My daughter is moving to Okinawa!
 

My daughter and her family are moving to Okinawa for a job at Kadena AFB. Her husband is a civilian but is employed by the U.S. Govt. Everyone is telling them that they are going to love it there -- that it's like living on a tropical island with gorgous beaches. What can you tell me about Okinawa? How hard is it to get there?
Thanks,
Sandy

Okinawa has been totally taken over by the American community - just be aware of that.

Jumbo,
Thanks for the information. I figured that was the case. We're probably going to go there for Christmas. What's there to do in Okinawa?
Thanks.

Okinawa is not a popular tourist destination on this site so I don?t think you will get many responses. A general site on tourism and culture in Okinawa is at www.pref.okinawa.jp/tour-e.html. I also found a homepage maintained by a US women who spent a year living in Okinawa as a Fulbright scholar, some of her impressions may be useful to your daughter; take a look at http://ucsu.colorado.edu/~jheath/okinawa.html

I am sure your daughter will be inundated with information about living in Okinawa by the US Army and related associations, like army wives groups. After a few months there, she would also be the best source for tourism information, IMO.

For weather in December, go to weatherbase.com.

I have been an expat for 15 years in Asia and Europe and think it is a great experience. Below are some websites dedicated to expatriate issues which your daughter may find useful:

www.expatexchange.com
www.expat-essentials.com
www.expatforum.com
www.expatnetwork.com
www.escapeartist.com/expatriate1/expatriate1.htm
www.outpostexpat.nl

She might also want to get the book called Culture Shock! Japan which gives information on customs and culture in Japan, most of which will be applicable to Okinawa as well. It is part of the Culture Shock Series of books printed by Graphic Arts Center Publishing Company. I have not seen the one for Japan but have used the series in other countries in Asia and found them to be very useful and accurate. You can buy them on the web or your local bookstore may have it or can order it for you. They also have a book on helping children adjust to expat life in general.

Finally the US Consulate in Okinawa may be a useful source of information about living and working on the island. Go to usembassy.state.gov/naha/

From my quick look on the web, most flights to Okinawa originate from Tokyo or Osaka, there are no direct flights from the US to Okinawa. The flight from Tokyo to Okinawa takes about 3 hours. There are lots of flights to Tokyo and Osaka from the US (both coasts and Chicago), so getting there should not be difficult.

northwest is a popular airline for trips to asia and has service through japan