PCS to Japan

A PCS to Japan, for any branch, needs the steps below. They are not an order. Start pet blood tests many months before the flight. A late test can mean quarantine.

Housing money is explained on OHA overseas. Base pages are linked at the bottom. Nothing in the table above is a guaranteed payment.

PCS to Japan checklist

https://nextbaseguide.com/guides/pcs-to-japan/

Last checked: 17 October 2026

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When you have orders

• Contact the transportation office at your current installation as soon as you have orders. That office helps with entitlements, the household-goods shipment, and problems with the moving company. Military OneSource.
• Book and track the shipment in the Defense Personal Property System.
• Ask that office what your weight allowance is. Military OneSource.
• If family is coming, ask for command sponsorship. It is not guaranteed. If it is approved, your orders say dependents are authorized. Military OneSource.
• A unit sponsor is not command sponsorship. Ask the gaining unit for a sponsor. Military OneSource.

Driving

• You need a U.S. Forces Japan operator's permit, USFJ Form 4EJ, to drive. U.S. Forces Japan study guide.
• On Okinawa, bring a valid state, U.S. territory, or USFJ-approved country license when you apply. Marine Corps Installations Pacific.pdf?ver=-fgiXQSu_9a8a_OQVuzMtw%3D%3D).
• In Japan, traffic keeps to the left. Passing is usually on the right.
• If you drive, be ready to show the permit, proof of Japanese compulsory insurance, and property-damage liability insurance.

Pets

• Implant the microchip before any rabies shot or blood test. The number has to be on the certificates. U.S. Army Japan veterinary service.
• Dogs and cats need two inactivated rabies shots at least 31 days apart, then a rabies blood test (FAVN).
• Dogs and cats under 12 months rarely meet those rules. They can still come, and they start with 180 days of quarantine.
• Pit bulls, Rottweilers, Doberman pinschers, Chows, wolf hybrids, and mixes of those breeds cannot be brought to mainland Japan or Okinawa. Exotic pets are also prohibited.

Allowances

• Contact the gaining housing office for housing options, and for Overseas Housing Allowance if installation housing is not available. Military OneSource.
• Overseas Housing Allowance is paid toward rent, utilities and recurring maintenance, and move-in costs for privately leased housing. Apply with DD Form 2367 and a copy of the lease. DTMO.
• Look up the rate for your locality. A rate for another locality does not apply. DTMO OHA Rate Lookup.
• Overseas COLA offsets higher prices of non-housing goods and services. It is not a fixed amount. Do not build a budget that depends on it. DTMO.

Base guides

• Camp Zama — Zama, Japan.
• CATC Camp Fuji — Gotemba, Japan.
• CFA Sasebo — Sasebo, Japan.
• CFA Yokosuka — Yokosuka, Japan.
• Kadena AB — Okinawa, Japan.
• MCAS Iwakuni — Iwakuni, Japan.
• Misawa AB — Misawa, Japan.
• NAF Atsugi — Atsugi, Japan.
• Yokota AB — Fussa, Japan.
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• OHA overseas