i seen your comment about Asthma just an FYI my friend was suppose to get orders here to Atsugi and she has asthma and they rejected her orders....

i dont know if every case is different but thats what happened to her. i just got here about a week ago so i basically have the same questions as you lol. Also a young couple. I'm 23 and looking for some fun things to do. I am going to town this weekend to check things out. But my brother in law and other friends that have came and gone said they love it here. I already do just because everyone is so nice and its so beautiful here. I brought my dog and there was not a problem at all. just make sure his shot and stuff are up to date. your housing (if u chose to live on base) you can quarantine him/her for free on base (180 days) and you will just anything but the towers which i dont think i would like the towers because i wanted a yard and stuff. umm yokosuka isnt that far but atsugi is a small base. i like it tho. for being young and all its not that bad, really. just hop on a train and head to town lol good luck girl!

I do not know if Atsugi is treated differently than Yokosuka as far as your asthma. I have *bad* asthma, including my own nebulizer, and was cleared just fine to come to Japan two times. It may just depend on a case by case basis. If you REALLY want to fight it and come here, I would say go for it!

Romero--------Thanks for the reply! =) I appreciate it. It's helpful. Are you guna live off base or on base? We went to japan for the summer and we loved it. I'm from Hawaii and i have japanese relatives in japan so i can easily adapt to the life style and people. I'm not worried about that at all. My main concern is probably looking for a good paying job, knowing our dog won't have any issues, going to school, and finding a suitable place to live off-base (hopefuly no crazy bills!!!) We lived out in town here in italy for 2 years and it was ridiculous!!! Don't need that again....(like $1,478 just for our electric bill for only 2 months of usage). You're a year older than me. My husband is 25. Hopefully there's stuff to do near there for people our age. Do they host things on the base or near the base or do you gotta venture out all the time?

Julie--------Yeah I have a nebulizer too....Asthma sucks huh? I was only concerned for the air quality at the Atsugi base because a few years ago they had an incinerator factory or something there that was leaking toxic fumes in the air. I was reading it online but it's shut down now. Thanks for your help =) We really wanted Japan and glad we got it.

heard some good stuff there. good luck

Atsugi was actually my husband's number one pick. We ended up in Yokosuka......my husband lived here before, so it's not his first go around. I lived up in Yokota about 10 years ago and I'm am ecstatic to be back in Japan again! Japan is great if you're in your 20's and have no kids. There's plenty here to keep you entertained.

Astugi is in a great location. There are lots of restaurants and shops nearby. Atsugi also has a full size golf course (the main reason my husband wanted to live there!). The MWR tours are great and they seem to be a lot cheaper than Yokosuka. I wouldn't say the nightlife in Atsugi is any better or any worse than Yokosuka. You really need to head to Tokyo for a real night out.

One thing I like about Yokosuka is that it's close to Yokohama. There's a nice nightlife there and plenty of shops and restaurant to check out. When I lived here before, I always went to Tokyo on the weekends, but this time around, I seem to go to Yokohama more frequently because it's closer and has everything I need. The big clubs are in Tokyo though (if that's what you are in to).

You shouldn't have a problem with your dog. It seems that home owners are a lot more accepting of pets than they use to be. Be prepared to pay an extra deposit though if you live off base.

You could live half way between Atsugi & Yokosuka and commute to work, but I don't know if you want to. Tolls cost me 800 yen (about $9 each way) to Atsugi from where I live. I don't live on base, so I'm not sure exactly how much it would cost from Yokosuka. You really wouldn't want to take back roads because it would take way too long. Roads can get pretty backed up between here and Atsugi during the day.

I think you guys would be happy living at either one of these bases! Both are great!

Post is now pinned...

Well I was stationed in Atsugi as active duty then as a dependent and I must say that even though the base was smaller I loved it and preferred it to Yokosuka base. It seemed as if Yoko was almost too damn big. i would not recommend trying to live in between and commuting only because the tolls, travel time may not be worth it. i had my daughter in Yoko base Hospital and I can say that I would rather live in Atsugi and visit yoko when I wanted/needed to. If you are looking for a big base then i would suggest yoko If your husband will be underway (via det) then you may prefer to be closer to the boat but I enjoyed Atsugi and the area I lived at out in town. I was actually half way between atsugi and camp zama. Hope it helps if you have any other questions i could answer plz let me know I still have friends stationed there so I may be able to get more detailed information for you.

Atsugi is ok. Yokosuka is a bigger base and it has a lot more going on right outside the front gate (bar district - though that's shady, a mall, more stores) and Yokosuka also has the better exchange, commissary, 2 movie theaters, a bigger base club, better MWR programs like outdoor rec, more restaurants (Chilis, chinese, long john silvers, cinnabon, and of course your food court standards like popeyes, taco bell, starbucks, mcdonalds) and more housing. They also have the hospital there that would be better for your athsma. They do have a lot more GS jobs that open up there. I've been here (Atsugi) since August (2nd tour) and I just got offered a GS-7 position today. BUT - it was through the Army at a little base in Yokohama - which is the halfway point between atsugi and yokosuka. There's not a lot that opens up in Atsugi. The thing about Astugi is that it's an air base so it's much more aeshtetically pleasing than Yokosuka - which looks more industrial. Also, Atsugi is very close to an Army base called Camp Zama which also has a lot of different options available - a NICE gym with a jacuzzi and two tanning beds, a kick ass bowling alley and snack bar, a decent sized club that also has awesome sunday brunch for cheap, and alternative brands to the NEX because they have a PX. When it comes to housing, the dog might be an issue but it might not - because you guys are sans kids, you could get a 2 bedroom which are always available and I think thy have garden apartments that would allow your dog.I would recommend living on base here just because you aren't going to get anywhere near the same square footage here that you do in Italy (We were in Sig for 3 years too) and the houses are VERY VERY cold in the winters, which happen to be fairly dreary with freezing rains! lol If you live off base though and you do take the orders to Atsugi but you want to live out away from the base, I would suggest to try yokohama. However, I think that the housing office here wants you to only use their listings so thats something else to think about. I hope this is helpful to you. I live in Atsugi and I will be commuting to Yokohama everyday so it's not impossible. Either choice is good and bad, ya know? And if you can't get a job on base, teaching English out here will make you a killing!

For one, Atsugi is quiet in my own oppinion. When the GW leaves the base is dead. Yoko is a bigger base but Its further away from areas like Yokohama, Tokyo, or any other places then if you were on Atsugi. Yoko has more to offer becuase of all the people on the base. The only things I dont like is that the NEX and Commissary hours do not work with my schedual since im an MA and work funky hours. Also with the ship is back all the planes come back and they are LOUD!!!! very loud and they start at 8am sometimes. What I like about it is that its the closest base to Tokyo and the surroding area is nice. Everything is located in the center of the base pretty much so you can really walk to everything if you had to.

Yoko is about 35-45min drive from Atsugi and the traffic in Japan is NO JOKE, you can easily sit in traffic for an hour or two on certain days. And its 2200yen or about $23 to and from Yoko.

MWR fac. are nice and I like the tours they offer and it seems that Atsugi's theater shows the most movies. And the golf course just got a new club house and Its nice. The gyms are not to big but are nice. And the NEX is getting expanded and it should be done later this year.

For as far as Japan goes... I love being here, Ive climbed Fuji and been to many places. I highly encourge that you get off base and explore. Japan is so beautiful and there is so much to do.

For your dog, you will have to take your dog to the Army base which is like 15min east of Atsugi to the Vet clinic and have a tracking chip implanted and registered. And a old base that is mostly closed down but still has a opperational dog kennel is called Kamiseya which is like 15-20min from the base. But soon a kennel will be avalible on Atsugi once MWR moves in.

Sorry I really dont really know much about your asthma. All I can say is if you go to the ER and its bad enough they will transport you to Yokosuka.

I live on base and cant really say much about off base housing... sorry.

Yoko and Atsugi are two completely different bases with different experiences. Which ever you guys choose you should have a wonderful time here. And if you have any other questions about Atsugi send me an email.

Yokosuka is like living in New York City.

Atsugi is like living in a small hometown place.

There are advantages and disadvantages in both places.

Hi,

The big problem that Atsugi HAD was the incinerator that WAS near the base.  It is no longer in operation.

My sailor hubby and I may be going to Atsugi with our two dogs.  I googled the base (of course) and came up with a few articles about the Jinkanpo Atsugi Incinerator.  I know it's closed down now, but I'm interested in hearing from people who are currently there.

Is the air really dirty?  Do you have mysterious health problems?  I'm excited about the prospect of moving to Japan, but I admit I'm a bit worried about this Incinerator business.

xoxo

PS. I know this seems to be an unpopular topic, but I wanted to hear from people who are there now.

Atsugi allows retirees to eat at the galley on-base, unlike Yokosuka which allows all civilians to eat there just once a month to throw everybody a bone. Don't get me started on this issue.

Posted By WutUpWitDat on 18 Feb 2010 05:53 PM
Yokosuka is like living in New York City.

haha, got a good laugh out of that. Yoko = NY... NOT! Maybe more like San Jose CA.

There are advantages and disadvantages in both places.

This one, I do agree with.  The thing is, every base is the world is the greatest place to live. Every base in the world sucks. It all depends on who you ask. I'm very happy in little, tiny Iwakuni but I know people who are utterly miserable here and can't imagine a worse place to live.

Take opinions with a grain of salt. The factual replies are fine (though I saw competing "facts" above about distance to Yokohama & tolls to Yokosuka.)  The main thing is to come with a good attitude and a determination to enjoy your stay. Since you're coming from Italy, you probably have that adventurous spirit needed to thrive in new surroundings.  Both bases are fine, and finding that "good paying" job wherever you go will be tough, but not impossible. Be prepared for disappointment & frustration until you land that perfect job.

BTW (and this is unfounded hearsay) I do hear a lot of gripes about a certain "mafia" controlling the federal job market in Yokosuka. I haven't heard a similar complaint about Atsugi. People stationed there will know what I'm talking about and can probably attest whether or not this is a problem.