OOkinawa

Moving to Okinawa Help

  • February 22, 2026

Hi there, I will be living in Okinawa for the next four years and I just have some questions since I have never been outside of the US. For some context I’m 21 Military from south Texas and a little nervous because this is such a big move for me 😭

Since I will be there for so long is it worth learning the language, if so is there good tutors/classes I can take? I’ve learned Spanish before which I know is not similar but I just understand the time and effort it takes to learn a new language

I’m Catholic and I know the bases offer services but I do want to try and explore any local places if they offer (if not I understand)

I love fishing and since I’m on an island I’m assuming there is spots where I can fish. If so is it pretty similar to purchasing a fishing license/taking a fishing class?

I’m not much a of “go out and party guy” which I know is not the norm for military guys so I don’t go out and bar hop or get extremely drunk so is there any good wine and dine type places. Of course I am fine with bars I just want to see if there is places I can sit down and relax

What is the best way/efficient way to get to mainland, I don’t expect to go all the time but when I have the time I think I would like to go check it out

Any good barber shops near the bases that can offer a good haircut

Finally how do I not seem like an asshole tourist, sorry if this is a weird question I grew up in a small town in Texas so I’m am a bit lost when it comes to pretty much everything else. My mom always taught me be the be as respectful as possible when I’m a guest so lord knows I’m not gonna let her down now 😂

Please and thank you for all your help

by SlavicAnimeThighs

11 comments

  2. Domestic flights are like 100USD depending on airlines

    Go off post and explore. Be polite and respectful and you’ll be fine. Okinawa probably the most beautiful place I’ve ever been so go see it.

  3. Nice, I was there 4 years from 2011-15. Check out Pimsleur for learning the language. You can either get their app, buy a lifetime membership or pay a subscription, or get individual lessons off Audible.

    On top of this, enroll in at least 1 Japanese class on base. Then decide if it’s worth it to keep going.

    Live off base ASAP if you can. Explore the island as much as possible, and when you feel like you’ve seen everything, explore other islands, including the 3 biggest ones, mainland, Hokkaido and Kyushu.

  4. Making this post automatically makes you less of a limbo risk compared to a lot of other service members stationed here. Gonna assume Marine, if so MCCS offers a free intro to Japanese class on most camps. Futenma has a language exchange at the chapel on Tuesday nights.

    Fishing recreationally you don’t need a license, lotta spots and a few charters if you’re aiming for bigger one like mahi, GT or even marlin.

    Getting a car will significantly boost your quality of life when you can

  5. If you’re not influenced by your fellow military members you can have a great time here. A lot of them don’t seek out local experiences. It’s also cheaper if you leave the base area & learn to enjoy local restaurants vs western restaurants around the base.

    You can visit r/Japaneselanguage for some tips on picking up the basics, but you can get around in most places here with the bare minimum of polite phrases. It’s nice if you learn, but not a necessity if you’re not going to stay here long term. 1st step is learning Katakana & Hiragana. Then there are various youtube channels you can watch, renshuu, italki tutors, etc. Plenty of options if you decide to learn.

    There are quite a few churches off base, not necessarily catholic, but places you can go and see what local worship is like. Occasionally, I take an elderly friend to bible study where they practice English after, but they provide me with english handouts and do their best to include me when I attend, so I don’t think you’ll have an issue here if you want to explore.

    Plenty of places to hangout here. Most Izakaya’s are basically bar restaurants, people even bring their kids around dinner time. You can also visit cafes and coffee shops. If you try to go a bit further from the base, you’ll have a more local experience.

    You won’t be an asshole tourist as long as you’re polite & honestly most American’s are politer than Japanese people are as far as giving up their seat to elderly people or pregnant people, holding a door, etc. Just keep your volume down and watch what the locals are doing. Okinawa is way more relaxed than the main island. It’s a chill place.

    Buy your plane tickets a few months in advance and they will be quite cheap. You can even hit, Tapei, Seoul, Busan, etc from Naha airport over a weekend if you want.

  6. > What is the best way/efficient way to get to mainland

    This falls in the general category of questions relating to “how to travel to an island”.

    Swimming is not practical, there are no bridges or tunnels. It is 25 hours by regular passenger ferry to Kyushu, ~38–48 hours to Osaka.

    So, in terms of time usage efficiency, I recommend taking a flight from Naha Airport. A regular flight is probably within your budget but chartering a small jet might cut down the time. 😉

  7. A car is basically a must here, and as others said, get off base as soon as possible. Definitely learn some basic Japanese, someone mentioned Pimsleur already, which is great. Rocket language app is another good choice. Lots of fishing to be had, no shortage there. Catholic services shouldn’t be an issue, and heard the base community is very good. Overall, first time moving abroad, Japan is very forgiving as long as you’re polite. Okinawa is a great place to live, so make the most of it. Go hiking, eat all the food, and lots of travel opportunities regionally. But 10000% get a cheap reliable car, otherwise you’re pretty limited on what you can do. DM me if you got specific questions.

  8. I’m really excited for you and so proud that you’re thinking ahead with empathy and wanting to not be seen as an asshole tourist. You’re what I wish all people representing the US and specifically military were like. I hope you have the best time! Please eat some Japanese curry for me! 😀

  10. Hey man, I just got stationed here a few months ago. It’s a great place, and a lot of countries in the region are within the special lib boundaries. On 72s or 96s I’d definitely consider traveling.

    A car is a must. You can take the SOFA registration test online before you even hit the island. During PCS season it’s real easy to get good deals on cars. Just make sure the JCI inspection is up to date. Or just buy from a dealership, it’s pretty cheap.

    For haircuts the ones on base do a decent job. I’ve found ones out in town just because I like to practice my Japanese.

    Edit: if you’re worried about not being an asshole, you’re already 90% there. If you show the Okinawan people respect you’ll have zero problems here.

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