we were last (Arizona). The one downfall where I am is the weather, I'm in Northern Japan so it's cold, rainy and foggy right now. The winters are terrible and long. But there are so many great things, the culture, the ocean and the food! The food is so great! I've always loved Asian food so I'm really enjoying eating off base. Our base housing is kind of small and not that attractive but we really don't care since it's worth it to be living here!

I live in Yokosuka, Japan and although at times I wish I was home, over-all I love it here. We live in housing and it is comparable to the size of homes in the states. Living out in town is much smaller living spaces though. You can't have a Cal King bed here though - our neighbor has a king and they had to bring it in through the windows - lol. Kinda funny to watch though, lol.

It can be expensive to live here if you insist upon living off the economy or you do a lot out on the economy. We try and stick close to base things as much as possible when we do things as a family. I try and buy all my clothes at the NEX (or at some choice cheap places out in town), almost ALL our grocery shopping is done at the commissary too. I have a hard time buying a dozen eggs for around $10 (¥1000) in town.

The COLA we make is pretty nice, we haven't saved much but that is because we've been paying off a lot of bills & buying new furniture for the house. So that savings that we would've had has been diverted to other important areas.

I think the hardest thing I've had here is the language barrier. It wouldn't be so tough I don't think if they didn't write in Kanji and if they wrote in more alphanumeric type. Then I could figure out what the heck I am trying to say & learn the language a bit quicker. But that is me personally.

My husband is on a ship, and it is true they are gone A LOT!! But you said your husband wouldn't likely be on a ship, so I can't really give experience on how shore duty is here. I hear good & bad...but that is with everything.

The weather sucks! I hate the weather here, but I am a San Diego girl and spoiled rotten when it comes to decent weather. I don't deal well with a lot of rain & horrid humidity. Can you survive it? OF COURSE! As long as you don't let it drag you down. I try not to let it drag me down as much as possible.

Good luck!!!

[rosie]

jessy do you happen to live in misawa? the reason i aske is we are moving there in oct.

Yep we are stationed at Misawa ab. If you have any questions you can PM me and I will try to help as much as possible.

[Sophie*]

I loved Japan! My df's in Sasebo. It's a very close-knit place and you don't need to know as much Japanese to live there as most people speak a little English. If you want to know any more about the place feel free to pm me.

[Britt]

Iwakuni sucks. Don't come here.

p.s. We made more money in San Diego. COLA is squat down here.