The US has a number of military bases abroad, one of which is Camp Zama in Japan. This is a purpose-built base and is just 40km from Tokyo. This used to be a very rural part of the country; however, the building of the base and the arrival of the military meant that a lot of investment was made in the area, which is now a very urban area with military homes both on and off the base.
Originally the base was not used by the US military; instead, it was used to train soldier for the Japanese army and the Japanese emperor had a special road built to take him to the camp so that he could inspect the soldiers. It was also home to a secret shelter for the emperor in case there were any major problems. This road is now Route 51, which is widely used. This military base plays an important role in the area and took part in rescue operations after the tsunami and nuclear disaster in 2011.
When it comes to military housing at Camp Zama, your first port of call should be the Directorate of Public Works. Arranging accommodation as far in advance as possible is the best option and there is accommodation available for both single officers and families. The best course of action is to contact the accommodation office and find out what your options are and what procedures you should follow to ensure that your move goes smoothly.
