If you can't anwser all of them, that is totally fine, any and all info would be really helpful! First let me start off by saying, My hubby is Army, E4. We are and have been married for 2 years.  He wants to be stationed in Japan and our reenlistment is coming up in a few weeks for base of choice and if he gets Japan thats definitely were he wants to go! I'd love any info you can provide on anything from cars to washers and dryers to housing waiting list. Any and all!! lol. We have a 6 month old son with a genetic mild skin condition but he is not and doesn't need to be on efmp, but we would prefer to be near a dermatology clinic! I don't know what base we'd be stationed at. Some of the major questions I have are:

How long is on base housing waiting list?

Would you suggest we brought our car with us ( Dodge Caliber)

How long did your command sponsorship take? We've been stationed in Germany but we payed out of pocket for me, don't want to do that again. I do already have a passport.

I'm thinking about purchasing a nice front loader washer and dryer, would it work in base housing? With or Without a converter?

How do ya'll like it over there? Everyone we've talked to here (Ft. Bliss) says that they love it, but i'd like others opinions too! 

1) Cars are usually not authorized overseas to Japan, they can be but then the cost of converting them is out of pocket. Plus they drive on the other side of the road. Buy a cheap used one there on the lemon lots that are on each base.

2) Washer/dryer if in housing are provided for you, so usually you do not take your own. They will store things for you at no charge.

3) Housing list will vary in wait times for what you qualify for and where you are going to be going.

4) sponsorship really does vary from command to command on how long it takes.

Where in Japan? The base location could change the answers.

Cars - the military will store one vehicle. You are not authorized to ship any new vehicles from the states. There is a Japanese embargo law that is the basis for this. In Okinawa you really wouldn't want to drive anything large or new.

In Okinawa base housing includes all appliances and will not remove appliances if you bring your own. Servicing your personal American appliances can be an issue. If you live off base and need appliances base will provide them.

Waits for base housing would really depend on when and where you are moving and it doesn't work like CONUS.

Passing a medical screening doesn't have anything to do with EFMP it actually has to do with whether or not the base you are going to can provide the medical care needed.

We are in Okinawa and like it. If you have questions about Okinawa I am happy to answer.

I'm in Japan now...but I'm in Yokosuka at the Navy base (main island), well, some people do bring their cars from the states over, but its super expensive. My DH's chief brought over his Escalade.

My command sponsorship took about 2 months (it really didnt even have to take that long, but the admin on the ship just let my paperwork sit...) It just depends on how the admin guy handles your package.

I wouldnt purchase the front loader washer and dryer, housing does provide them....and my wash room is pretty small. I left mine in the states. If something happens to the washer and dryer that comes with your place, you wont be held responible for any type of damages, but if yours leaks or something, then you have to pay for all of those damages

Waitlist can vary...where I am, if you are E7 and above, there was no wait for a 2 bdr townhome, but if you are E6 and below, the wait is 24 months... so it just depends on several factors

I dont need a convertor for any of my electronics....but my flat irons and hair dryer doesnt get all that hot like it did in the states, it gets hot, but not as hot as they can be, also when Im using the oven, if biscuits call for the oven to be heated to 375, I turn it up to 400, the clock on my Keurig runs veryyyyyyyyyy slow to the point where it eventually gets hours behind so I cant even use the program feature. But the rest of the clocks in the house run just fine, I have a rice maker and I am able to set the clock and program it with no problems either.

If it is a must your son has to be seen at a dermotologist, then you definitly need to call to make sure they have one. Otherwise, they wont approve you to come over. I'm sure his pediatrician will mark that he has to be seen by one. So make sure the facilities are available.....

We are on Okinawa as well, but getting ready to PCS to Zama this summer. We love it here- great weather Only bad thing I have to say about it is it's an island so you do tend to feel landlocked after awhile, but the beaches and beautiful oceans make up for it!!!

Housing is hit and miss- they're doing a lot of renovations right now so sometimes it's crazy and sometimes you can get in no problem depending what time of year you come over. We're Army too and we are actually stationed on Kadena because the Army base (Torii) only has housing for single soldiers.

It took us forever to get command sponsorship but only because we were held up by EFMP.

Not worth it to bring a car as the others have said- just put one in storage and sell any others you have. Cars are cheap here!