Base guide

Misawa Air Base

5 min read

  • 9 sections
  • 10 sources
On this page
  1. Liberty rules that apply across Japan
  2. Arriving and checking in
  3. Housing: on base first
  4. Driving and vehicles
  5. Medical and dental care
  6. Schools and child care
  7. Pets
  8. Legal assistance
  9. Before you leave the States

Misawa Air Base sits on the shores of Lake Ogawara in Misawa City, Aomori Prefecture, and the 35th Fighter Wing is its host unit, according to the MilitaryINSTALLATIONS page for Misawa, which calls it “the northernmost U.S. air base in Japan” and “the only combined, joint service installation in the Western Pacific.” The base runs an “On-Base First” housing policy, and from November through March the page warns Misawa “can receive up to 200 inches of snow or more.”

Liberty rules that apply across Japan

The same Misawa page publishes the “Liberty Policy for all U.S. Military Forces Located and Operating in Japan”, which applies to all military personnel located and operating in Japan who are subject to the authority of the commander of U.S. Pacific Command (CDRUSPACOM, as the policy writes it), including reservists in a reserve capacity, Guard members in Title 10 status, and personnel on TDY, leave or pass:

  • Curfew for 19 and under: all military personnel 19 years of age or below are subject to a curfew from 1 to 5 a.m. and must be on a U.S. installation, in a private off-installation residence, in a place of lodging, transiting directly between an airport and one of those places, or on official duty.
  • Alcohol, all ranks and ages: the legal drinking age in Japan is 20; off-installation public consumption of alcohol is prohibited from 1 to 5 a.m.
  • Driving: it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol content of 0.03% or more. Off base, the driver and all passengers can be charged with DUI, with a minimum fine of $10,000; the driver’s license is suspended for at least one year.

In October 2026, news reports described a temporary curfew for all personnel on Okinawa; see the Kadena Air Base guide.

Arriving and checking in

Most personnel arrive on the Patriot Express from Seattle; some fly commercially through Haneda to Misawa Airport, and your sponsor picks you up from either, per the Misawa check-in page. Report to your unit commander’s support staff the next duty day for in-processing checklists, pick up your post office box combination, and report to the housing office within 24 hours of arrival (DSN 315-226-3200).

Housing: on base first

The Misawa housing page sets the rules:

  • Since September 2009, Misawa has had an “On-Base First” family housing policy for active-duty accompanied members and co-located military couples.
  • Since Nov. 17, 2022, an “On-Base First” unaccompanied housing policy applies to members on unaccompanied orders from E-4 with 3 or more years in service through E-6: if on-base unaccompanied housing is available when you arrive, you must accept it.
  • Submit an advance application (DD Form 1746) and the Sex Offender Disclosure form with a full copy of your PCS orders as soon as you have orders; you can also apply on arrival.
  • All incoming personnel must report to the Misawa Housing Office within 24 hours of arriving. In October 2026 the page said to expect a wait of up to 1 month for a family housing assignment.

Family housing is in two areas, Main Base and North Area, about a 10-minute drive apart, with two- and three-bedroom apartments and two- to four-bedroom townhouses; the page lists two-bedroom units at 1,038 square feet, three-bedroom at 1,470 and four-bedroom up to 1,585. If you are authorized to live off base, expect to pay several upfront costs, including a month’s rent and a security deposit, before you move in; the housing office keeps off-base listings and names English-speaking agents.

Driving and vehicles

To drive on or off base you need a USFJ Form 4EJ (the SOFA license) and a current stateside or international license; the Misawa motor vehicles page warns that if your stateside license has expired and your state does not renew automatically for overseas personnel, you will not be able to get a 4EJ. The required driver’s training is online through Joint Knowledge Online and can be taken up to 60 days before you arrive. Each 4EJ holder may register one four-wheeled and one two-wheeled vehicle.

The page recommends not shipping a car to Misawa: Japanese law requires extensive conversion to Japanese specifications, which it says in almost all cases costs several thousand dollars at the owner’s expense. Vehicles are driven on the left-hand side of the road, with steering wheels on the right, the page adds.

Medical and dental care

The 35th Medical Group offers primary and limited specialty care, with space-available care for beneficiaries not enrolled in TRICARE Prime. All appointments go through central appointments: DSN 315-226-6111, option 1, option 1, or 011-81-176-77-6111. The 35th Dental Flight, DSN 315-226-6700, sees family members annually based on availability, per the Misawa health care page.

Emergencies, from the Misawa emergency assistance page:

  • On base: 911 from DSN or a home landline; 0176-53-1911 from a Japanese cell phone.
  • Off base: 119 for fire or medical, 110 for police.
  • Law Enforcement Desk (non-emergency): 0176-77-3600.

Schools and child care

Misawa has two DoDEA schools, Sollars Elementary School and Edgren Middle/High School, according to the Misawa education page; pre-K requires age 4 and kindergarten age 5 by September 1.

The Misawa child care page lists a Child Development Center for children 6 weeks to 5 years, School Age Care for kindergarten through sixth grade, and Family Child Care for ages 2 weeks to 12 years, including shift and weekend care. Child Care for PCS gives 20 hours of free care per child, used within 60 days of arriving at or leaving Misawa, through a licensed Family Child Care provider.

Pets

Japan’s import rules for pets from the United States (two rabies vaccinations, an antibody test, a 180-day wait and notification at least 40 days before arrival) are explained in the Kadena Air Base guide. The Misawa pet page adds that pets must be registered with the on-base Veterinary Treatment Facility, and that owners must keep an individual IATA-compliant carrier sized for their animal for mandatory movements or emergency evacuations.

The Misawa Air Base Legal Office serves military members, civilian employees, retirees, dependents and, with limited services, DoW contractors who bring a copy of their contract. Wills, advance medical directives, family and consumer law, and naturalization questions are by appointment, per the Misawa legal assistance page.

Before you leave the States

Renew your stateside driver’s license, take the online 4EJ course, send your housing application with your orders, and pack for snow if you arrive between November and March. If you are active duty and accompanied, or E-4 with 3 or more years in service through E-6 on unaccompanied orders, plan to live on base: under the “On-Base First” policies, that is where the housing office will place you first.

Sources

installations.militaryonesource.mil