Japan
Misawa Air Base
📍 Misawa, Japan
Home to the 35th Fighter Wing flying F-16 Fighting Falcons, Misawa provides air superiority and defense for northern Japan and the Pacific region.
OHA (Overseas Housing Allowance)
OHA applies — rates vary by location and rank. Visit DTMO for details.
Misawa Air Base is an OCONUS assignment. Overseas Housing Allowance replaces BAH for overseas locations.
Housing
View full housing guide →- On-base: Government housing on Misawa Air Base — mix of tower apartments, townhomes, and single-family homes; wait lists vary by rank (1-4 months typically); housing is well-maintained and many units have been recently renovated
- Off-base (Japanese economy): Some families rent off-base in Misawa City or surrounding towns; OHA covers rent up to cap; typical costs ¥80,000-¥180,000/month; Japanese homes are smaller with unique features (tatami rooms, ofuro baths)
- OHA: Covers rent and utilities within cap; Japanese utilities (gas, electric, water) run ¥20,000-¥40,000/month; kerosene heaters are common in winter (¥10,000-¥20,000/month for kerosene)
- Top pick: On-base housing is strongly preferred by most families for community, convenience, and insulation from northern Japan's harsh winters; off-base is chosen by those wanting deeper Japanese immersion
- Note: Misawa winters are INTENSE — average snowfall 150+ inches/year; on-base housing has central heating; Japanese off-base homes often use kerosene space heaters
Neighborhoods
View full neighborhoods guide →- On-base: Most families live on base in well-maintained housing areas — Main Base, North Area, and Security Hill; strong community feel, American amenities, and insulation from the brutal Aomori winters
- Misawa City — 5-15 min from gate, the adjacent Japanese city with supermarkets, restaurants, and local shopping; Japanese-only, limited English — language skills are essential for off-base living
- Hachinohe — 30-40 min south, larger port city with more shopping and dining, Hachinohe Station for Shinkansen (bullet train) access to Tokyo, popular with families wanting more urban amenities
- Towada — 30-40 min west, city near Lake Towada, quieter and more scenic, access to outdoor recreation
Schools
View full schools guide →🏫 Elementary Schools
Sollars Elementary School (DoDEA)⭐ 7/10
On-base, K-5, strong community feel
Cummings Elementary (DoDEA)⭐ 7/10
On-base, Sure Start to grade 3
🏫 Middle Schools
Edgren Middle/High School (DoDEA)⭐ 7/10
On-base, grades 6-12 combined, small classes
🏫 High Schools
Edgren Middle/High School (DoDEA)⭐ 7/10
On-base, combined 6-12, AP and honors available
Gates & Commute
- Main Gate — Primary entry from Misawa City/Route 8, 5-10 min peak waits (7:00-8:30 AM), 24/7 operations
- Tip: Traffic is minimal by American standards; the base is compact and walkable once on the installation
- Tip: Japan drives on the LEFT; Japanese roads are narrow and signage is in Japanese; international driver's license required; SOFA license available through base
- Tip: Winter driving requires serious preparation — snow tires (mandatory by Japanese law in Aomori), 4WD/AWD strongly recommended, and snow removal is excellent on base but variable off-base
Internet Providers
- NTT Flets Hikari — Japan's national fiber provider; speeds up to 1 Gbps; excellent coverage in Misawa City and on-base
- Allied Telesis / Allied Fiber — Available through base-contracted providers; good option for English-speaking customer support
- AU Hikari / SoftBank Hikari — Competitive fiber options piggybacking on NTT lines; competitive pricing and bundled mobile service discounts
- Starlink — Available but generally unnecessary given Japan's excellent nationwide fiber coverage
- Top pick: NTT Flets Hikari through a base-approved English-speaking reseller for ease of setup and billing
Shopping & Dining
- On-base: AAFES Exchange and commissary with U.S. products — well-stocked given the base's isolation; the commissary is essential since off-base shopping requires Japanese language skills
- Misawa City — 5-15 min: Japanese supermarkets (MaxValu, Super Sake, Sundy), 100-yen shops (Daiso, Seria), Shimoda Mall (clothing, food court, grocery), and local restaurants ranging from ramen shops to conveyor-belt sushi
- Hachinohe — 30-40 min south: Larger shopping including Hasshoku Center (fresh seafood market — Sunday morning tuna cutting demonstrations), Aeon Mall, and more restaurant options
- Groceries: On-base commissary (primary); off-base MaxValu (Misawa), Sundy, Costco in Hachinohe (membership-based), and local Japanese groceries for fresh produce and seafood
- Dining: Misawa's food scene is defined by incredible seafood — Hachinohe mackerel, Aomori scallops, tuna, and sea urchin; plus ramen (try local miso and shoyu broths), gyudon, and conveyor-belt sushi at Kappa Sushi or Hamazushi
Gyms & Recreation
- Misawa Fitness Center — Well-equipped on-base gym with cardio, weights, group classes, basketball/racquetball courts, and indoor pool (essential for year-round exercise in Aomori's climate)
- Outdoor Recreation (ODR) — Epic Japanese and Pacific adventures: skiing at Appi Kogen and Hakkoda, Tokyo weekends, Sapporo Snow Festival, and local Tohoku cultural trips at subsidized rates
- On-base: Bowling alley, movie theater, indoor swimming pool (year-round, critical for winter), sports fields, community center, and the Misawa Club for dining and events
- Skiing/Snowboarding — Misawa's #1 recreational selling point: Appi Kogen (1.5 hrs), Hakkoda (1.5 hrs), and Shichinohe (45 min) offer world-class powder snow — Japan's 'Japow' is legendary among skiers and boarders
- Lake Towada — 1 hr west: Stunning volcanic caldera lake with hiking, camping, boating, fall foliage cruises (October is spectacular), and the Oirase Gorge stream walk — one of Japan's most beautiful natural sites
- Day trips: Aomori City (45 min — Nebuta Museum, Sannai-Maruyama Jomon ruins, fresh seafood at Furukawa Fish Market), Hachinohe (40 min), and the Shimokita Peninsula (Yagen Valley hot springs, Osorezan 'Fear Mountain', 2 hrs)
Jobs & Spouse Employment
- On-base: AAFES, commissary, MWR, CDC, DODEA schools — primary local employers for spouses; USAJobs for GS/NAF positions with the 35th Fighter Wing and tenant Navy/Army units
- Defense contractors: Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Japanese defense contractors supporting the F-16 mission and joint U.S.-Japan operations
- Japanese economy: SOFA spouses can work on the Japanese economy but face significant language barriers — Japanese proficiency is near-essential for off-base employment; English teaching (ALT, eikaiwa) is the most accessible pathway
- Remote work: Excellent Japanese fiber internet enables U.S.-based remote work; Japan Standard Time (JST) is 14 hrs ahead of EST, making East Coast schedules challenging (night-shift work); West Coast and Pacific schedules easier
- Employment Readiness: Airman & Family Readiness Center provides job search support, career counseling, and Japan-specific employment guidance
- Volunteer: Misawa has an active Thrift Store and Spouses' Club; volunteer opportunities also exist with JASDF cultural exchange programs and local community events
Local Attractions
- Lake Towada & Oirase Gorge — 1 hr west; Japan's largest caldera lake with stunning fall foliage (October), boat cruises, and the Oirase Mountain Stream with miles of walking paths along crystal-clear rapids
- Skiing/Snowboarding — Appi Kogen, Hakkoda, and Shichinohe resorts offer legendary Japanese powder snow; Hakkoda's backcountry is world-famous; ski season runs December-April
- Aomori Nebuta Matsuri — Early August; one of Japan's great festivals with massive illuminated warrior floats, taiko drumming, and street food — a Tohoku highlight 45 min from base
- Sapporo Snow Festival — Early February; 4 hrs north by train/ferry; world-famous ice sculptures and winter wonderland in Hokkaido's capital
- Hirosaki Castle — 1.5 hrs west; authentic Edo-period castle with 2,600 cherry trees — one of Japan's best cherry blossom viewing spots in late April
- Weekend trips: Tokyo (3.5 hrs by Shinkansen from Hachinohe), Sendai (2 hrs), Hakodate (2.5 hrs by Shinkansen + ferry), Hokkaido (ferry from Aomori), and Kyoto/Osaka (6 hrs by Shinkansen)
Area Maps
Photo Gallery
base
Misawa Air Base in Aomori Prefecture, Japan
neighborhood
Hachinohe, port city near Misawa AB
housing
On-base tower apartments at Misawa Air Base
nature
Lake Towada in autumn near Misawa AB
downtown
Aomori City and the Nebuta Museum near Misawa
restaurant
Fresh sushi and seafood in Hachinohe, Japan