We all know the “official” things you need to do before you get to Okinawa: the no-fee passports, overseas screening, apply for housing, etc (and if you don’t, read this). But we have come up with a list of things you should do before you PCS to Okinawa to make things just a little bit easier when you arrive.

8 Things You Need to Do Before You PCS to Okinawa

Some of these items will fall on your sponsor. Don’t be afraid to ask them to do something for you. They have been in your shoes and they are literally ordered to help!

Apply to Port to Home– I’m not sure why anyone would want to wait to get a house when they arrive here when Port to Home makes it so.much.easier to make the transition to Okinawa. It’s the best thing!
- Ask your sponsor to provide bedding, towels, and pillows for the government furniture as well as grab a box from the Loan Locker for you.
Set Up Your Internet– It’s so simple to set up your internet with MBC, and you can do it even before you arrive on island if you’re doing Port to Home. In fact, I ordered it 6 weeks before we arrived! Just visit their portal, input your home building number, and choose which package option you’d like. You can have your sponsor pick up your modem for you, and they can leave it in your house or they can even set-up the Wifi prior to your arrival. You can read more about setting up internet here.
Phones– You may want to keep your American number. If that’s the case, get a GoogleFi account set up while you’re still in the United States. It’s a lot harder to do it once you’re here.
- You can get a Japanese phone though! Just send your orders to your phone company in the US to put a hold on your account. They are legally obligated to under SCRA. Then you can either use your current unlocked phone and get a Japanese number, or purchase a whole new phone here from one of the Japanese carriers like SoftBank
Purchase your cars– Many people will sell you their cars before you even get there. Just coordinate with your sponsor or the seller. Once you arrive, you will have to transfer JCI (Japanese Compulsory Insurance) and registration, which you can do on base.
Order groceries from the commissary– The commissary does order pickup, so you can order groceries, soap, shampoo, toilet paper, and whatever else you need and have your sponsor pick it up and put it in your house if doing Port to Home. Once you have a car, you can visit the food pantries located on both Camp Foster and Kadena to pick up essentials
If you do not do Port to Home, you will likely need to secure a place for your pet. Kadena has kennels that are priority to PCS families.
Make sure you have your hotel set up if you aren’t doing Port to Home.
Set up your Newcomer’s Brief as early as possible after arrival. This is when you will do your driver’s test. You cannot drive until you have a SOFA license. For the Marine Corps they are held on Wednesday’s from 8am to 2pm. Service members MUST attend in person. Others may go remotely, but it’s easier just to go together because you have to take the drivers test in person anyways.
- Drivers must be 18 years or older to drive OFF BASE. They can be 16 to drive ON BASE ONLY.

Doing these eight things will help make the transition to Okinawa much smoother, especially if you do Port to Home. Having internet ready to go and groceries in the home where a HUGE help when we arrived since we didn’t have means to travel without our licenses. We were able to relax and rest, connect with family and friends, and have some snacks and comfort foods as soon as we stepped through our door.

Want to learn more about moving to Okinawa? Download our PCS Guide below!