Iwakuni MCAS » DoD Schools
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Schools (on base)
Matthew C. Perry Elementary School
Contact Info for All DoDDS Schools in Japan
There is a school bus for kindergarten kids on base, but all other grades on-base must walk to school (or bike, car, etc.). If you live off-base, there is a bus system for all grades.
If you are coming from the USA, it may seem strange to let your little first grader walk to school by him/herself, but that is one of the beautiful things about Japan. Young children customarily walk to/from school all throughout Japan and it is very safe. There is a sort of “social network” that continuously watches over all the little kids. It is one of the cutest things you will ever see, to watch all the little Japanese kids with their uniforms and matching backpacks, walking along the roads each day. It is also very common for older Japanese citizens to volunteer as road crossing guards at areas where the small children cross. Everyone looks out for the little ones and it truly is very safe. On base, it is more of a free-for-all chaos when school gets out and everyone is scattering to go home. But again, the base is very safe and it is standard practice for any child to walk without worry.
