Japan
Yokota Air Base
📍 Fussa, Japan
Headquarters of U.S. Forces Japan and the 374th Airlift Wing, Yokota serves as the primary airlift hub for the western Pacific near Tokyo.
OHA (Overseas Housing Allowance)
OHA applies — rates vary by location and rank. Visit DTMO for details.
Yokota Air Base is an OCONUS assignment. Overseas Housing Allowance replaces BAH for overseas locations.
Housing
View full housing guide →- On-base: Government housing with mix of tower apartments, townhomes, and single-family homes; wait lists vary by rank (2-8 months); housing is modern with recent renovations; many units have views of the surrounding mountains
- Off-base (Japanese economy): Some families rent off-base in Fussa, Akishima, or Tachikawa; OHA covers rent up to cap; typical costs ¥120,000-¥300,000/month; Japanese homes are smaller with unique features
- OHA: Covers rent and utilities within cap; Japanese utilities ¥20,000-¥40,000/month; central A/C is rare in Japanese homes — expect wall units and higher summer electricity costs
- Top pick: On-base housing is strongly preferred for community, convenience, and the ability to walk/bike anywhere on base; off-base is chosen by those wanting a more Japanese experience or when wait lists are long
- Note: Yokota's location in western Tokyo means off-base living is a genuine Tokyo experience — excellent public transit, convenience stores everywhere, and the world's largest city at your doorstep
Neighborhoods
View full neighborhoods guide →- On-base: Most families live on base in well-maintained housing areas with parks, playgrounds, and community facilities within walking distance; the base is a self-contained American town
- Fussa — 5-15 min from gate, the adjacent Japanese city with supermarkets, restaurants, and Fussa Station (Ome Line to central Tokyo); the most popular off-base choice for proximity
- Tachikawa — 15-20 min northeast, major Tokyo suburb with the massive Showa Kinen Park, Tachikawa Station (Chuo Line express to Shinjuku in 25 min), Lalaport shopping mall, and excellent dining
- Akishima / Hamura — Adjacent to base, 5-15 min, quieter residential Tokyo suburbs with good local schools and parks, strong community feel
- Kichijoji — 30-35 min by train, one of Tokyo's most desirable neighborhoods with Inokashira Park, the Ghibli Museum, Harmonica Yokocho (alley of tiny bars/restaurants), and top-rated shopping
Schools
View full schools guide →🏫 Elementary Schools
Yokota West Elementary School (DoDEA)⭐ 8/10
On-base, K-5, excellent facility, high parent satisfaction
🏫 Middle Schools
Yokota Middle School (DoDEA)⭐ 7/10
On-base, grades 6-8, strong STEM and arts
🏫 High Schools
Yokota High School (DoDEA)⭐ 8/10
On-base, top-rated DoDEA Pacific, strong college prep
Gates & Commute
- Main Gate (Fussa Gate) — Primary entry from Fussa Station/Route 16, 5-15 min peak waits (7:00-8:30 AM), 24/7 operations
- Terminal Gate — Separate entry for the passenger terminal/AMC flights; Yokota is the primary Pacific airlift hub — constant C-130 and C-17 traffic
- Tip: Japan drives on the LEFT; Japanese roads are narrow with signage in Japanese; SOFA license obtained through base; international driver's license valid for 1 year
- Tip: Yokota's Tokyo location means you can live car-free — the base is walking distance from Fussa Station; the Tokyo rail network (JR, Seibu, Ome Lines) connects you to all of Tokyo
Internet Providers
- NTT Flets Hikari — Japan's national fiber provider; speeds up to 1 Gbps (and up to 10 Gbps in Tokyo); excellent coverage on and off base
- Allied Telesis — Base-contracted provider with English-speaking support; good option for on-base families wanting simple setup
- AU Hikari / SoftBank Hikari — Competitive fiber options with mobile service bundle discounts; popular with families who also need Japanese cell phone service
- Starlink — Available but completely unnecessary given Tokyo's world-leading fiber infrastructure
- Top pick: Allied Telesis for ease of English support; AU/SoftBank Hikari for mobile bundle savings
Shopping & Dining
- On-base: AAFES Exchange and commissary with U.S. products — large and well-stocked; the Yokota Exchange is one of the best in the Pacific with a wide selection of American goods and a food court
- Fussa — 5-15 min: Fussa Station area with Japanese department stores, supermarket (Ito Yokado, Seiyu), Don Quijote (everything store — a must-experience), and local restaurants
- Tachikawa — 15-20 min: Lalaport Tachikawa Tachihi (massive shopping mall), Isetan department store, Bic Camera (electronics), and GRANDUO at Tachikawa Station
- Shinjuku — 35-40 min by train: One of Tokyo's premier shopping districts with Takashimaya Times Square, Bicqlo (Bic Camera + Uniqlo), Isetan Shinjuku, and endless dining and entertainment
- Groceries: On-base commissary (primary); off-base Ito Yokado (Fussa), Seiyu, Hanamasa (discount groceries), National Azabu (Hiroo, for imported goods), and Costco (Tama or Shin-Misato, 30-40 min)
Gyms & Recreation
- Yokota Fitness Center — Two gyms on base (East and West) with cardio, weights, group classes, basketball/racquetball courts, and a 25-meter indoor pool; 24/7 access available
- Outdoor Recreation (ODR) — Unmatched access to Japan: Tokyo Disney Resort, skiing in Nagano/Niigata, climbing Mount Fuji, Kyoto bullet train packages, and cultural tours throughout Japan at subsidized rates
- On-base: Bowling alley, movie theater, indoor pool, outdoor pool (seasonal), skate park, sports fields, community center, Officers' and Enlisted Clubs, and extensive youth programs (CYS)
- Tokyo at your doorstep — 35-40 min by train to Shinjuku/Shibuya/Harajuku; the world's largest city with endless museums, restaurants, shopping, entertainment, and cultural experiences
- Outdoor: Mount Takao (45 min by train — sacred mountain with hiking trails and a monkey park), Okutama (1 hr northwest — hiking, camping, river activities in the Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park), and Lake Okutama for kayaking/fishing
- Skiing/Snowboarding: Nagano (2-3 hrs by train — 1998 Olympic venues, Hakuba, Shiga Kogen) and Niigata (Gala Yuzawa, 90 min by Shinkansen) offer world-class Japanese powder snow
Jobs & Spouse Employment
- On-base: AAFES, commissary, MWR, CDC, DODEA schools, and USFJ/5th Air Force civilian positions through USAJobs — the largest concentration of GS/NAF positions on any OCONUS base
- Defense contractors: Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Boeing, and Japanese defense contractors supporting the airlift and headquarters missions
- Japanese economy: SOFA spouses can work on the Japanese economy but language is a significant barrier; English teaching (ALT, eikaiwa, university adjunct), international schools, and multinational corporations are most accessible
- Remote work: World-class Tokyo fiber enables U.S.-based remote work; JST is 14 hrs ahead of EST — night-shift schedules for East Coast, easier for West Coast/Pacific time zones
- Employment Readiness: Airman & Family Readiness Center provides robust job search support, career counseling, and Japan-specific employment guidance; plus the Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP)
- Volunteer: Yokota has an active Thrift Store and Spouses' Club; extensive volunteer opportunities in Tokyo's international community and with US-Japan cultural exchange programs
Local Attractions
- Tokyo Disney Resort — 1 hr by train; Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea (widely considered the world's best Disney park); annual passes are popular with Yokota families
- Shibuya & Harajuku — 40 min by train; the iconic Shibuya Scramble Crossing, Hachiko statue, Takeshita Street (quirky fashion), Meiji Jingu Shrine, and Omotesando for upscale shopping
- Mount Fuji — 2 hrs by car/bus; Japan's iconic 3,776m peak; climb in July-September (official season), or enjoy Fuji Five Lakes with hot springs and stunning views year-round
- Asakusa & Senso-ji Temple — 1 hr by train; Tokyo's oldest temple, Nakamise shopping street, and the Sumida River; a must-visit piece of old Edo in modern Tokyo
- Akihabara — 50 min by train; 'Electric Town' with electronics, anime, manga, gaming culture, and the unique experience of Japanese pop culture; Yodobashi Camera is a destination in itself
- Weekend trips: Kyoto (2.5 hrs by Shinkansen), Osaka (3 hrs), Hiroshima (4.5 hrs), Hakone hot springs (1.5 hrs), Kamakura Great Buddha (1.5 hrs), Nara (3 hrs), and skiing in Nagano/Niigata (2-3 hrs)
Area Maps
Photo Gallery
base
Yokota Air Base in western Tokyo, Japan
neighborhood
Tachikawa, major Tokyo suburb near Yokota
housing
On-base family housing at Yokota Air Base
nature
Mount Fuji, 2 hours from Yokota AB
downtown
Shibuya Crossing, 40 minutes by train from Yokota
restaurant
Ramen shop in Fussa near Yokota Air Base