Moving to Atsugi, Japan

K.,

What a great experience you have ahead of you! We lived in Iwakuni from 2002-2005. As for furniture, unless the pieces are ridiculously bulky, bring them. I wouldn't plan on bringing furniture for a living room and a family room though, the housing isn't set up for that kind of space. DO bring your washer and dryer! When you pack out, you will get to prepare two shipments-regular household goods and then your priority stuff that will get there faster. Think about what you and the kids need an put that in the priority shipment. There will still be a delay for it though, FYI. My husband and I moved over there before we had kids, but we brought everything that we had (which really wasn't much) and it worked out fine. Lots of people bring too much stuff, and really that works out fine too, just more furniture in a small house. Of course bring your Christmas decorations!!! And the stuff for the kids, even if you live in a mid rise (without a yard) there are parks and sidewalks and you will want to be outside with them. You are going to have a great time. And don't forget to explore and get off base!! It will make your time there so much more enjoyable, there is so much to see and do!

As for the flight, I suggest snacks and drinks, crayons if your three year old is into it, perhaps a special "new" toy, and I hate to say it, a DVD player. I know all moms have all sorts of views on that, and that's great. But it is a REALLY long flight, and sometimes giving in a little is OK. We also travel with an iPod with kiddie music. Target has some on the go activity sets that seem fun, although I haven't purchased one. Good luck to you and your family!

I used to work for a shipping company and we did a lot of Mil over seas shipments. It can take a while for you items to get threw customs, so what ever you deside to take make sure you carry enough toys ect for 6-8 weeks. Depending on the docket and how they send your household goods you may have a smaller shipment to come first, followed by the larger shipment, any essentials you want in the smaller shipment, but the best advise I can give you is to talk with your move coordinator and ask as many questions as you have to, to make sure you understand the process. International moves are more complex then cross country and your coordinator is there to make this process go as smooth as possible.

Hi K., I lived in Okinawa, Japan for 9 1/2 years. I am a Marine and my family and I left Okinawa May 2007. I lived on Camp Kinser in the towers. The houses are small. You can bring just about all of your furniture if you don't have a big house. Do bring your Christmas decorations. You should contact housing for more information as to whether you should bring outdoor toys. Fax a copy of your orders to housing so you can be on the waiting list before you get there. You are going to be stationed on mainland Japan. I never got a chance to visit that island. They have a Disneyland there. Here is a link you can click on for the base you are going to:
https://www.atsugi.navy.mil/ffsc/index_files/yo_japan.htm
I hope this is helpful. Japan is a great place to raise your kids. Not like the states at all. If you are not use to being away from family, then you might find it difficult at first, being in a strange place where not everyone speaks english. If you find yourself feeling that way, go to the family service center and see what there is to do for fun in the area. If you like Chocolate, like myself, try the snacks made with this brand name, Lotte or Bourbon. I miss it allot. Let me know if you have more questions.

T. B.

Hi,
We just moved back to the states from Yokosuka, Japan. My son played ball so we went to Atsugi often. The military supplies a washer and dryer. Definately take bikes - you can ride everywhere on base. I'd take some outdoor toys but there will be lots of parks on base (and off). The floors are not carpeted but we just bought area rugs on base. It's easier than taking them. Don't take a lot of nice china - it you live in an apartment you won't have room to entertain big groups. Also, there is a great china store - China Pete's - where you might end up buying china, etc... Do take blankets, jackets, etc... It is very windy and cool. Take things you already have like kid-friendly furniture, lamps, Christmas decorations (they sell out fast), but don't take antiques, oversized pieces or nice furniture (several of our pieces got damaged in the move.)
Let me know if you have any specific questions I may be able to answer.
Last word, be excited - you are going to have a ball traveling and seeing beautiful sights!

Just bring things which you consider beneficial when you transfer to Japan. As much as you could, try to decide what items should be packed and items that should be disposed.

Better, try to learn and understand the japanese culture for future commitments.

i just moved from atsugi. being on base is just like living in the states they have all the sports programs for kids and they have a dance lesson program also. it is really geared for families. since you have 2 kids you'll get a 3 bedroom we lived in tower 3069 with the 3 bedrooms. I would bring EVERYTHING with you. there is no reason not too. my apartment there was bigger than my townhouse at wadsworth. also you have indoor storage there also. and if you still need more storage they have a storage place on base. there are tons of things to do. there is a pirate ship park out the gate by 3052, and also check out Childrens land out in town, it is really nice and not far away. you can get a car anywhere from free to 1000 ours was 1500 and was nice. the taxes in japan for cars are a lot but the insurance isn't bad. if you want your kids in the CDC get on the waiting list NOW. take many tours from MWR and just ENJOY it. get a "beef Bowl" they are delicious.

Hi K.,

Although I didn't live in Atsugi, I did live in Yokosuka which was probably 30-45 minutes away. The weather there is much like here in Tidewater. Summer time is super hot and humid. If I remember right July is rainy season. I would defintiely bring the children's bikes and outdoor toys. Do you know whether or not you are living in a base townhouse or a tower? We lived off base for a little while and had a really difficult time bringing our queen size bed into our room. If you have big bulky bedroom furniture, I would rethink about bringing them. Especially if you are just going to be in a tower. Definitely bring your Christmas decorations. We lived in a tower and I decorated our balcony with Christmas lights and stuff. If you live in a townhouse than decorate to your heart's content! =) When we came back home to Virginia from the tour, we also came back with our new addition to the family - our oldest son...then 2 1/2. For the airplane trip, we packed tons of DVD's, batteries for the DVD player, serious crayons and coloring books.
One thing I wished we were able to do but due to my husband's deployment schedule - he was on the USS Kitty Hawk - is enjoy the host country. Get out there, taste the local dives, and soak up the culture. Let the kids have fun with the other Japanese children. Since you have girls - they'll LOVE all the pretty stuff there for girls! I'd love to tell you more, just let me know!
A little bit about me: I am a working mother, navy spouse and a college advisor. I have two boys: one is 5 and the other is 4 months old. I grew up here in Virginia Beach, taught in the school system, stationed in Japan from 2002-2005 and came back home!

Hi there, my husband and I were in the Marine Corps and were stationed in Okinawa almost ten years ago, wow. Anyway, we loved it and would go back in a heartbeat. Explore as much as possible, get out there and don't be afraid, the people are gracious and I found it to be the safest place I have ever traveled.
The one thing I had the biggest problems with was finding clothing to fit me. Especially bras and panties. I'm 5'10 and weigh about 160 but could not find any to fit. I also have a size ten shoe, no luck there either. So if you are any bigger than average, I would bring clothes. You know the choices in the PX/BX are not fabulous. Eat out, there will be lots of chioces, I miss so much about that place. I wish I could go back and raise my kids there. Learn the language, it's not necessary but so much more fun. I tried and it was hard, but my husband got the hang of it and we did so much more exploring because of it. Whatever the base offers in term of tourist stuff to do, do it all. I would also enlist the help of a sponsor, if you are lucky you will get a great one with the same age children. Good luck and enjoy it, take lots of pictures and video and have the time of your life.

First, Congratulations. Sounds like a true adventure. Embrace it. I was a flight attendant for 8 years travelling to military bases worldwide to bring troops to their new homes. I have never been to the base you mentioned, but have been to Osaka often. I also have travelled living in Saudia Arabia with my son and husband for the past 10 years - 6 with a child every year for school. I found toys made from China in the Middle Eastern Countries to be affordable. American made toys are outrageously expensive, so if you have anything special that cannot be replicated, bring it. For my son it was Power Rangers and Transformers. Books were hard to come by in English as well as good educational toys teaching the alphabet, numbers, etc. I brought card games, flash cards as they are small and light weight. I also brought a load of paperback books. For your children's age, the little books, hardback they can hold in their hand are great, especially for the plane. Of course my son's favorite blanket and teddy bear went with us on the plane in a little backpack. As time went on, I was able to get used to different foods, snacks, less American things and more Middle Eastern things, like the diapers, etc are different, Baby Wipes are outrageously expensive and I used water with a baby wash cloth often instead. I suggest you embrace the country and accept new things and new ways of living. It makes life easier instead of dragging things over miles. Don't forget about yourself. Some toiletries that are your favorite, try to bring. I am guessing you will have the commisary with American things and you can order online for shipping with US postage rates being military for whatever you forgot. And for us, Grandma always loved sending care packages. My son loved receiving it. A little toy, maybe some mini oreo cookies, a new book and a new dvd. I was able to return annually to America and I often shopped for our clothes at outlet malls for the entire year bringing them over, one suitcase for my son, one for me, and One other bag for toiletries and laptop and paper, books for me. The fourth bag was for my son's toys. Weight restrictions have changed though over the years. I could never forget my sons favorite bottles, sippy cups. They are different overseas. Some medications I missed also, like Advil. So I would buy a large bottle and bring it. Again, not sure what you can get at the Commisary. Feel free to send me a message with any specific questions if you like. And yes, I did bring back and forth a little ride on firetruck as it was my son's favorite. I took it apart for three years and put it together for him. It made him feel better and at home more. For my son also it was his favorite tv shows, american that made him feel better. The wiggles, blues clues, dora at your child's age. Were fine with that issue now that my son is better at speaking arabic and he has a keen interest in japanese anime now from seeing the different cartoons oveseas. We had disney channel and other american channels via sattelite, but they have different show, some the same as america, but some different. Best of luck.

It's so awesome that you get to go to Japan. I was stationed at NAF Atsugi 1998-2001. I was single though and living in the barracks. Do you know if you will be in housing or in the high rises? Are your daughters actually riding their bikes? What you can do is contact your husbands command and request a sponsor or ask for an email address for the command ombudsmen and he or she would be able to answer possibly any and all questions. I was wonderful to be in Japan. You're so lucky.