What do you miss most about living in Okinawa?

Sgt Melinda Enfinger — Thu, 05 Feb 2015 13:49:06 -0500

With the advent of social media, I am reminded more often about the things that I took for granted while in the military and then as a military family member. If you were ever stationed in Okinawa, do you miss anything about it? Here's my incomplete list, what would you add to it?

Top 10 Things You Miss About Living In Okinawa | Listly List

Being stationed in Okinawa definitely has its benefits! Many of them we don't think about until we PCS back to the states. What did/do you enjoy or take for granted but now you miss (or will miss) being in the US? (CLICK THE "ADD TO LIST" LINK TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE LIST. IF YOUR FAVORITE SPOTS ARE ALREADY LISTED OR SOMEONE ADDS THEM, JUST VOTE FOR THEM RATHER THAN ADDING THEM MULTIPLE TIMES.) | The Vending Machines!!, CURRY HOUSE CoCo...

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 25 at 2015 5:21 PM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 17:21:22 -0500

I was never stationed in Okinawa. I was shipped to Futenma for 3 months when I worked at Raytheon. I enjoyed it, but I don't think I would want to live there for an extended time. My son was stationed at Johnson (I believe) and he hated it due to the off-duty restrictions. Finding friends that wanted to do the same things you did made it difficult to see all aspects of the culture.

Response by MSgt Michael Durkee made Feb 25 at 2015 8:17 PM

MSgt Michael Durkee — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 20:17:29 -0500

Yep, was stationed at Kadena AB for three years back in the late 90's. Loved Kadena Marina, Okuma, and most especially the "hot coffee" cans from the vending machines :)

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made Feb 26 at 2015 7:21 AM

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad — Thu, 26 Feb 2015 07:21:51 -0500

I was stationed there twice (1976-77 and 1982-83). I loved it there . . . I have often thought about going back to visit or maybe even to retire.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 26 at 2015 5:04 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 26 Feb 2015 17:04:10 -0500

In Korea there were vending machines for fish in plactic wrappers.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 26 at 2015 5:10 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 26 Feb 2015 17:10:36 -0500

I wasn't in Okinawa, but I was in Japan for a bit (Kure, Hiroshima Perfecture). The vending machines at every street corner with hot coffee and awesome fruit juices was pretty cool and I definitely wish I had one outside my house like I did in Japan! The food was amazing and I am still determined to make okinomiiyaki on my own. The neighborhood harvest festivals were always a lot of fun too (lots of saki)! But the people and the beauty of the land were probably the bet. Man, I want to get stationed back there again!

Response by Sgt Joshua Anderson made Mar 9 at 2015 2:36 PM

Sgt Joshua Anderson — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 14:36:02 -0400

I loved so much on that list. I would go back there in a heart beat. I should like to add Ziplining, scuba/snorkeling, the SEGA Arcade in American Village, all of American Village in general, the Habu Sake, Gate 2 and just about any karaoke there (specifically Good Times), Round 1... the list goes on but really it was a great place and I had a blast. I was on Camp Courtney from 2011-2013.

Response by 1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 11 at 2015 10:20 AM

1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 10:20:06 -0400

I was at Camp Courtney and miss nothing, except the $1.59 6 packs of Coors Light. Nothing good happen there. I got arresting for swimming in the base pool at 0330. Dislocated my shoulder playing hockey at the ice rink. Got thrown of the Kadena NCO Club. Coolest thing I did was typhoo poncho sailing at the barracks. Other than that it was uneventful.

Response by PO2 Randall Knight made Apr 12 at 2016 2:39 PM

PO2 Randall Knight — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 14:39:56 -0400

Yakisoba

Response by SPC David Whitney made Nov 29 at 2016 12:18 PM

SPC David Whitney — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 12:18:57 -0500

I was stationed on Okinawa in 1956-1958 when it was still pretty primitive. Haven't been back to Okinawa since but have spent time in Japan and the tremendous recovery there pretty well speaks for what must have happened in Okinawa since the '50s. Looking at Okinawa today on the Internet shows it has developed a lot like the Florida Keys where I lived for 25 years and the Bahamas - major tourist attraction!