From the Airport - Arrival Information
Welcome to Japan
For those of you assigned duty with United States Army Japan and I Corps (Forward), United States Army Garrison-Japan, or one of the other units/activities in the Camp Zama area, you will usually arrive in Japan at either Yokota Air Base or Narita (Tokyo) International Airport.
For those being assigned to Okinawa, most will be assigned to either Torii Station or nearby Kadena Air Base. Many of the support facilities are at Kadena AB, therefore, information you will need is at: Kadena Air Base
Arrival at Yokota Air Base
Yokota AB is about 25 miles from Camp Zama and takes about 90 minutes to drive. There is no regularly scheduled bus service. Contact your sponsor to have them either meet you at Yokota AB upon your arrival or have an Army vehicle with driver meet you. You must have your gaining unit’s sponsor make the vehicle reservation for you at least several days before you and/or your family arrives in Japan.
After your flight arrives, you will be met by an Air Mobility Command (AMC) representative who will guide you through immigration and customs clearance procedures. You will then pick up your bags and go through the customs inspection area for inbound customs inspection. If any of your baggage is missing or damaged, you should file a claim with Lost and Found before you leave the baggage area.
Once you are cleared, you should be met by your sponsor. If you know that only a vehicle will be there, proceed to the parking lot on the north side of the terminal where your driver will be waiting.
If you have a pet accompanying you, please see “Travelling with Pets” section below.
Arrival at Narita (Tokyo) International Airport
Narita (Tokyo) International Airport is about 75 miles from Camp Zama.
When you arrive at Narita IAP you will first clear Japanese quarantine before proceeding to Immigrations, both on the second floor. Once cleared through Immigration, you will proceed to the first floor to claim your baggage at the designated baggage carousel. Once you have your baggage, proceed to a Customs counter for final clearance into Japan.
If you have a pet accompanying you, please see “Travelling with Pets” section below.
Arrival at Haneda International Airport
Narita IAP or Yokota AB are the preferred arrival gateways for newcomers and those on temporary duty. However, if your itinerary absolutely must use Haneda IAP, contact your sponsor well in advance so your sponsor can arrange Army transportation from Haneda IAP as there is no daily MWR bus service like that from Narita IAP.
Commercial bus and train transportation is readily available at: http://www.usarj.army.mil/information/Haneda_Airport.pdf.
Taxis to Camp Zama are very expensive and can easily exceed $300 which is usually not reimbursable for official travel.
Army MWR Bus Transportation from Narita to Camp Zama
Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) offers two shuttle buses each day leaving Narita IAP at 4 and 7 p.m., for Sagamihara Family Housing Area and Camp Zama. There are two stops at Camp Zama, the first at the Community Club and the final stop at the Army Lodging Office.
Most American commercial flights arrive at Terminal 1. (If you arrive at Terminal 2, take the free shuttle bus to Terminal 1. Go to the end of the North Wing of Terminal 1, where there is a DoD Liaison Desk, and tell the representative you are going to Camp Zama. The bus will be available for boarding about 90 minutes before departure. The cost is $30 per passenger. No yen, credit cards, debit cards or personal checks are accepted. The bus takes about three hours and does not make stops, but has a restroom aboard. It is best to carry snacks or nonalcoholic refreshments with you before boarding the bus.
Children under 45 pounds, who would not normally use a seat belt, are required to have a child safety seat which the sponsor must provide. Children are not allowed to ride on laps.
Pets are allowed on the MWR bus, but pet kennel dimensions cannot exceed 16” wide x 16” high x 20” deep. Each pet kennel meeting these requirements will be changed $30. If kennels exceed this dimension, contact your sponsor to arrange alternate transportation.
Air Force MWR Bus from Narita to Yokota Air Base
Air Force MWR Bus from Narita to Yokota Air Base
There are a few Army people who will work at Yokota Air Base. Air Force MWR offers three shuttle buses each day leaving Narita IAP at 4, 6 and 8 p.m. The 8 p.m., bus makes a stop at the New Sanno Hotel in Tokyo before continuing to Yokota AB. On arrival at Yokota AB all buses stop at the Kanto Lodge and then the east side transient lodging facility.
Most American commercial flights arrive at Terminal 1. (If you arrive at Terminal 2, take the free shuttle bus to Terminal 1. Go to the end of the North Wing of Terminal 1, where there is a DoD Liaison Desk, and tell the representative you are going to Yokota AB. The bus will be available for boarding about 30 minutes before departure. The cost for leisure or official travel is $40 or Japanese Yen equivalent per adult passenger. Children 12 and under are $30 per passenger and children three years old or younger are free if they sit on the sponsor’s lap. Up to two pieces of luggage is free, but each bag beyond two is $10 each. No credit cards, debit cards or personal checks are accepted. The bus takes about three hours and makes one rest stop. It is best to carry snacks or nonalcoholic refreshments with you before boarding the bus.
NO pets are allowed on the MWR bus. You must arrange alternative transportation with your sponsor to transport pets.
Commercial Transportation from Narita to Camp Zama
Taxis to Camp Zama are very expensive and can easily exceed $400 and usually are not reimbursed for official travel.
In the event that no transportation arrangements have been made or you arrive after the 7 p.m., Army bus departs, and you have not made prior arrangements with your sponsor, there are alternatives using commercial bus and train transportation. The bottom line is to work closely with your sponsor because hauling your luggage around can be overwhelming and you cannot take more than one suitcase and a small carry-on per person on the trains. Also, pets are not permitted on commercial buses or trains.
Commercial Limousine Bus to Camp Zama
There are three commercial limousine bus companies which provide transportation relatively close to Camp Zama. The destination is Sagami-Ono (相模大野). Bus tickets range between $35~40 for each adult passenger and are less expensive for children. Purchase tickets from one of the commercial bus companies in the arrival lounge area. Follow their instructions for departure time and bus stop number.
When arriving at Sagami-Ono, you will then need to take a commercial taxi to Camp Zama Main Gate 1. Commercial taxis are not permitted to enter the installation so you must get off at the Main Gate. There are no on-post taxis either, so you should call ahead for your sponsor to pick up there or you will walk to Army Lodging.
Trains to Camp Zama
There are two lines that operate from Narita IAP. The Keisei Skyliner and the N’EX Narita Express.
N’EX Narita Express
The N’EX Narita Express operates trains from the lower level of Narita IAP Terminals 1 and 2. The trains run throughout the day on a regular schedule. There are N’EX Narita Express representatives who will help you get your ticket. Ticket turnstiles into and out of stations, as well as nearly all ticket vending machines, are automated. After you insert your ticket is will reappear about 30 inches from where you inserted it in the turnstile. Keep your ticket as you will need it to exit the station on the end of your leg. Do not bend or mutilate your ticket. The N’EX Narita Express rail line takes about 83 minutes to Shinjuku Station (新宿) and costs ¥3110 for ordinary car and ¥4600 for the green car.
At Shinjuku Station look for directions to the Odakyu Line (小田急線). Again, there is a representative to buy tickets, to tell you which train to take, and which track to board from. The closest train station to Camp Zama is Sobudaimae Station (相武台前). At Sodudaimae Station turn right after exiting the train ticket turnstile. Go down the stairs to street level and turn a half-right again. You will see a street signal right in front of you, cross the street and continue walking straight to Camp Zama’s Gate 4 pedestrian gate, or you can take a taxi to Camp Zama Main Gate 1. Beware of traffic especially if you are not familiar with driving on the opposite side of the road from the U.S.
Keisei Skyliner
The Keisei Skyliner operates trains from the lower level of Narita IAP Terminals 1 and 2. The trains run throughout the day on a regular schedule and are ¥2400 per passenger, half fare for children. There are Keisei representatives who will help you get your ticket. Ticket turnstiles into and out of stations, as well as nearly all ticket vending machines, are automated. After you insert your ticket it will reappear about 30 inches from where you inserted it in the turnstile. Keep your ticket as you will need it to exit the station on the end of your leg. Do not bend or mutilate your ticket. The Keisei Skyliner rail line takes 41 minutes to the final stop, Keisei-Ueno Station (京成上野).
Upon arrival at Keisei-Ueno Station, you will then take the underground to Ueno Station (上野) for the Japan Rail (JR) train lines. From an automated vending machine, purchase a ticket for Shinjuku Station (新宿). Though there may be a language barrier, most Japanese will help you determining the price and buying your tickets. The green Yamanote Line (山手線) is a circle train, so if you head in the longer direction, don’t worry because the price and destination is the same.
At Shinjuku Station look for directions to the Odakyu Line (小田急線). Again, there is a representative to tell you which train to take and which track to board from. The closest train station to Camp Zama is Sobudaimae Station (相武台前). From Sodudaimae Station turn right after exiting the train ticket turnstile. Go down the stairs to street level and turn half-right again. You will see street signal right in front of you, cross the street and continue walking straight to Camp Zama’s Gate 4 pedestrian gate, or you can take a taxi to Camp Zama Main Gate 1.
Money Exchange
Once you leave Customs and Immigrations and enter the arrival lobby on the first floor, there is a bank for money exchange. Prior to exchanging your U.S. dollars for Yen, complete the form on the desk in front of the money exchange window. Purchase sufficient Yen for buying snacks to consume aboard Army buses and vehicles or for purchasing tickets on commercial trains or buses.
Calling Telephone Numbers from Narita IAP
The DoD Liaison Desk in the North Wing of Terminal 1 has a telephone for official calls which connects to a military operator. Just pick up the phone and when the operator answers, tell them the DSN number you need and they will connect you. Commercial telephones are also available for a fee based on distance and length of call. The Camp Zama operator is 046-251-1520 or you can call Camp Zama numbers directly by dialing 046-407-xxxx (just add the last four numbers of the DSN telephone number you would like to call).
Travelling with Pets
Pets may be brought to Japan as excess baggage on AMC charter flights that land at Yokota AB or on commercial flights that land at Narita IAP. Pets may also be shipped as commercial cargo to arrive to Narita IAP. Shipment of pets must be at the owner’s expense whether moving as excess baggage or commercial cargo.
Both Camp Zama and Yokota MWR have vehicles and drivers to transport you and your pet(s), but should be arranged well in advance. Work with your sponsor or contact the respective MWR early for pricing and availability.
It is extremely important that you have your required documentation in order.
More information is available at: http://www.usarj.army.mil/organization/vet/import.aspx
