U.S. Army Garrison Torii Station

Branch: U.S. Army
Location: Yomitan, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan
Installation Type: U.S. Army Garrison (USAG) / Communications and Support Facility
Status: Active

Overview

U.S. Army Garrison Torii Station (USAG Okinawa) is a U.S. Army installation located in Yomitan Village, Okinawa, Japan, approximately 25 km north of Naha. Named for the traditional Japanese Shinto torii gates at its entrance, the installation serves as the primary U.S. Army presence in Okinawa and provides base operations support to Army units on the island and at 16 sites across Japan, including Camp Zama on Honshu. Torii Station is home to special operations forces, communications units, and the 10th Support Group, which serves as the senior Army command on Okinawa. The garrison supports approximately 5,000 personnel and is closely linked with the U.S. Air Force’s Kadena Air Base approximately 15 km south.

Mission & Units

Primary Mission: Provide installation support, communications, logistics, and sustainment services to U.S. Army forces in Okinawa and across Japan; support joint and combined operations in the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command area.
Major Units: 10th Support Group (Regional) – senior Army command on Okinawa; 1st Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne); 835th Transportation Battalion; 505th Quartermaster Battalion; 83rd Ordnance Battalion; 35th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion (CSSB); 58th Signal Battalion
Tenant Units: 247th Military Police Detachment; 1-1 Air Defense Artillery elements; various communications and intelligence support units; USO facility

Location & Access

Nearest Major City: Okinawa City (approximately 15 km southeast); Naha, Okinawa (approximately 25 km south)
Nearest Commercial Airport: Naha Airport (OKA) approximately 30 km south; Kadena Air Base (adjacent USAF installation, approximately 15 km south) handles military air movement
Gate Access: Main gate off Highway 58 in Yomitan; CAC or military ID required; visitor passes at Visitor Control Center with military sponsor coordination; Japanese national employees require badge access

Population

Active Duty Personnel: Approximately 2,500-3,000
Family Members: Approximately 1,500-2,000
Civilian Employees: Approximately 500
Total Installation Population: Approximately 5,000 (including contractors and Japanese national employees)

Key Facilities

Medical: Medical Clinic at Torii Station providing primary care for active duty personnel; family members and more complex cases referred to Brian Allgood Army Community Hospital at Camp Humphreys (Korea) or U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa at Camp Foster; Kadena AB clinics accessible for Tricare beneficiaries
Commissary: Small commissary on post; full-size commissary at Kadena Air Base (approximately 15 km south) and Camp Foster
Exchange (PX/BX/NEX): Small AAFES facility on post; full exchange at Kadena Air Base for larger shopping
Fitness & Recreation: Fitness center on post; outdoor recreational areas; beach access on Okinawa’s western coast; MWR programs; Scuba diving and water sports popular; proximity to Kadena and Marine Corps bases provides additional MWR options
Schools: DoDEA schools primarily accessed at Kadena and Camp Foster areas; school bus service from Torii Station to DoDEA Okinawa schools; DoDEA operates multiple K-12 schools across Okinawa
Childcare: Limited on-post CDC; families often use Kadena CDC or Camp Foster CDC; register early through Child and Youth Services; coordination with USAG Okinawa required
Veterinary Services: Limited on-post; veterinary services primarily at Camp Foster or Kadena AB; Japanese civilian veterinarians available in Yomitan and Okinawa City
Legal Assistance / JAG: Legal Assistance through USAG Okinawa (Camp Zama is the administrative parent USAG); coordination with Marine Corps Legal offices at Camp Foster often available; appointment-based

Housing

On-Post Housing: Family housing available on Torii Station; limited number of units; some families housed at Marine Corps installations on Okinawa (Camp Foster, Camp Kinser area); unaccompanied personnel in barracks
Average Wait Time: Varies; on-post housing often available within weeks for accompanied personnel; Marines and Army share housing resources across Okinawa
Off-Post Housing: Japanese economy housing available in Yomitan and surrounding communities; Japanese-style apartments and houses; Housing Services Office assists with Japanese lease contracts; average rent approximately 80,000-150,000 yen/month; Western-style appliances may not be compatible with 100V Japanese electrical system
BAH Rate Reference: Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA) applies; Okinawa OHA reflects Japanese housing costs; check current OHA rates at Defense Travel Management Office (dtmo.mil)

PCS & Newcomer Info

Sponsorship Program: Contact gaining unit upon receipt of orders; USAG Okinawa newcomer information available at home.army.mil/okinawa; sponsor assigned by unit
In-Processing: Report to USAG Torii Station Welcome Center; SOFA briefing, force protection orientation, and Japan-specific training required; in-processing takes approximately 3-5 business days; Okinawa-specific driver’s license and vehicle registration orientation included
EFMP (Exceptional Family Member Program): USAG Okinawa ACS; enrollment required; assess availability of specialist services; Okinawa has limited English-language specialist medical care; U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa at Camp Foster provides most specialty services; severe cases may require medical evacuation to Tripler Army Medical Center (Hawaii) or CONUS

OCONUS-Specific Information

SOFA Status: U.S. Forces Japan operate under the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA); provides framework for base access, jurisdiction, customs exemptions, and vehicle operations; Japanese government retains primary jurisdiction over criminal acts committed off-base involving Japanese nationals; SOFA is subject to periodic review and has been a sensitive political issue in Okinawa
Host Nation Rules: Japanese traffic law applies off-base; drive on the LEFT (opposite to U.S.); speed limits in km/h; blood alcohol limit is 0.03% (extremely strict, essentially zero tolerance); Japanese society values politeness, order, and harmony; noise levels and public behavior standards are conservative; removing shoes when entering homes and some businesses is expected
Curfew Policy: U.S. Forces Japan (USFJ) curfew in effect; military curfew typically midnight to 0500 for most personnel (verify current policy with USFJ PAO as it is subject to change); curfew applies on all Japanese territory not within U.S. base perimeters; Okinawa has historically had stricter curfew enforcement than mainland Japan
Ration Card / Customs: Ration Control Program in effect; purchase limits on controlled items (alcohol, tobacco, electronics) to prevent black market sales; ration control violations are serious criminal offenses under UCMJ; duty-free import of personal goods per SOFA provisions; customs declaration required when entering Japan
Vehicle Registration & Licensing: U.S. Forces Japan license plate and SOFA vehicle registration required; Japanese Inland Revenue and customs procedures for importing POVs; LEFT-hand traffic requires significant adjustment (U.S.-spec cars have steering wheel on left but traffic flows on left in Japan); many personnel use local Japanese vehicles; Japanese Driving License for SOFA personnel obtained through installation process; motorcycle requirements are stringent
Language & Culture: Japanese (including Okinawan dialect/Uchinaaguchi); English minimally spoken off-base outside tourist areas; Japanese culture values respect, hierarchy, indirect communication, and group harmony; bowing is standard greeting; ACS provides cultural orientation; Japanese language classes available; Okinawan culture has distinct traditions from mainland Japan
Currency & Banking: Japanese Yen (JPY); AAFES and Commissary accept USD and Yen; military banking (Naha Branch of NFCU or equivalent); Japanese ATMs (7-Eleven, Japan Post) accept U.S. cards; currency exchange on post
Travel Restrictions: Japan domestic travel generally unrestricted for leave; travel to some foreign countries requires command notification; USFJ liberty policy governs off-base movement; Okinawa Prefecture offers excellent in-country travel options
Mail: APO AP 96376 (Torii Station); delivery from CONUS typically 10-21 days; Japanese postal service (Japan Post) available locally; customs restrictions apply to packages entering Japan
Pets: Japan requires rabies vaccination and Japanese government import procedures; 180-day advance planning minimum required for pet import to Japan (microchip must be implanted before rabies vaccination for valid import documentation); USDA accreditation and Japanese Ministry of Agriculture approval required; Animal Quarantine Service (AQSIQ) inspection upon arrival; process can take up to 6 months if not properly prepared; start planning immediately upon receipt of orders; no quarantine if all requirements are met in advance

Local Area & Quality of Life

Climate: Subtropical oceanic; hot humid summers (average high 32C/90F July-September); mild winters (average low 15C/59F January-February); typhoon season June-November (evacuation and preparation protocols in place); year-round outdoor activities possible
Cost of Living: Moderate; Okinawa is less expensive than mainland Japan; OHA and COLA apply; Japanese grocery stores are good value; on-post facilities provide competitive pricing; eating local Japanese food is very affordable and excellent quality
Nearby Attractions: Okinawa’s pristine beaches and clear Pacific Ocean waters; Shurijo Castle (UNESCO World Heritage Site, Naha); Churaumi Aquarium (one of world’s largest); American Village (Chatan) for shopping and entertainment; Okinawan cuisine (Champuru, Goya, Awamori); Cape Maeda for scuba diving; year-round water sports
Spouse Employment: Limited English-language employment on the small Torii Station installation; Kadena and Camp Foster areas offer more NAF and DoDEA employment options; English teaching at local Japanese schools possible; remote work common; ACS Employment Readiness Program assists

Contact & Resources

Official Website: https://home.army.mil/okinawa
Main Installation Phone: DSN 634-1110; civilian +81-98-965-1110
MWR Website: https://okinawa.armymwr.com
ACS / Fleet & Family / Airman & Family Readiness: Army Community Service (ACS), USAG Okinawa; DSN 634-4061; relocation assistance, financial readiness, employment readiness, cultural orientation, family advocacy

Last updated: 2026-02-23
Sources: https://home.army.mil/okinawa; https://installations.militaryonesource.mil/in-depth-overview/torii-station; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torii_Station; https://www.army-technology.com/projects/united-states-army-garrison-torii-station-japan; Joseph L. Jordan, Attorney at Law