We drove or took the train all over Japan, and LOVED it! We also hit Taiwan (fascinating country!), Hong Kong (twice), China, Australia, Thailand and Korea. Wish we'd gotten to Vietnam, New Zealand and Singapore. I wanted to go to Cambodia too, but that was more difficult for my husband to get permission to go there.

It was not as cheap as I'd hoped to get to Australia, but it was cheaper than flying from the U.S. I flew to meet my husband in Brisbane on a port visit. Do make sure 1. you have a visa for the countries requiring it, like Australia, and 2. that you have your SOFA re-entry stamp in your passport.

Where in Japan are you headed? Sounds like your kids are GREAT ages for travel. Have a wonderful time!

I agree with everything Carolie just said. We have visited the same places pretty much.

Estimates for # of times: I forget. lol
- Hong Kong 4 times
- Thailand 7 times
- Australia 3 times
- Singapore 3 times
- Guam 5 times
- Korea 4 times

I am hoping to visit cambodia soon. I want to do a 2 week trip and just travel all around thailand, cambodia, vietnam, etc...

I have found memories and great stories for all places I visited. Also have some horrid stories I wish I could forget. But I am truly happy that in the past 9 years living in Yokosuka I have had the opportunity to visit all the countries I have.

I came to Japan when I was 19 years old, Imagine that. Seeing the world was a very exciting time for me. I am now 28 years old, and don't regret a minute of it.

Japan itself is beautiful and I have also been to several places. I don't know if I would of been many places in japan if it wasn't for my japanese wife who was my tour guide. lol.... She helps me out a ton, I guess having a spouse that is japanese and compared to someone who doesn't we see japan differently. She explains a lot more about the culture and just little things that most people wouldn't be able to understand.

Your kids are at a great age to experience japan and have found memories for the rest of their lives. They will remember about here forever.

Have a wonderful stay and I'm sure you will fill us in on your adventures here at JB!

Take care.

www.japanbases.com

Wow Carolie and Adam! you are true world travelers! I have not done much traveling from the states, just a cruise and to other states visiting family, so I am really going to be leaving my comfort zone. BUT, I really am determined to make the most of this tour in Japan.
We will be stationed at Atsugi. How long have you been in Japan Carolie?
I am very excited for my kids to have this experience, like you bot said, they really are at great ages for it!

We were in Sasebo for four years, Dana Lynn...and loved it. We just moved to Virginia in February, and I am having a hard time adjusting to being back in the U.S.!

We traveled as much as we could afford, and I hope someday to go back to Thailand and Taiwan -- and to see Cambodia and Vietnam! But driving around Japan was fantastic, too, and much easier than I thought it would be. I learned a smidgen of Japanese (still trying to learn more!) but the universal smile works wonders, no matter where in the world you are.

For us, in Sasebo, it was very easy to jump on the hydrofoil over to Korea (fantastic shopping, great food!) It took me a while to get up the courage to drive further than Kyushu, but once I did, it was fantastic.

Have a blast, and don't hesitate to pm me directly for more info!

Oh....two things that really helped me: 1. get a Japanese language course you and your kids can use. I recommend Rosetta Stone, even though it's not cheap. 2. Get a hiragana workbook or two on Amazon (or maybe your local bookstore can order for you). The hiragana helped me a lot, as did the katakana. If you can sound things out using those two syllabaries (they are phonetic, not pictographs like kanji), that will go a long way to helping you figure out menus and sometimes street signs.

Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Guam, Tioman Island, Bali, Hong Kong....my goal was to fill up my passport.  I was one page short and then accidentally washed my passport in my pants pocket!  So much for all the cool stamps that washed away!  

By the way, No. 1 Travel has a really good deal right now to Australia..  Only 15,000Y from Narita to Cairns.  Two people have to travel together.....I've never seen it that cheap!  I wish I could go, but I already made plans to Koh Samui and can't cancel my reservations.  

Traveling around the world was part of my reason for wanting to move back to Japan.  It really is so much easier to see the world here than from the U.S.  Plus, flights outta Narita are quite reasonable if you time it right.  I find that most places in Asia are really cheap.....hotels, food, shopping!  Life is an adventure!  Take advantage of it and see the world while you are here! 

WOW that is an incredible deal to Cairns!! Wish I was there, I'd go!

Here's the website for anyone interested:

http://www.no1-travel.com/offer/jqsale.html

I went to Brisbane, Australia last summer...Had to leave kids behind as it cost the same to fly down under as it was to fly home. Would love to go again this summer and take the family but I haven't found any good deals.
Your kids are the right age for all the traveling. I spent 3yrs in Sasebo and came with a 6month old...Needless to say I didn't get out much until the last year we were there...Boohooo~we are now in yokosuka and hoping I can get out more but having a hard time making friends.

The 15,000 yen doesn't include taxes and fees though. =( Still cheap though!

I went to Australia during the off season and paid $700. We went to Sydney, Gold Coast, and Brisbane. Sydney was by far my favorite!!! I still want to go to Cairnes though.

We've been to Seoul also, but I have family there (although it had been 30 years since I'd seen them) which helped out a ton. We were SUPER spoiled...they paid for the apartment we "lived" in for a week in the heart of Seoul, rented a van and had one of our family members take us a different place every day we were there.

Singapore is next for us, I think.