Living overseas has its challenges, and a commonly agreed upon one is finding that perfect place to live. To help those of us who are curious about the different options for living on Okinawa, readers have answered some of the most frequently asked questions about on-base housing. If you live in an on-base house that has not yet been featured on this site, please contact our Submissions Manager for the template.

Here’s a great link to access, too, if you’re on the fence as to whether to live on-base or off-base.

CONTRIBUTED BY JOELLE

Living On A Military Base:

1.  What military base is your home located on?  Kadena Air Force Base

2.  What area of the island is your home located on (i.e. North Island, Central Island, etc.)?  Central, near Chatan

3.  What is the name of the neighborhood in which your home is located?  Stillwell Park near the NCO Club

4.  Generally speaking, most on-base homes are approved for occupancy based on government or military rank.  If you would like, please provided the range of ranks that your home is approved for?  I don’t know the range.  We are E-6 with 2 kids.  I had to show “proof” I was pregnant when we went to Housing (I was LARGELY 6 months pregnant so proof was sort of silly).

5.  What DoDDS school district is your home attached to?  Is there a school bus system available?  Stearley Heights Elementary; Ryukyu Middle School; Kadena High School.  No buses.

6.  Please describe the “feel” of your neighborhood (i.e. pet-friendly, child-friendly, level of safety, spacious, etc.).  These are the new multi-plexes (ours is a 4-plex, some are 6-plex).  We have a pretty decent amount of yard behind us and it is pet-friendly – as in we’re allowed to have them — but you have to have a fence put in if you want to allow the dog free run.  It’s VERY kid friendly and my son begs to go out to play with his friends every afternoon.

7.  Please describe the style of your home (i.e. detached home, townhome, apartment, duplex, etc.).  Multi-plex as mentioned and BRAND new.  These are 2 story units with uncovered parking in front.

8.  Please give general information about your home such as age, square footage, number of bedrooms and baths, number of stories/levels, special amenities, etc.).  Oh dear…sq. ft.?  Again, maybe someone else can help out who knows.  But there is a long living/dining room (20′ x 16′), kitchen with area for a small table, 1/2 bath & washer/dryer room downstairs.  Also an enclosed patio area (not covered) that is probably 14 x 14.  Upstairs is 2 bedrooms (9′ x 9′ & 10′ x 11′), full bath with tub, master bedroom (11′ x 14′) with big walk-in closet and full bath (shower) in the room.  No carpet, but i bought nice large carpets (up to 12×18) from the Home Store on Foster.

We brought our own bed because my husband is picky about mattresses, but we had very little furniture in our shipment.  We bought a bunk bed when we arrived and a small table for the kitchen.  Otherwise, we have government sofa/chair, dining table, computer desk, dresser drawers, and twin mattresses.

9.  What places of services are available near your home such as restaurants, parks, shops, commissary, playgrounds, etc.?  There are small playgrounds between every couple set of multiplexes.  The Youth Center (with nice playground) is a couple blocks away.  The NCO club is one street up and the shoppette/Burger King/video store area is within easy walking distance.  The commissary is about a mile away.

10.  How is parking provided for your home?  There are six parking places out front for the 4 homes – we worked out with the neighbors who gets which.

11.  Are there any outdoor spaces or yards provided for your home?  We are in an end unit next to the street so we have the largest front and back yard.  Our yard faces another set of houses and in that “in between” space the kids basically live and play.  There is no fencing provided, but you can get permission to put it up.

12.  What do you feel is special about your home or neighborhood – what makes it feel like “home” here on Okinawa?  At our previous posting, we lived on a farm off base near NO one (also overseas).  That was lovely for many reasons, but I had gotten a bit tired of being on our own – of being “the Americans who lived at the farm.”  Here I’m surrounded by young families with kids the same age as mine.  It was like I got a built in support group just by walking through the front door.  The kids share their toys (most of the time), the adults share movies, one neighbor has a 12 year old who’s become the resident babysitter, we had potluck Thanksgiving in the back yard area, and we’re sharing Christmas lights!

The other thing that makes it feel homey to me is that I requested permission to plant flowers out front.  My mom helped me do it while she was here this summer – so I have a lovely little flower garden out front (and veggies growing in planters on the patio).

Also, I have to admit I had my share of “local” living at our last posting.  I like the idea of a tatami mat room (etc), but for a couple of years with very small kids it’s just nice to be surrounded by the familiar (appliances, especially).  I’m just making sure we get involved in off-base cultural activities like Japanese preschool and other stuff I’ve found out about on Okinawa Hai!

13.  Generally speaking, on-base housing provides for the costs of rent, utilities, and appliances.  Have there been any fees or special expenses that you have had to pay for while living on a military base?  Just paying someone to mow your lawn — if you’re lazy like us!

We do not receive an extra housing allowance like you do if you you’re off-base – so there is no way to make extra money (the potential huge downside).  But at the same time, I have VERY few variable expenses which is great for my budget.  The cable/internet is al
ways $75 and the phone bill is never more than $64.  And that’s all we pay.  Water, electricity and trash are included.  Refrigerator, stove, dishwasher, washer/dryer are provided.  We did have to buy our own microwave.

14.  Are you satisfied with the maintenance that is provided for on-base housing?  Haven’t had any issues yet as they are brand new.  Things got cleaned up quickly after the typhoons – but we didn’t lose power at all, so I can’t comment on that type of thing.

15.  And finally, please provide any thoughts on the advantages and disadvantages of living on a military base here in Okinawa?  I was 6 months pregnant when we arrived and wasn’t due til the middle of what I’d heard would be a very hot summer – and we had a very large dog.  So we decided that if possible we just wanted to be on base for the ease of not having to look and look for a place to live that would be right for us (and take dogs) AND for the ability to run the A/C day and night during my most swollen times!

I admit we were very lucky to get into new housing.  I’ve heard horror stories about the mold issues in some of the old housing.  But they are building more of these new complexes every day, so it might be a possibility for anyone arriving in the next year.

The biggest disadvantage is that we are not “out there” in the community.  My kids don’t have Japanese neighbor kids to play with in the back yard.  I have learned little-to-no Japanese since arriving largely because of living on base.  But, for us, coming from an overseas posting, it was really nice at first to immerse ourselves in what seemed to us to be “America”.  I know that might sound strange – but our previous base was so small there wasn’t even a gas station – so to have Chili’s and Taco Bell was like heaven at first.  Now that has worn off a bit and I’m getting the itch (after 7 months) to learn more about Japan.  And I know I’m going to have to work harder at it than I would if I was off base.  But that’s on me.

16.  Please provide any COMMENTS that you feel would be helpful for others about living on a military base.  I love our house.  I’m very happy with my on-base accommodations.  But that’s just me.  My biggest suggestion for people moving on island would be to get your paperwork turned in before you arrive so that you are high on the housing list and then just see what they offer you.  It may be terrible, or it may be perfect like ours was for us.  I think it’s all about keeping your options open.  If they’d offered us two different towers options (which don’t allow pets), I’d be living off- base and writing this with a very different perspective – but we lucked out.

If you live in on-base housing OR off-base housing that has not been featured on Okinawa Hai, or in housing that has been renovated since its last post, please contact our Content Manager for the on-base housing template and instructions on how to share your little slice of Okinawa with the rest of us.

Living overseas has its challenges, and a commonly agreed upon one is finding that perfect place to live. To help those of us who are curious about the different options for living on Okinawa, readers have answered some of the most frequently asked questions about on-base housing. If you live in an on-base house that has not yet been featured on this site, please contact our Submissions Manager for the template.

Here’s a great link to access, too, if you’re on the fence as to whether to live on-base or off-base.

CONTRIBUTED BY TAMMARA SOARES

1.  What military base and nearest accompanying entrance (aka Gate) is your home located on? Camp Shields

2.  What area of the island is your home located on (i.e. North Island, Central Island, etc.)?  Central

3.  What is the name of the neighborhood in which your home is located?  O’Donnell Gardens

4.  Generally speaking, most on-base homes are approved for occupancy based on government or military rank.  If you would like, please provided the range of ranks that your home is approved for?  I believe there is a mixture of enlisted and senior enlisted members throughout housing.

 5.  What DoDDS school district is your home attached to?  Is there a school bus system available?

• Elementary PK-2: Bob Hope Primary (located on Kadena)
• Elementary 3-5: Amelia Earhart Intermediate (located on Kadena)
• Middle School: Kadena Middle School
•  High School: Kadena High School.
•  Buses are available for all four school. Bob Hope Primary and Amelia Earhart Intermediate students ride the same bus as the schools are located in the same place.

6.  Please describe the “feel” of your neighborhood (i.e. pet-friendly, child-friendly, level of safety, spacious, etc.).  O’Donnell Gardens is very nice, quiet at times, with many friendly neighbors. This base is very safe, in the summer you can find many kids running around at the many parks located on the base.

7.  Please describe the style of your home (i.e. detached home, townhome, apartment, duplex, etc.) My home is a duplex style home, with a living area downstairs and bedrooms upstairs. On the base there are also multiplex homes. These homes have two apartments on the bottom floor, and two apartments on the top floor. These are two bedrooms with one bathroom. The third style is similar to a multiplex but larger. These homes have three bedrooms, two bathrooms

8.  Please give general information about your home such as age, square footage, number of bedrooms and baths, number of stories/levels, special amenities, etc.) My duplex includes 3 bedrooms, 2 ½ baths, a living/dining room, family room, with a patio out back. We have a storage closet inside the house under the stairs, a storage unit outside in the front, and some storage in the back where HVAC and water tank are.

9.  What places of services are available near your home such as restaurants, parks, shops, commissary, playgrounds, etc.?  Small Shoppette on base with video rental, baseball field, many playgrounds. The opposite side of the base has a gym, a restaurant (Bama’s), coffee shop, Navy Federal ATM and Fleet Gift Shop.

10.  How is parking provided for your home?  

• My area of housing has two assigned spots for each house and a total of 6 visitor spot that 8 homes share.
• Some homes throughout the base only have one assigned spot.

 11.  Are there any outdoor spaces or yards provided for your home?  We have a small front and small back yard. Multiplex homes split the yards so that the top floor has the front yard and the bottom floor has the back yard.

12.  What do you feel is special about your home or neighborhood – what makes it feel like “home” here on Okinawa?  O’Donnell Gardens is out of the way, quiet, everyone is friendly, and there are children of all ages so every child has a friend. Living where we live makes me feel like we have family.

13.  Generally speaking, on-base housing provides for the costs of rent, utilities, and appliances.  Have there been any fees or special expenses that you have had to pay for while living on a military base?  Telephone and cable/internet. You also need to bring/purchase a microwave if you would like one.

14.  Are you satisfied with the maintenance that is provided for on-base housing?
Very happy, prompt service.

15.  And finally, please provide any thoughts on the advantages and disadvantages of living on a military base here in Okinawa?  Also, please feel free to add any COMMENTS that you feel would be helpful to others about living off-base.  One of the advantages of living on base is that we have a nicely renovated home. We are just 5 minutes from Kadena gate three if we need anything that the shoppette does not have. Our kids have friends to play with, off base that may be difficult unless you live in a heavily American populated area with a park or yard. Off base you may also encounter language barriers. On base all utilities are already included whereas off base it is a separate bill from the rent (a flat rate is given for utilities off base, separate from rent) and may get expensive during the summer months.

One disadvantage to living on base is that you don’t feel like you are in Okinawa. The culture off base is amazing. Learning the lifestyle and seeing the beauty of Okinawa is easier done when already off base, and depending on where you live off base, you can often walk to many places where as, if you live on base, you need to drive. That said, living on base does not restrict your adventures off base, unless it is past curfew.

If you live in on-base housing OR off-base housing that has not been featured on Okinawa Hai, or in housing that has been renovated since its last post, please contact our Content Manager for the on-base housing template and instructions on how to share your little slice of Okinawa with the rest of us.

Living overseas has its challenges, and a commonly agreed upon one is finding that perfect place to live. To help those of us who are curious about the different options for living on Okinawa, readers have answered some of the most frequently asked questions about on-base housing. If you live in an on-base house that has not yet been featured on this site, please contact our Submissions Manager for the template.

Here’s a great link to access, too, if you’re on the fence as to whether to live on-base or off-base.

CONTRIBUTED BY JANINE

1.  What military base and nearest accompanying entrance (aka Gate) is your home located on?  Kadena near Gate 2

2.  What area of the island is your home located on (i.e. North Island, Central Island, etc.)?  Central

3.  What is the name of the neighborhood in which your home is located?  Stearley Heights

4.  Generally speaking, most on-base homes are approved for occupancy based on government or military rank.  If you would like, please provided the range of ranks that your home is approved for?  Not sure, but my husband is 0-4.

5.  What DODDS school district is your home attached to?  Is there a school bus system available?  We are located two blocks away from Kadena Elementary and three blocks away from Stearley Heights Middle School.  All the kids walk to school since there is no bus system for the homes in this area.

6.  Please describe the “feel” of your neighborhood (i.e. pet-friendly, child-friendly, level of safety, spacious, etc.).  We are extremely fortunate to live in this area.  It is the closest thing to the suburbs back in the states.  This may even be nicer since there are no fences (you must install your own chain link fence if necessary for children/pets).  There are several pets in the neighborhood and most people drive slower because of all the children.  I feel safer here than I do in the states!  Again, we are very fortunate to have such a spacious home and lawn.  We often host the parties since most people don’t have as much space as we do here in Okinawa.

7.  Please describe the style of your home (i.e. detached home, townhome, apartment, duplex, etc.).  Detached home

8.  Please give general information about your home such as age, square footage, number of bedrooms and baths, number of stories/levels, special amenities, etc.).  I’m guessing the house is 40 years old?  It’s definitely old, but the Kadena base has recently made some very nice upgrades.  We have brand new carpeting in the bedrooms and new wood (looking) floors in the dining/living area.  Plus, they’ve just installed new countertops in the kitchen.  The homes in this neighborhood generally have 3-4 bedrooms.  Our three bedroom, 2 full bath home has very spacious bedrooms, where most of the four bedroom homes typically have smaller bedrooms.  Most of the homes are one story; however, I’ve noticed a few with basements that were built into the steep hills here.  Perhaps those are for larger families?  I should also mention that we have individual HVAC units.  I think other bases are set on a large system, so they aren’t able to turn their AC on until the Public Works station allows.  This may be something to consider when house hunting.

9.  What places of services are available near your home such as restaurants, parks, shops, commissary, playgrounds, etc.?  We are within easy driving distance of the commissary, exchange, Chili’s and Burger King on base.  We are within walking distance of the school parks.  We have to drive to anything off base such as the beach.

10.  How is parking provided for your home?  We share an uncovered driveway with our neighbor that is able to hold at least four cars total (2 wide by 2 deep).

11.  Are there any outdoor spaces or yards provided for your home?  Yes, we have a huge front yard and back yard.  Our home is the only one that I’ve seen that has come with built in concrete tables in the back.

12.  What do you feel is special about your home or neighborhood – what makes it feel like “home” here on Okinawa?  Again, we are the minority to have an individual home with such a nice yard.

13.  Generally speaking, on-base housing provides for the costs of rent, utilities, and appliances.  Have there been any fees or special expenses that you have had to pay for while living on a military base?  We pay for our own monthly phone, cable, and internet.  The only other expense to consider would be purchasing a lawnmower/weeder or hiring a lawncare service.  (It’s difficult to know if you should bring your lawncare equipment because you don’t know if you’ll have a yard until you get here and housing tells you what is available.)

14.  Are you satisfied with the maintenance that is provided for on-base housing?  Kadena has always been great about maintenance calls.  They seem to come within a day or two assuming it wasn’t an emergency.  Oh, I should mention that most of these homes do have problems with leaks in the roof due to their age.  Maintenance has just redone several roofs and installed new HVAC units in some of the homes.

15.  And finally, please provide any thoughts on the advantages and disadvantages of living on a military base here in Okinawa?  Also, please feel free to add any COMMENTS that you feel would be helpful to others about living off-base.  I am so happy that we were offered a home on Kadena.  This base has so much to offer and it’s located nicely with regards to the rest of the island.  I recommend base living if you have children (since it’s difficult to know if you’ll have English speaking kids or parks near you out in town).  Although, you have to be diligent about getting out in town in order to experience the local culture (you tend to stay on base since everything you need is here).  However, if we didn’t have kids I’d love have a smaller apartment to be within walking distance of the ocean with possibly a view.  I think I’d also learn more about the culture if we were submerged in the town more.  So, it just depends on your priorities!

If you live in on-base housing OR off-base housing that has not been featured on Okinawa Hai, or in housing that has been renovated since its last post, please contact our Content Manager for the on-base housing template and instructions on how to share your little slice of Okinawa with the rest of us.

Living overseas has its challenges, and a commonly agreed upon one is finding that perfect place to live. To help those of us who are curious about the different options for living on Okinawa, readers have answered some of the most frequently asked questions about on-base housing. If you live in an on-base house that has not yet been featured on this site, please contact our Submissions Manager for the template.

Here’s a great link to access, too, if you’re on the fence as to whether to live on-base or off-base.

CONTRIBUTED BY HEATHER NORDELL

What military base is your home located on? Kadena, AFB

What area of the island is your home located on (i.e. North Island, Central Island, South Island)? Central

What is the name of your neighborhood in which your home is located? Sebille Manor

Generally speaking, most on-base homes are approved for occupancy based on military or government rank.  If you would like, please provide the range of ranks that your home is approved for? Up to E-6 with at least 2 children

What DODDS school district is your home attached to?  Is there a school bus system available? Kadena Elementary is only a half block away from our home so the school bus does not apply.

Please describe the “feel” of your neighborhood (i.e. pet-friendly, child-friendly, level of safety, friendly neighbors, spacious, etc.) We are at the end of a cul-de-sac with a few other buildings. There is lots of grass and the area is very pet and child friendly. We are back off the main road a bit so the kids are safe to run around.

Please describe the style of your home (i.e. detached home, duplex, apartment, age of the home, etc.) It is a Duplex

Please provide general information about your home such as square footage, number of bedrooms and baths, number of stories/levels, special amenities, etc. We are in some of the oldest housing on Kadena. Our house is a 2 level duplex with 3 bedrooms and a full bathroom upstairs. A half bathroom, the kitchen, laundry room and living room/dinning room downstairs. There is a good amount of closets and storage in the house. The kitchen is small but the laundry room is large enough to add a shelf to accommodate the extra kitchen items. I am not sure about the square footage but here are the main room measurements which are approximate.

The living room/dinning room is 12 feet wide and 20 feet long

Bedroom #1 (the Girl’s bedroom) is 9 feet by 9 feet

Bedroom #2 (the Office) 12 feet by 9 feet

Bedroom #3 (the Master bedroom) 12 feet by 10 ½ feet

What places of services are available near your home such as restaurants, shops, commissary, playgrounds, parks, etc.? We are near Kadena Elementary and their playgrounds. There are several other playgrounds spread out between the houses that are within walking distance. We are close to the shopette also.

How is parking provided for your home? There is one space per home and then everyone else shares the extra spaces. There is more than enough parking for all of us.

Is there any yard space or outdoor spaces provided for your home? Yes we are fortunate to have a very large yard and a good amount of space between us and the next duplex.

What do you feel is special about your home or neighborhood – what makes it feel like “home” here on Okinawa? We love that we are so close to the school and that we have such wonderful neighbors.

What housing expenses are included with on-base housing (i.e. utilities, rent, appliances, etc?) Basic utilities such as water, gas, electricity, garbage etc,

Are there any expenses or fees associated with on-base housing? We do pay for our home phone, internet and cable.

Are you satisfied with the maintenance services provided by your on-base housing organization? Yes they have been wonderful. My dishwasher broke the day after we moved in and they were out to fix it the next day. When they couldn’t fix it they decided to replace it the following day with a brand new one,

Finally, what advantages and disadvantages do you feel have been your experience living on a military base here on Okinawa? We had a very hard time deciding where to live when we first arrived. We decided to look at the on base housing first and if it was decent and close to the school we would take it. We did have a hard time with how old the housing was when we first moved in but now that we are settled we love it. The house has a lot of storage and surprisingly seems to be the perfect size for us. We love that our neighbors are American and that the girl’s have so many children to play with. We are very happy living on base especially now that it is getting hot and we don’t have to worry about running our AC!

If you live in on-base housing OR off-base housing that has not been featured on Okinawa Hai, or in housing that has been renovated since its last post, please contact our Content Manager for the on-base housing template and instructions on how to share your little slice of Okinawa with the rest of us.

Living overseas has its challenges, and a commonly agreed upon one is finding that perfect place to live. To help those of us who are curious about the different options for living on Okinawa, readers have answered some of the most frequently asked questions about on-base housing. If you live in an on-base house that has not yet been featured on this site, please contact our Submissions Manager for the template.

Here’s a great link to access, too, if you’re on the fence as to whether to live on-base or off-base.

CONTRIBUTED BY NICOLE

Marek Park E3/E7
click to enlarge

What military base is your home located on? Kadena Air Force Base


What area of the island is your home located on (i.e. North Island, Central Island, South Island)? Central Island



What is the name of your neighborhood in which your home is located?  Marek Park



Generally speaking, most on-base homes are approved for occupancy based on military or government rank.  If you would like, please provide the range of ranks that your home is approved for? They call it Jr Enlisted but it is anywhere from E-3 to E-7

What DODDS school district is your home attached to?  Is there a schoolbus system available?
Elementary: Bob Hope (grades K-2), Amelia Earhart (grades 3-5)  – bus service available
Middle: Kadena Middle School  – no bus service available
High: Kadena High School  – no bus service available

Please describe the “feel” of your neighborhood (i.e. pet-friendly, child-friendly, level of safety, friendly neighbors, spacious, etc.) Pet-Friendly, Child-Friendly, Friendly Neighbors, and on a level 1-10 for safety I would say its an 8 or a 9

Please describe the style of your home (i.e. detached home, duplex, apartment, age of the home, etc.)  Duplex

Please provide general information about your home such as square footage, number of bedrooms and baths, number of stories/levels, special amenities, etc.
Not sure on SqFt
3 Beds, 2 ½ baths
2 stories
Comes with washer, dryer, fridge, dishwasher, garbage disposal, and electric stove.
1 outdoor storage unit, 1 electrical closet also outdoors, semi covered patio, and 2 interior downstairs storage closets.

What places of services are available near your home such as restaurants, shops, commissary, playgrounds, parks, etc.? Chapel 1, Olympic Mall and Shoppette, Gate 1, and 3-4 playgrounds within a 5 min walking distance.

How is parking provided for your home? 1 parking spot is issued per home but there are 6 additional ‘guest’ spots which are right in front of the housing complex.

Is there any yard space or outdoor spaces provided for your home? There is front and back yard space, nothing extremely grand but it’s sufficient.

What do you feel is special about your home or neighborhood – what makes it feel like “home” here on Okinawa?  All the 3 bedroom homes in this area were renovated during 2009-2010 and within them there is recessed lighting, semi-covered porches, and carpeting which make the houses feel like homes instead of cement barracks.

What housing expenses are included with on-base housing (i.e. utilities, rent, appliances, etc.) Utilities- water, electric; 24 hr Maintenance; Rent

Are there any expenses or fees associated with on-base housing? Verizon Base Line which vary in pricing; Mediatti Internet and Cable which also varies in pricing

Are you satisfied with the maintenance services provided by your on-base housing organization? Yes, the area zone controller gets the crews out in a timely manner and they are courteous and understanding.

Finally, what advantages and disadvantages do you feel have been your experience living on a military base here on Okinawa? Advantages of living on base: having English speaking neighbors, being close by to activities, and specifically with this housing area you’re equal distance to the local grocery store San A and the Family Mart (convenience store)  and the Commissary and Shoppette.

Disadvantages, especially with KAB, is they shut the front gate at various times so getting out can sometimes be a hassle.

Please provide any COMMENTS that you feel would be helpful for others about living on-base. Sometimes living off-base is not an option as it was for many of us who moved to Okinawa during the summer of 2009, but on the flip side it is substantially cheaper to live on base as all your utilities are completely free. The internet and cable services might be sub-par, but if you can get past that, your time spent here on Okinawa whether it is on or off base can be a memory your family will have to carry with them for a lifetime!

If you live in on-base housing OR off-base housing that has not been featured on Okinawa Hai, or in housing that has been renovated since its last post, please contact our Content Manager for the on-base housing template and instructions on how to share your little slice of Okinawa with the rest of us.

Living overseas has its challenges, and a commonly agreed upon one is finding that perfect place to live. To help those of us who are curious about the different options for living on Okinawa, readers have answered some of the most frequently asked questions about on-base housing. If you live in an on-base house that has not yet been featured on this site, please contact our Submissions Manager for the template.

Here’s a great link to access, too, if you’re on the fence as to whether to live on-base or off-base.

CONTRIBUTED BY JULIA

Kadena Washington Heights 2 bed E1/E5
click to enlarge

What military base is your home located on? Kadena AB

What area of the island is your home located on (i.e. North Island, Central Island, South Island)? Central

What is the name of your neighborhood in which your home is located?  Washington Heights

Generally speaking, most on-base homes are approved for occupancy based on military or government rank.  If you would like, please provide the range of ranks that your home is approved for?  Most residents appear to be E1-E5.

What DODDS school district is your home attached to?  Is there a schoolbus system available?
Elementary: Bob Hope (grades K-2), Amelia Earhart (grades 3-5) – bus service available
Kadena Middle School – bus service available
Kadena High School – bus service available

Please describe the “feel” of your neighborhood (i.e. pet-friendly, child-friendly, level of safety, friendly neighbors, spacious, etc.) Washington Heights is very child-friendly with several play areas throughout the neighborhood. The neighborhood is also pet friendly, however, if you live in one of the many quad-style homes you may not get the most ideal yard space for a larger dog. Our area of the neighborhood is very quiet and clean. We haven’t experienced any problems with neighbors, thank goodness!

Please describe the style of your home (i.e. detached home, duplex, apartment, age of the home, etc.) My home is quad-style meaning there are two apartments upstairs and two apartments downstairs. The two sets of apartments are separated by stairs so I don’t share a wall with the people across from me. Noise hasn’t been an issue. I rarely even hear my upstairs neighbor! I would say that the concrete walls are to thank for that.

Please provide general information about your home such as square footage, number of bedrooms and baths, number of stories/levels, special amenities, etc. Our house is one level with 2 bedrooms and 1 bath. Like several in our neighborhood, our home is newly renovated. When we moved in everything was brand new! Our floorplan offers a huge kitchen. It’s actually the largest kitchen I’ve seen on base so far! The kitchen has a large pantry area, lots of cabinets and drawers, and plenty of counter space. I’m guessing since we have such an amazing kitchen that is why our living room is pretty small. Even though it is small, it works for our family of three. The living room would probably be too small for large pieces of furniture or sectional couches. We also have a nice sized bathroom. Our bathroom features his and her sinks and plenty of cabinet space. The bedrooms are a decent size each with a large closet. In our master bedroom we have a queen size bed, two nightstands and a long dresser. Even with our furniture we still have plenty of room! The second bedroom is just a bit smaller than the master bedroom. We have a mixture of both concrete and “regular” walls in our home. I’m not certain of the exact square footage, but I remember housing telling us a ballpark figure of 900-950sqft.

What places of services are available near your home such as restaurants, shops, commissary, playgrounds, parks, etc.?  Washington Heights is located near Kadena Gate 1. Just down the street from our home is one of the nicer parks on base, Kenney Park. The BX/Commissary is just a short 5 minute or so drive away. Our neighborhood is just minutes away from the housing office, the you-fix-it store, the Airman and Family Readiness Center, and much more! The golf course is right across the street from some of the homes in Washington Heights!

How is parking provided for your home?  Each home has one assigned parking space. There is also plenty of additional parking. We’ve never had trouble parking our second vehicle.

Is there any yard space or outdoor spaces provided for your home?  The bottom level residents are assigned the backyard (which is typically larger) and the upstairs residents get the front yard. The side yard is split down the middle between the two families. The downstairs residents are allowed to install chain link fences but only upon approval. The downstairs apartment has a patio area and the upstairs apartment has a balcony. There is also a large outdoor storage closet located next to the front door.

What do you feel is special about your home or neighborhood – what makes it feel like “home” here on Okinawa?  I really like how most of our neighborhood is away from busy areas. We are close to Douglas but we don’t have to see or hear all of the traffic. If you live on top of one of the large hills you’ll have an amazing view of the ocean! Honestly, when we first arrived to Kadena I was most nervous about where we were going to live. We wanted to live on base but we had heard so many horror stories about the housing. I was beyond relieved when we moved into Washington Heights! It took a little bit of downsizing to get all of our household goods to fit but it now feels just like home.

What housing expenses are included with on-base housing (i.e. utilities, rent, appliances, etc.) As far as rent, utilities, and appliances go living on-base is easy! All of those things are included in our BAH.

Are there any expenses or fees associated with on-base housing?  Cable, internet, and phone services are not included.

Are you satisfied with the maintenance services provided by your on-base housing organization? I am! I’ve had to call maintenance a few times and each time they have either sent someone out the same day or the following day. I’ve never had to wait long for a repair.

Finally, what advantages and disadvantages do you feel have been your experience living on a military base here on Okinawa?  For my family living on Kadena has had several advantages. Most of all we really enjoy being around other military families, having easy access to parks and playgrounds, and we love that it just takes minutes to get to the BX, Commissary, and my husband’s work. We were able to move into our home without dealing with the fees associated with living off-base (security deposits, first/last month’s rent, and utilities). We are happy with our decision to live on base!

If you live in on-base housing OR off-base housing that has not been featured on Okinawa Hai, or in housing that has been renovated since its last post, please contact our Content Manager for the on-base housing template and instructions on how to share your little slice of Okinawa with the rest of us.

Living overseas has its challenges, and a commonly agreed upon one is finding that perfect place to live. To help those of us who are curious about the different options for living on Okinawa, readers have answered some of the most frequently asked questions about on-base housing. If you live in an on-base house that has not yet been featured on this site, please contact our Submissions Manager for the template.

Here’s a great link to access, too, if you’re on the fence as to whether to live on-base or off-base.

CONTRIBUTED BY ELISA

If you’re interested in seeing more information on this housing area you you can read another perspective here.

Marek Park E1/E5
click to enlarge

What military base is your home located on? Kadena AFB, Okinawa Japan

What area of the island is your home located on (i.e. North Island, Central Island, South Island)?  Central Island

What is the name of your neighborhood in which your home is located?  Marek Park

Generally speaking, most on-base homes are approved for occupancy based on military or government rank.  If you would like, please provide the range of ranks that your home is approved for?  Not sure of the range, but we were E-5 when we moved in; two adults with no kids

What DODDS school district is your home attached to?  Is there a schoolbus system available?  
Elementary: Bob Hope (grades K-2), Amelia Earhart (grades 3-5)  – bus service available
Middle: Kadena Middle School  – no bus service available
High: Kadena High School  – no bus service available

Please describe the “feel” of your neighborhood (i.e. pet-friendly, child-friendly, level of safety, friendly neighbors, spacious, etc.)  Pet-friendly, quiet, low-traffic, safe, spacious

Please describe the style of your home (i.e. detached home, duplex, apartment, age of the home, etc.)  4-plex, newly renovated in 2012. Two upstairs apartments, two downstairs. No stairs inside the home.

Please provide general information about your home such as square footage, number of bedrooms and baths, number of stories/levels, special amenities, etc. 3 bedrooms; 1 bath; very large kitchen/dining area; no stairs inside the home; includes a balcony and outside storage closet; includes utility room with washer/dryer; central air conditioning; ceiling fans; double-pane storm windows. Lots of closets for storage. A maximum of two pets are allowed. You have your own yard space.

What places of services are available near your home such as restaurants, shops, commissary, playgrounds, parks, etc.?  Commissary/BX are a 5 minute drive up the hill; The gym is a couple minutes away; Multiple playgrounds are nearby; Marek Park is nearby and has pavilions, grills and picnic tables for public use; Close to gate 1 on Kadena; Olympic Mall shopette/Popeyes/Pizza Hut is a 2 minute drive away.

How is parking provided for your home?  One assigned space per unit, and additional guest spaces are available.

Is there any yard space or outdoor spaces provided for your home?  Each unit has use of/is responsible for their yard space. Lower apartments get the backyards, upper apartments get the front yard. The yards are pretty big.

What do you feel is special about your home or neighborhood – what makes it feel like “home” here on Okinawa?   I love the peace and tranquility of this neighborhood. It does not have much traffic, so you can feel safe when walking your dog or jogging. Some of the apartment buildings have one side facing the “forest”, so it feels very private and provides a beautiful natural view. Other buildings are on a slight hill and have a nice view of the city with the ocean in the distance. The buildings in this neighborhood are spaced farther apart than some of the other neighborhoods, so it doesn’t feel too cramped. My kitchen is HUGE, and I love to cook, so that is a major plus for me.

What housing expenses are included with on-base housing (i.e. utilities, rent, appliances, etc.)  Utilities, rent are included. All major appliances including refrigerator, oven, dishwasher, washer/dryer are included.

Are there any expenses or fees associated with on-base housing?
Are you satisfied with the maintenance services provided by your on-base housing organization? You are responsible for yard maintenance, so you will either need to buy or borrow a lawnmower, or pay for someone else to do it. You are also responsible for trimming hedges, edging grass along the sidewalk, gutters, etc. There is a hardware store on base called Eagle Hardware, that provides various items for free to those living in on-base housing. Items include certain types of light bulbs, a/c filters, plumbing supply, and grass seed. These are available to you so that you can do simple maintenance yourself. They also allow you to borrow yard tools such as weed-eaters and hedge clippers for free.

If you need maintenance of a more complicated nature, it is easy to make an appointment. In my experience, the maintenance workers have been friendly and fast and do a good job. Housing provides maintenance services and insect control for free.

If you or your pets damage the property in your apartment, such as the carpet or doors, you are responsible for the cost of replacing it. This is disclosed to you in your housing contract which you will sign before you move in.

Finally, what advantages and disadvantages do you feel have been your experience living on a military base here on Okinawa?
Advantages:
Convenience; cheap; easy maintenance; safe; elevated; American TV; American-sized appliances; lots of storage space; good amount of living space; adequate parking; less neighborhood traffic; pets allowed; DOD schools are on base; Don’t have to deal with going through the gates if you live/work on the same base.

Disadvantages:
No “total immersion”; lawn maintenance responsibility; internet connection speed

I love the convenience of living on-base, where everything I need is close by. It’s also nice not to have to worry about paying for utilities and rent, and maintenance is just a phone call away. I feel safer living on base, and Kadena has the added benefit of being on elevated land, so I don’t have to worry about flooding or tsunamis. The television channels available on base are all American channels in English, which are not available off base. You are allowed two pets. The living space is comparable to apartments Stateside. The storage closets inside the home are plentiful and the appliances are American-sized. Your neighbors understand exactly what you’re going through and it can be an advantage toward making friends while you’re here.

There are a few downsides in my opinion. You don’t get to experience having neighbors who are locals. The apartments are American-style, so if you wanted to experience living in a Japanese-style home, you will miss that. The biggest con is that you have to mow the lawn yourself (or pay someone to do it), which can be a hassle. Internet connection speed also seems to be slower on base than off.

Please provide any COMMENTS that you feel would be helpful for others about living on-base.
Be sure to get off base as often as possible to explore the island. There is so much more to Okinawa than just what you see within 20 minutes of the base.

If you live in on-base housing OR off-base housing that has not been featured on Okinawa Hai, or in housing that has been renovated since its last post, please contact our Content Manager for the on-base housing template and instructions on how to share your little slice of Okinawa with the rest of us.

Living overseas has its challenges, and a commonly agreed upon one is finding that perfect place to live. To help those of us who are curious about the different options for living on Okinawa, readers have answered some of the most frequently asked questions about on-base housing. If you live in an on-base house that has not yet been featured on this site, please contact our Submissions Manager for the template.

Here’s a great link to access, too, if you’re on the fence as to whether to live on-base or off-base.

CONTRIBUTED BY KRISTENA YEAGER

What military base is your home located on? Kadena Air Base

What area of the island is your home located on (i.e. North Island, Central Island, South Island)? Central Island

What is the name of your neighborhood in which your home is located? Terrace Heights

Generally speaking, most on-base homes are approved for occupancy based on military or government rank.  If you would like, please provide the range of ranks that your home is approved for? CGO so O-1 to O-3

What DODDS schools are attached to your home?  Is there a schoolbus system available? Kadena Elementary School, Ryukyu Middle School, Kadena High School. Bus service is to the high school only (the other two are within walking distance).

Please describe the “feel” of your neighborhood (i.e. pet-friendly, child-friendly, level of safety, friendly neighbors, spacious, etc.) Pet-friendly, child-friendly, it feels very safe and we have great neighbors.

Please describe the style of your home (i.e. detached home, duplex, apartment, age of the home, etc.) Multiplex

Please provide general information about your home such as square footage, number of bedrooms and baths, number of stories/levels, special amenities, etc. 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, 2 stories, 2 indoor storage areas, 1 outdoor storage area, back patio

What places of services are available near your home such as restaurants, shops, commissary, playgrounds, parks, etc.? Shoppette, movie rentals

How is parking provided for your home? One assigned parking spot per home and multiple extra spots for each multiplex.

Is there any yard space or outdoor spaces provided for your home? Back patio, back yard, front yard

What housing expenses are included with on-base housing (i.e. utilities, rent, appliances, etc.) Utilities, rent, appliances (including a dishwasher).

Are you satisfied with the maintenance services provided by your on-base housing organization? Cable and internet is about $140. We mow ourselves but we got a quote for $40/visit to have the lawn mowed. We have not utilized the maintenance services. Kadena does have a home maintenance supply store (with blinds, shelves, light bulbs, etc.) called Eagle Hardware.

Finally, what advantages and disadvantages do you feel have been your experience living on a military base here on Okinawa?

Advantages:

-Short commute to work (traffic off base can be a little crazy)

-Larger yards (for pets)

-Dogs in quarantine may live at home

-People are allowed to drink at your house

-House is easier to find because road names are in English

-All neighbors are American so it tends to be easier to be sociable

-All of your appliances and plugins will work as designed.

Disadvantages:

-If you don’t make an active effort to go off base you can easily lose the opportunity to experience Japanese culture.

-Housing has many rules attached. (Yard maintenance is a must, departure inspections can be very detailed and difficult to pass)

-On base housing is very bland but off base housing can have some stunning views.

Please provide any COMMENTS that you feel would be helpful for others about living on-base.

If you desire adventure, live off base. If you desire comforts of home, live on base.

Living overseas has its challenges, and a commonly agreed upon one is finding that perfect place to live. To help those of us who are curious about the different options for living on Okinawa, readers have answered some of the most frequently asked questions about on-base housing. If you live in an on-base house that has not yet been featured on this site, please contact our Submissions Manager for the template.

Here’s a great link to access, too, if you’re on the fence as to whether to live on-base or off-base.

CONTRIBUTED BY AMANDA HEIPLE

What military base is your home located on? Technically it is Kadena but we are outside Kadena Gate 3.

What area of the island is your home located on (i.e. North Island, Central Island, South Island)? Central

What is the name of your neighborhood in which your home is located?  Chibana

Generally speaking, most on-base homes are approved for occupancy based on military or government rank.  If you would like, please provide the range of ranks that your home is approved for? I honestly have no idea.  It seems that everyone on our street are officers.  But right across the road are some enlisted houses.

What DODDS school district is your home attached to?  Is there a schoolbus system available? My kids aren’t in school yet but I assume that the kids here go to school on Kadena. There are buses that pick up and drop off kids (I see them pass every afternoon).

Please describe the “feel” of your neighborhood (i.e. pet-friendly, child-friendly, level of safety, friendly neighbors, spacious, etc.) Our neighborhood is a very family friendly, extremely safe place. There is a playground directly behind our building with a basketball court. There are also two other playgrounds in the development. There are kids all around. A lot of people also have pets and can be seen walking them often. I have never felt anything but safe here. I can go running at 8:30 p.m. and have my entire run in light due to the multiple street lights.

Please describe the style of your home (i.e. detached home, duplex, apartment, age of the home, etc.) I call our house a multiplex.  There are 6 units in our building.  Three units are downstairs and 3 units are upstairs.

Please provide general information about your home such as square footage, number of bedrooms and baths, number of stories/levels, special amenities, etc.  I have no idea the square footage but it is more than enough room for our family. There are 3 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms. It is a single level home for the most part (you have to walk up a flight of stairs to get to our living space but all our rooms are on the same  level). We have a large great room that would be great for a living room/office or living room/playroom. The kitchen looks into a dining area. (We use that area as an office and have the living/dining room)

What places of services are available near your home such as restaurants, shops, commissary, playgrounds, parks, etc.? In Chibana, we have a few playgrounds and basketball courts. There is also a baseball diamond. Kadena is conveniently located so trips to the Exchange and Commissary are easy. Also there is a lot to do off base that isn’t far. There is a great farmers market up the street that we frequent weekly. It isn’t far from the Expressway, if you want to go explore. And Camp Shields in right up the road as well. We really like the convenience of the location.

How is parking provided for your home? We have two assigned spaces per household and there are several visitors spaces as well.

Is there any yard space or outdoor spaces provided for your home? The downstairs units get the backyard space (which is perfect if you have animals or want to fence in a yard). The upstairs units are responsible for taking care of the front yard area. So both units has responsibilities when it comes to yard maintenance.

What do you feel is special about your home or neighborhood – what makes it feel like “home” here on Okinawa?  I like the family feel of this neighborhood.  My kids have other kids to play with at the playground.  I have also met some really amazing people here.

What housing expenses are included with on-base housing (i.e. utilities, rent, appliances, etc.) Are there any expenses or fees associated with on-base housing? The only expenses we pay every month are for our cable and internet. Everything else is included. We have a fridge, stove/oven, washer, and dryer. The only thing we needed to buy was a microwave.

Are you satisfied with the maintenance services provided by your on-base housing organization? The only expense or fee we would need to worry about would be lawn care. There are multiple lawn care providers that will come out and mow your lawn for a fee. There are also some enterprising teenagers that will knock on doors on the weekends asking to mow and edge your yard for a fee. Or you can buy a mower and do it yourself. That is really the only expense we would have. I have never needed to call maintenance so I can’t comment on them.

Finally, what advantages and disadvantages do you feel have been your experience living on a military base here on Okinawa? The advantage for us to living on base is not having to worry about paying bills every month.  It is a nice thing to not have to concern yourself with.  I also like that there are a lot of playgrounds close by for my kids to run out energy on.  The obvious disadvantage is that is separates us from the full experience of living in a foreign country.

Please provide any COMMENTS that you feel would be helpful for others about living on-base. Chibana is newly renovated.  They are still in the midst of gutting and remodeling several other buildings. I had very low expectations when we looked at base housing. I expected everything to be a little run down and used. I was pleasantly surprised when we looked here and everything looked brand new. This is a nice, quiet
neighborhood that is really perfect for families.

Living overseas has its challenges, and a commonly agreed upon one is finding that perfect place to live. To help those of us who are curious about the different options for living on Okinawa, readers have answered some of the most frequently asked questions about on-base housing. If you live in an on-base house that has not yet been featured on this site, please contact our Submissions Manager for the template.

Here’s a great link to access, too, if you’re on the fence as to whether to live on-base or off-base.

CONTRIBUTED BY ANNIE

What military base is your home located on?  Kadena Air Base

What area of the island is your home located on (i.e. North Island, Central Island, South Island)?  South

What is the name of your neighborhood in which your home is located? Sebille Manor

Generally speaking, most on-base homes are approved for occupancy based on military or government rank.  If you would like, please provide the range of ranks that your home is approved for?  O-1 through O-3 (CGO) and civilian equivalents

What DODDS school district is your home attached to?  Is there a schoolbus system available?  Elementary-Kadena Elementary School, Middle-Ryukyu Middle School, High School-Kadena High School. There is bus service for the high school but not for elementary or middle school.

Please describe the “feel” of your neighborhood (i.e. pet-friendly, child-friendly, level of safety, friendly neighbors, spacious, etc.)  Our neighborhood is very child and pet-friendly.  The neighbors are welcoming.  We feel very safe here.

Please describe the style of your home (i.e. detached home, duplex, apartment, age of the home, etc.)  We are in a duplex.

Please provide general information about your home such as square footage, number of bedrooms and baths, number of stories/levels, special amenities, etc.  Our home is two stories and has three bedrooms, one full bath, and one half bath (powder room). The kitchen is very cozy and equipped with a dishwasher and disposal, and the laundry room has a utility sink and room for three large baker’s racks.

What places of services are available near your home such as restaurants, shops, commissary, playgrounds, parks, etc.?  We are closest to Gate 3. Kadena Elementary School is in walking distance and has two playgrounds–one for smaller children and a large one for older children in a large open field. We are also in walking distance of the Fairchild Shoppette, Video Rental Store, Burger King and Youth Center.

How is parking provided for your home?  We have one assigned parking and park our second car on the curb in front of our house.

Is there any yard space or outdoor spaces provided for your home?  We have a small front, side and back yard. However, both our neighbors have larger amounts of land on all sides. We are directly behind a creek/boonies which limits our yard space but gives us privacy.

What do you feel is special about your home or neighborhood – what makes it feel like “home” here on Okinawa?   Our home is on a culdesac surrounded by families with children in the same age range as ours. We’ve lived off base and on base while here in Okinawa. While we enjoyed both, we prefer life on base. We have tweens and a teen who are active in sports and school functions. I like that they are able to be self-sufficient and walk or bike to their activities on their own.

What housing expenses are included with on-base housing (i.e. utilities, rent, appliances, etc.)  We do not pay anything to live in base housing. Appliances are provided by the base.

Are you satisfied with the maintenance services provided by your on-base housing organization?  There are no fees associated with our home. Housing Maintenance is amazing here. I’ve always had prompt service. I opened a ticket yesterday for a broken window and mirror, and both were replaced by lunch today.

Finally, what advantages and disadvantages do you feel have been your experience living on a military base here on Okinawa?  Disadvantages: smaller square footage than the houses we lived in off base, not being to leave after a typhoon until All Clear, having to mow a yard, close to work.

Advantages: rent and utility free, no moving in/out stress/fees from rental agencies, free maintenance (parts and service), close to schools, having a yard to mow, close to work.

Editor’s Note: An article about Eagle hardware was originally published on Okinawa Hai on January 20, 2008; you can read a PDF copy of that original review HERE. The post below is an updated take on this housing self-help store, published January 13, 2015.

CONTRIBUTED BY KACEY A.

The information in this post is based off of a conversation I had recently with Eagle Hardware on Kadena AB. All locations will offer similar services. Please contact your local Eagle Hardware for specific issues (contact information at bottom of post). Eagle Hardware is a great resource for base residents needing basic supplies for their home. Supplies stocked depend on needs of homes (based on what the contractors need when cleaning/fixing homes after PCSs) and budgets.

Some items such as lightbulbs, drip pans for stoves and horizontal blinds are available for a one for one swap. Simply bring in those non-working items, pick up the same item on the shelf, and bring both to the counter for check out.

Items are ‘bought’ without money, but by showing your military ID card, providing which base neighborhood you live in, and your housing number. The staff at Eagle Hardware will provide an invoice that you’ll sign and be on your merry way!

Items available to ‘buy’ include (but which are always subject to change due to availability and location): letters for the outside of house, door stoppers, kitchen vents, shelf pegs, furniture coasters, hose adapters, sandbags, replacement outdoor garbage cans, small blue recycle bins, air conditioner filters.

Eagle Hardware also offers rental equipment. Tools are free to rent for 3 working days. The tools must be cleaned before returning them. Tools for rental include: a variety of rakes, sledge hammers, shovels, lawn edgers, brooms, industrial driers, hammers, saws, power drills, shop vacuums, extension cords, leaf blower, hedge trimmers, ladders, etc.

You are also able to cut sheets of screening to fix your damaged screens. Just measure your door/window frame and bring it in to Eagle Hardware, they’ll show you where to cut the screen, and let you borrow a tool to install it in your own home.

Another service that Eagle Hardware offers is a recycling center for light bulbs, all types of batteries and drip pans for stoves.

They also offer a paint and cleaning supply drop-off/pick-up center. In hazardous material cabinets you can find different kinds of paints, lawn care products and cleaning supplies that you are free to take. You can also drop off supplies that you no longer need that will be added to this cabinet.

Contact Information

Kadena Air Base

Phone: 634-3469

Hours: Monday-Friday 0800-1700

Saturday 0900-1300

*Closed last Saturday of month, Sundays & holidays

Camp Kinser

Phone: 637-2533

Hours: Monday-Friday 0800-1700 (Closed for lunch 1300-1400)

Saturday 0900-1300

*Closed last Saturday of month, Sundays & holidays

Camp Foster

Phone: 645-3099

Hours: Monday-Friday 0800-1700

Saturday 0900-1300

*Closed last Saturday of month, Sundays & holidays

Camp Courtney

Phone: 622-5003

Hours: Monday-Friday 0800-1700 (Closed for lunch 1300-1400)

Saturday 0900-1300

*Closed last Saturday of month, Sundays & holidays

CONTRIBUTED BY BRANDI JAKUBOWICZ

I am a person who likes dessert. I am also a person that is very picky about the desserts that I like. I like desserts that leave me thinking about them later… long after they have been eaten, and have me looking for a reason to enjoy them again.

One night after a delicious sushi dinner with my husband and some friends, we found a place that did just this. It is in a wonderful location, as it is located between two of my favorite sushi restaurants on the island: Newport Sushi and Yoshihachi Sushi, both of which I recommend that you try if you have not already. This sweet little gem, that we happened to stumble upon, is called Entremets. When you walk inside, not only are you immediately exposed to wonderful smells that are coming from the kitchen, but also a beautiful presentation of individual treats that range from cookies and cream puffs, to cakes and fruit tarts. There are also full sized cakes and treats that have very unique decorations and designs.

Everything is showcased with care and includes labels in English with prices clearly written. The shop is small, but inviting, and has a charming display of various owl décor. The staff is very friendly and professional and took care to wrap each of our desserts in adorable little boxes for our to-go order. There is one little table within the shop, should you chose to eat your dessert right away- which you may want to do if you know what you are getting.

I have visited this shop twice now. On my first visit, we purchased 2 different items, both of which were delicious. I had a mascarpone triangle and my husband had the cream puffs. I would recommend them both! We also had the extreme good fortune to be gifted with a bonus strawberry shortcake like dessert that we also very much enjoyed, even typically being someone that is swooned only by chocolate. I am unsure if the extra gift was because it was our first time, or because it was around 8 PM and they were closing soon. Either way it was delicious and made us feel very special.

We were so impressed with this little bakery that a few weeks later, after having dinner with some family at Yoshihachi, we again visited Entremets. We all ordered a dessert to go and again everyone was very pleased and the staff was wonderful. I had a chocolate mousse that was airy and delicious, and my husband had a packaged pistachio cookie that he found delightful. On this visit we were given a frequent customer punch card that has 35 squares for punches. I am not sure what happens after they are all full, as the staff’s English is very limited, but I am sure it will be something great!

If you have room after dinner, or are just looking for a special treat, you should stop into Entremets. You will not be disappointed.

Hours: 9:30 AM -8:00 PM Monday through Saturday, and every first and third Sunday

Phone:  098-936-5281 

Payment: Yen Only

Address: 595 Kuwae, Chatan-chō, Nakagami-gun, Okinawa-ken 904-0103, Japan

Directions:

• From Kadena Gate 1, turn left, heading south onto 58
• Make a left on 23
• At the first light make a right
• Entremets will be on your right. If you hit a light you have just passed it

Coordinates: 26.3238271, 127.7701945

CONTRIBUTED BY SHANNON R.

If you haven’t checked out the Green River Café, you are missing out on delicious food and live entertainment. It opened just a couple of months ago and the vibe feels like the island’s own original Hard Rock Café- with guitars decorating the walls and an area or two set up next to the tables for live music. In the daytime, you walk up to a cute, oddly shaped, cottage looking building; but as night falls, the outdoor lighting transforms the entire vibe. On weekends, there are usually musicians performing a variety of music styles. Green River Cafe is a perfect mix of two of our favorite things in life… FOOD and MUSIC!

They offer a variety of cuisines, so you are likely to find something for every member of the family. My husband is a steak-and-potatoes kind of guy, so when he opened the menu and saw hamburger steak listed, he was sold! There are many other choices including pizza, salads and appetizers. Our favorite appetizer, by far, was the lumpia, which is a Chinese pastry similar to a fried spring roll. Many of the entrees were priced between 1000-1600 yen.

They were incredibly accommodating of our children as well. We sat outside on the balcony, overlooking the river, which kept the kids entertained looking for fish and turtles while we waited for our food. The chef, Jun, came out to the table to greet us and then chatted for a few minutes after we had eaten.

Additionally, Green River Cafe is extremely easy to get to and has convenient parking, which we all know is an unspoken luxury! Prior to living in Okinawa, I never knew just how much parking availability would affect my decision on where to eat. If you are like us, and travel in a relatively large car due to family size, this is always a concern. There were 12 or more parking available right outside of the restaurant!

Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 12: 00 a.m.

Phone: 098-957-2554

Payment: Cash, Visa, Mastercard

Address: 315-4 Kadena, Kadena-chō, Nakagami-gun, Okinawa-ken 904-0203, Japan

Directions: From Kadena Gate 1, turn right onto 58. Follow 58 for 3.3 miles and turn left. You will see a little sign on the left that says Green River Cafe.

Coordinates: 26.3676945, 127.75504410000008

Website: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Green-River-Cafe-Kadena/966904716665336?fref=ts

CONTRIBUTED BY: LAURA PITA

My girlfriends and I had lunch at this little Cafe a few weeks ago and the food was so delicious I knew I had to share it with you guys. Ima Café is just a few minutes outside of Kadena Gate 2, on 20, and the perfect lunch spot! *Be sure to arrive a few minutes before 11:30 because apparently it gets very popular at lunch time.

They have a small lunch menu that has 5 sets w/ drink included, one of them being the weekly special. There is also a great coffee selection, but be ready to wait a long time. If you’re a coffee lover I suggest you order it as soon as you get seated.

The three of us tried different sets, the salmon sashimi bowl with avocado and raw egg; the hamburger set with sunny-side up egg; and the set of chicken cutlet with cream cheese sauce. Sets included cabbage salad with homemade carrot dressing, soup, and rice. The food was absolutely amazing!

Like their homemade carrot salad dressing? You can actually purchase a little container of dressing by the register. Like many Okinawan Cafes there is a small section of handmade goodies, including jewelry and pottery, among other fun things.

Hours: Open Tuesday through Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Lunch is from 11:30 – 4:00

Last order for food is 5:00 and for tea is 5:30

Closed on Mondays

Phone Number: 098-989-1534

Payment: Japanese Yen Only

Address: 904-0031 Okinawa Prefecture, Okinawa, Uechi, 3 Chome−2−26

Directions: From Kadena Gate 2 go straight, on the second traffic light take a right onto 23. At the first traffic light in front of the Koza City Stadium sign take a left onto 20. The Café will be on your left before the next traffic light. There are only 3 parking spots.

Coordinates:  26.332533, 127.792819

Website: http://imacafe.ti-da.net/

CONTRIBUTED BY: LAURA SNELL

I discovered this gem thanks to a referral from a friend. Mimi is like a miracle worker. For your first appointment you go in and fill out what is the equivalent of a medical history report. You indicate what types of things you’re coming in to treat, then she will go over your entire body, touching pressure points, taking your pulse, and getting a more thorough idea of what your body is doing. When I went in I had a list of things that I wanted acupuncture to help me with, on my medical history sheet I did not indicate sleep issues (because they’ve become normal to me so I forget to mention it), but within seconds of going over my body, pressure points, etc., she started talking to me about my sleep, and told me I wasn’t getting enough sleep.

Her office is small and really only accommodates one person at a time, another reason she is by appointment only. I really enjoyed this aspect of it because there was no background noise, making it even more relaxing.

This was my first experience with acupuncture and I’ve been 3 times since! I find it very relaxing but also feel a lot better when I leave there. If you haven’t had acupuncture and you’re reluctant because of the needles, the only thing I can tell you is that you really don’t feel them. I felt one (not in a painful way, just noticed it) when she put it in the top of my foot.

Mimi will show you the new needles, in the packages, so you can see that they are new, clean and sterile, which will put you at ease if you have concerns about that.

I can’t recommend Mimi more. So if you’re looking to try acupuncture I highly suggest her quaint little shop!

Hours: By appointment only (offers weekend and evening appointments in addition to daytime hours)

Phone: 098-911-2134

Email: neishin@us.au-hikari.ne.jp

Payment: Yen only

Price: First appointment is 4,000 yen and takes an hour or so, appointments after that are usually shorter and cost 3,000 yen

Address: 4 Chome-7-3 Uechi, Okinawa-shi, Okinawa-ken 904-0031, Japan

Directions: From Kadena Gate 2:  Go out Gate 2 and continue straight. Where you see Puppy Love and Bombay on your right, take that right in between them. Go straight until you see a ying yang sign (on the second floor balcony level). Park directly under that, this is her studio; door will be directly in front of you when you park.

Coordinates: 26.335089, 127.795729

CONTRIBUTED BY KACEY A.

Guys! I found a really awesome coffee shop that you need to check out! It was just opened on June 22nd by a young couple who have great style and personality. Sakura and Tarou not only make you feel welcome in their new shop, but they brew a great cup of coffee. They open at 7am (7AM!!!!!), do take-out, and offer four versions of dutch baby pancakes. If that isn’t enough for you, they have both indoor and outdoor seating AND a hammock!

It’s tucked just far enough off of 330 to be away from the hustle and bustle, and is surrounded by beautiful trees and plants and is even accessorized by a sleepy calico cat. Go, tell them Okinawa Hai sent you, and enjoy your caffeine buzz!

***They currently offer dutch pancakes (the first I’ve found on the island), a toast set, and panini.

Hours: 7:00 a.m. to  7 p.m. Daily

Phone Number: 098-923-3723

Payment: Yen, Dollars and Credit Cards

Address: #11 588 Zukeran-Kitanakagusuku Village, Okinawa 901-2317

GPS Coordinates: 26.309123, 127.781229

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MotherCoffee

CONTRIBUTED BY SHANNON R.

While driving aimlessly though the winding streets of Okinawa, we stumbled upon this awesome little café. There is a park directly across the street with several parking spots.

When we arrived, we were able to choose to sit inside or on the balcony. It was just after 11 a.m., so we were able to sit outside comfortably, but I wouldn’t recommend it much later in the day. The café is situated high up on a hillside overlooking Mihama American Village. (No matter how many time we see it, the kids are always excited when we can see the Ferris Wheel!)

The sign on the outside said closed, but I took a chance and went up to the second floor. Someone came to the door immediately and apologized for the sign. Our server spoke English and interacted with my children beautifully, even when my son had a meltdown after getting something in his eye.

In addition to menu items such as hotdogs, sandwiches and brunch items, there were many items on the menu that were made of chocolate, and from what I gather it’s a bit of the cafe’s specialty. The chocolate was perfect (not super sweet like Hershey’s).

We ended up ordering 1 of each of the 4 main food items to share. They were all delicious. The portions were more like appetizers but at 500 yen a piece, it was worth it to try a little bit of everything and share plates.

There were also several types of brewed coffee from which to choose. I had the café latte (aeropress) and it was heavenly.

The second best thing about this café, (or the first best thing depending on how many children are in tow) is the park directly across the street with several parking spots. There’s also a restroom at the bottom of the hill. *Note: when we were at the park, there was a young man who walked in and out of the women’s side of the bathroom several times… with his pants down.   I got the impression that he was harmless and had no malintent towards us. (Possibly mentally disabled). But I stayed right with my kids just in case. So, I thought it would be worth mentioning in case this is the norm.

*Editor’s Note, both the hours and the address have been translated from Cafe Buho’s facebook page. If you have additional information, please feel free to comment below and we will update the post to reflect that. Thank you!

Hours: Wednesday to Monday, closed Tuesdays 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Phone: 098-923-2880

Website: http://timelesschocolate.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/buho.okinawa

Email: info@cafebuho.com

Payment:  Visa, American Express, Mastercard and Cash

Address: 858 Yoshihara, Chatan-chō, Nakagami-gun, Okinawa-ken 904-0105, Japan

Directions: From Kadena:

• Go out gate 1, turn left on 58
• Drive and take a left onto 85
• Drive up that road until you pass “Capital Steakhouse” and “Coco’s Curry”
• At the next stoplight, take a right
• You will follow that road for 1.5 to 2 miles until you see Café Buho on your left

Coordinates: 26.3172221, 127.77298339999993

CONTRIBUTED BY THE WANDERING WAFFLE HEADS

Ever wondered what a real crabby patty would be like? No, we’re not talking about those burgers made of who knows what in the Spongebob cartoons, we’re talking about a whole crab between two burger buns waiting to be devoured. No? Yeah, we never really thought of it either– until we came across one!

We love finding new places to eat, especially the kind you find off the beaten path. There’s a little shack on the corner of an intersection we pass frequently. It’s piqued our interest a few times, but we never took the time to stop until one day our curiosity got the better of us and we’re glad it did.

The menu consists of a lot of seafood dishes as well as some Okinawan favorites like soba, but what we got excited about was the Crab Burger! According to the menu it is a soft shell crab which we guess explains why you can eat the shell and all. It appears to be deep fried then fixed up like a traditional American burger complete with the works: cheese, tartar sauce, crunchy Asian lettuce and fries, and goes for about ¥1000.

It’s surprisingly very soft and biting into it was as easy as biting into any other burger. It has a fresh crab flavor to it and really no crunchy shell while you eat it. This may not be for everybody, but we would recommend it to any daring foodie or die-hard seafood fan.

The place is a quaint little beach-looking shack where you order from a ticket machine, so all you need to do is find the picture of the crab burger and press the button to purchase. They only serve lunch from 11:00 to 3:00 and when they aren’t serving cooked meals they also function as a fish market. If you are in the mood for something a little different and are adventurous enough or just seafood in general I highly recommend checking out this particular crab burger.

Hours: 11:00 AM – 3:00PM

Phone: 098-926-2466

Payment: Yen only

Address: 〒904-0114 Mihama, Chatan, Nakagami District, Okinawa

Directions:

• Coming from Kadena Gate 1
• Turn left, heading south.
• Take a right at the 3^rd traffic light (at the corner of Pizza House Jr.)
• Go through the 1^st traffic light and make a left through the gate of the fenced in port.
• You will see Osakanaya on the left

Coordinates: 26.324418, 127.753698

CONTRIBUTED BY LACEY SOILEAU

Married to a Cajun man and having lived in Louisiana for several years, I’d like to think I know what good Louisiana style food is. Before I start, and as anyone from Louisiana will tell you, depending on which part of the state you are in, the food changes: Southern, Creole, Cajun… it’s all different. Of course there are some staples though, and that is what we found at Café Orleans.

If you haven’t been there, you are missing out. While the menu is not huge, what is offered is sure to be delicious!

I was surprised with Café Orleans for my birthday dinner. My husband made reservations knowing that being a new restaurant and having great reviews, it would be busy. Glad we had them too because sure enough, the tables were full and stayed full until we left around 9:30 pm.

The menu hosts a variety of po’boys and traditional New Orleans style cuisine. We started with the wings. There were 5 for a small appetizer and they were served with the most incredible dipping sauce. I don’t know what it was, but I saved it for my meal. For dinner I ordered the soft shell crab leg po’boy. It was on point! The crab was perfectly seasoned and fried; crisp on the outside and soft flakey crab meat inside. A key factor in having a good po’boy is the bread it is served on.….bad bread, bad sandwich. Not at Café Orleans. The bread had the perfect crunch on the outside and the soft fresh inside you would expect. On the side I chose the onions rings and wished that I had ordered more; they were perfectly paired with the sauce I hoarded from the wings.

My husband ordered the Shrimp Etouffee. While it is different than an etouffee you would get in south central or southwest Louisiana, it was exactly what we would expect from a trip to New Orleans. It was full of shrimp, seasoned to perfection with a little kick, and served over rice. YUM.

We finished the night with Chicory Coffee and Beignets.

Before we left we spent a long while talking to the owner, Mr. Al, originally from Louisiana. What a genuinely nice person, with a deep desire to bring only the most authentic cuisine to us here in Okinawa. He shared with us his love for the food, which I think is what really makes a meal, and he also shared some of his ideas for what is to come and how the menu will expand.

A few days later, having been so excited about the amazing dinner we had, I gathered up a few of my co-workers and we went for lunch. The lunch menu is simple, Po-Boys and Gumbo. We each tried a different poboy; I had the shrimp which was loaded with jumbo fried shrimp (and not those frozen pre-battered kind, but real shrimp); we also had at our table: blackened chicken, fried oysters, soft shell crab, and fried chicken. All were on point. I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t order the onion rings again, so of course I did (and I devoured them), but we also had the fries at our table; much to my liking they were real potatoes (again, none of that frozen packaged stuff).

I’ve saved the best for last. My all-time FAVORITE Cajun dish is gumbo; and I am picky picky picky about my gumbo (gumbo is not one of those things you order because it’s always better homemade), so I was skeptical. We each ordered a bowl with our po’boys and was I surprised and delighted at how absolutely perfect this gumbo was. I’ve been missing a good gumbo, so if there is one thing I will go back to Café Orleans for, it will be the gumbo. My favorite part was the added touch of a giant succulent shrimp set on top of each bowl… Heaven in my mouth.

We finished again, with coffee and I was too stuffed to eat an order of beignets at that moment, so I took them back to work and ate then the moment I felt I had enough room. Even room temp they were great!

I have to give big props to Mr. Al for his efforts and his wonderful food; can’t say enough how much his quaint little place just feels like home.

For all those who are expecting to walk in and have a meal like you would get in the French Quarter, might I remind you that you are in Okinawa. With that said, and while Mr. Al does an absolutely phenomenal job in the kitchen, resources for the ingredients needed to make truly authentic Cajun/Creole foods are limited (to say the least). Somehow Mr. All pulls it off with flying colors.

Cafe Orleans

Hours:
Tue-Thur 1130-1300 and 1800-2100
Fri-Sat 1130-1300 and 1800-2200
Sun 1130-1300

Payment: Yen and Credit Cards

Phone: 098-892-8677

Website: www.cafeorleansokinawa.com

Address: 2-33-16 Ginowan, Okinawa

GPS Coordinates: 26.2910715, 127.77534809999997

Directions: To get to Café Orleans from Foster, exit the Legion Gate and turn right at the light. The café will be on your left hand side next to the San-A.

CONTRIBUTED BY MARISSA MATSUZAKI

While soba dishes are served all over Japan, Okinawa Soba is a unique regional version made with wheat flour instead of buckwheat. I like the idea of enjoying this local dish by the Seawall—the place I envision whenever I think of Okinawa. So after a morning walk with an ocean view, my little one and I tried Kaneku (Oceanview Soba Shop).

We arrived right at 11am when they open (Tuesday-Sunday) and sat by the window. The owner provided us with a high chair for my little miss as well as her own plastic tablewares allowing her to have samplings of my food.

She provided a menu with English translations and accommodated us in the most hospitable manner. I can’t remember the last time I ate at a public place that felt so homey.

The restaurant sits on the second floor of a building located about two street blocks from the Naval Kadena shops, behind the kiddie pool, and right in front of the seawall. Cozy seating, a clear ocean view, and serene music set the tone for a relaxing place to eat.

The menu consists of five Okinawa soba soups, sides, drinks, and a dessert; all are a la carte items and the soba comes in small, medium, and large portion sizes while the dessert can be served hot or cold.

I chose a small pork spare rib soba and the cold dessert, finding both to be very satisfying. If you’re looking for a hardy meal, know that the sizes come larger than my picture of the small soup and the pork spare rib is so tender it falls off the bone. I look forward to returning to this quaint hole in the wall and trying the hot dessert next time!

Menu items are reasonably priced. Check it out and enjoy another quaint eating spot with a view by the Seawall!

Kaneku – Oceanview Soba Restaurant

Hours:  Open from 11am to 6pm daily except for Mondays.

Payment: Yen

Phone: 098-956-0490

Address (Naval Kadena): 372 Kaneku, Kadena

Google Maps Coordinates: 26.353071, 127.74353389999999

Directions: RIGHT out of Kadena Gate One onto 58. At the light near Naval Kadena with Lawson’s on your left, continue straight but get in your left lane. Take a LEFT at the next light. There will be a pachinko parlor and a hardware store. Go straight through the next light until you come to the seawall. The restaurant will be right at the sea wall on your LEFT. People seem to park wherever. Dozou.

Editor’s Note: This restaurant was originally reviewed by one of our very first contributors, Julia, on February 23, 2007 – just weeks after Okinawa Hai launched! We’re excited to bring you this updated review from Marissa.