Iwakuni MCAS » Transportation
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Transportation
Base Transportation Options:
Base Shuttle Bus – On base shuttle bus is free and runs approximately every 30 minutes at bus stops around the base, Mon-Sat 0600-2300, Sun 0800-2300, Holidays 0800-2300
MCCS Car Rental – Northside Auto Mini Mart (253-4245): Car rental $60 per day, van rental $70 per day. Price includes toll passes for the express way to your destination and back.
On-Base Taxi – MCCS offers Taxi service on-base only and only on Friday and Saturday nights from 1900 – 0330. You can call for a taxi on-base by dialing 253-5954. For Taxi’s that go off-base, see more info below.
Riding a Bicycle:
Most importantly, helmets are required on-base (but not off-base).
You are supposed to register all bicycles at PMO, so they have a registration sticker to prove it’s yours in case someone steals it. Bike theft does happen occasionally on the base, so you will want to lock your bike to a bike rack to prevent some knucklehead from taking what’s not theirs. I speak from experience on this. Luckily I was able to find my bike at the other end of the base parked in front of a squadron barracks. Interestingly, I have never had any problem with theft out in town, only on base; hmmm….
To ride at night, a headlight is required. If you want to use a taillight, too, that’s great, but it’s not a requirement.
No reflectors are required to actually be on the bike, but of course the more visible you make yourself, the better.
You are also supposed to wear reflective gear/clothing such as a vest or belt when riding at night.
Bike trailers are allowed to be used, and the kids are required to wear a helmet too.
And of course, you should always adhere to the rules of the road while riding your bicycle!
Taking a Taxi Off-base:
You should take at least 5000 Yen when you go off base, to cover transportation, food, and purchases. A cab ride from the base to downtown Iwakuni at the train station ranges from about 800 to 1500 Yen, depending on where you caught the cab on base. Food is a bit more expensive off base than what you might be accustomed to in the States, so plan on spending about 1500 yen ($15) per person in food if you plan to dine while you’re out, and of course take enough extra for any goodies you find to purchase!
When you are off-base and catching a taxi back home, be aware that not all cabs can come on base. Be sure you ask if they can come on base (typically they understand “On Base?” and “Crossroads Mall”, and it’s a nice central location), or you might end up dropped off at the Main Gate (almost all of them understand the phrase “Main Gate”) and walking!
If you need to call a cab to pick you up on base, Konai Taxi Service provides fast service to and from any location in Iwakuni, as advertised in the base’s Preview magazine. Just dial (from on base) 98-0827-21-1111 and speak very clearly, such as, “Pick up on base, building number 123.” The taxi will arrive very quickly, so be ready when you call!
Also, there are usually taxi’s waiting at the taxi lane near Crossroads, or you can try to thumb one driving by, but they are usually enroute with passengers already aboard or going to pick someone up who has already called, so it’s best to just call.
Local Train:
You can easily take the local Iwakuni train to Hiroshima (45 minutes) and other surrounding locations. Instructions are posted in English at the local Iwakuni train station for your convenience (instructions in English are NOT provided at other train stations). These are my instructions for traveling on the local train system in Japan, otherwise known as JR or Japan Railway.
STEP 1
Examine the posted train schedule, which shows the train destinations, times, track numbers, and status of the type of train (whether it is a regular train that stops at all the stations between destinations, or an express train that will skip the smaller stops and only stop at the larger stations along the way to save time to popular destinations; the express trains are colored in orange on the schedule).
Destination: The destinations are listed across the board in both Japanese and English.
Time: Near the train schedule will be a clock showing the official time. If there is a discrepancy between your watch and this time, use the time posted.
Time (Hours): The numbers down the left side of the display represent hours of the day that the train is in operation. The one pictured shows hours from 4 to 23 (0400 to 2300, or 4am to 11pm; the local train for Iwakuni is closed between the time the last train leaves for Hiroshima at 11:32pm and the time the first train leaves the next morning at 4:53am for Hiroshima).
Time (Minutes): The bottom numbers across from each of the hours represents minutes past the hour that the trains arrive. For example, the first train each day that departs from the Iwakuni local train station on the Sanyo Line leaves at 4:53 and the destination is Hiroshima.
Track Number: The track number that the train departs from is displayed as a number inside a circle to the right of the destination name. For example, the train that departs at 4:53am for Hiroshima departs on track number 6, so when you buy your ticket, you will follow the signs to track 6 to board your train. PLease note, the track number is not always the same for the same destination at different times of the day. For example, the 6:47am train to Hiroshima departs on track 4.
Note: Hiro is NOT the same as Hiroshima! We often abbreviate the word Hiroshima as, “Hiro” when we talk about it to each other, but realize that they are not the same destination when it comes to buses and trains.
STEP 2
Approach the ticket machines.
The local Iwakuni train station has instructions posted in English beside the machines for your convenience, but these are only at the Iwakuni station, so make sure you understand what to do if you plan to purchase tickets elsewhere.
Examine the destination panel (located directly above the ticket machines) to determine how much yen to insert into the machine. If you look at the closeup of the destination panel and locate Hiroshima (on the left side just above the red line) on it, you can see that there are two numbers above the Japanese word for Hiroshima (which is immediately above the English word Hiroshima): the top, larger, black number is the price in yen per adult traveling, and the smaller number below it in red is the price in yen per child. Children under 5 are free. Examining the closeup image, you can see that the cost for riding the train from the local Iwakuni station to Hiroshima is 740 yen for adults and 370 yen for children (ages 6-12).
Get your yen ready. 1000 Yen notes and change are accepted at all machines, and special machines may be posted that accept larger bills such as the ones in the photo of the ticket machines which take 5000 and 10,000 yen. Do not plan to use 2000 yen notes in machines, because though they may have provided you with some when you exchanged dollar for yen, they are as uncommon as our $2 bill so most machines do not recognize them! For a trip to Hiroshima, you will need 740 yen for each adult, and you can insert a 1000 yen note (or higher if the machine allows it) and the machine will give you change.
Insert enough money to purchase your ticket. The lights will illuminate under buttons on the machine as you insert enough money to cover increasingly higher fares. (Note: You can see in this picture that the button for 740 yen has been illuminated because I inserted enough money to purchase a ticket to Hiroshima, as well as several others, because I inserted a 1000 yen bill).
STEP 3
Press the button on the left side of the panel that shows how many people you are buying tickets for with the corresponding age groups. The blue stick figures are adults, and the red are children. For example, if you are traveling alone, press just the button with one blue figure on it. If you are purchasing for two adults, press the button with two blue figures on it. If you are buying fare for an adult and a child, press the button with a blue stick figure and a red stick figure on it. Children 5 and under ride free, children 6-12 travel at the child fare, and people 13 and over travel at the adult fare.
STEP 4
Press the price button that corresponds with the price for your destination for a single ticke as stated on the destination board. For example, if you were traveling to Hiroshima, you would press the button with 740 illuminated. The price will be multiplied by the corresponding number of people for the button that you selected in Step 3. Be sure you inserted enough yen to cover the total amount.
STEP 5
Remove your ticket(s) from the slot, and don’t forget your change if you inserted more than the exact amount. If you are traveling round-trip, you will have two tickets, one for the trip to the destination and one for the return trip.
STEP 6
Walk through the gates, either handing your tickets to the attendant to have the correct one stamped, or inserting into the machine to be punched if no attendant is present. The tickets will be given back to you, keep them in case the conductor asks to see them, and you will need to give up your ticket as you exit the train station at your final destination.
STEP 7
Proceed through the gate and place your tickets somewhere handy but safe, so you don’t lose them. Remember, you’re going to need to surrender the ticket when you get to your destination!
STEP 8
Find the track number on the destination board as you walk through the ticket gate, and proceed to the track. There will be a display that switches between English and Japanese. Check the time against the platform display clock, and wait for your train to arrive. Be sure you board the train for your track, because if there are two tracks using the same platform (one on each side, for example) don’t get confused and hop on the wrong one! They are clearly labeled, just be sure to double-check.
As you travel, you will notice signs at every platform or train stop. The signs are labeled in English and Japanese, and depict which stop was the previous one, and which is coming up next, with arrows in those directions. The name of the current stop is larger and centered above the other two, so you will know which stop you are at, and whether yours is coming up next. If in doubt, find the current stop on the map inside the train car, and compare it with your destination (Iwakuni is located to the far left of the map, and the main Hiroshima station is located in the center; realize that this is a crop of the applicable area of the larger whole map, which didn’t quite fit in my camera’s view when I tried to take the picture).
When you arrive at your destination, hand the stamped (or punched) ticket to the attendant (or insert it into the machine if no attendant is present). You will not get your ticket back! Proceed out of the train station and enjoy your adventure! Remember, if you purchased round-trip tickets, keep up with your return ticket.
You can also see instructions for riding the train at www.learningjapanese.com
Shin Train:
If you need to travel to more distant locations within Japan and you need to get there quickly, you can ride the Shinkansen (“Shin” or “Bullet”) train. It is more expensive than the local train, but travels at very high speeds.
Below is a link to helpful information about the Shinkansen “bullet” train:
Driver’s License:
You will need a valid stateside license in order to drive at Iwakuni. Check the expiration date before you leave the US, and make sure your state side license will be valid the whole time you will be stationed at Iwakuni.
When you arrive, you will be required to take a SOFA test that covers road signs in Japan. Here is the Road Sign study guide.
The Drivers Manual can be studied online or is available for checkout at the base library. The test is administered via computer (or a written test is taken at the Station Safety Office if the computers are down), and you can miss 5 of 50 questions to pass (10 out of 100 if you take the written test). You will be given a brief review of the test before taking it.
Upon passing, you will receive a SOFA license which grants you driving priviledges in Japan and on base. The SOFA license is just a laminated piece of paper stating that you are allowed to drive in Japan!
The driving directions are the opposite from the US, so if you are accustomed to driving in the US, you will be driving on the opposite side of the road.
Dependents under age 18 may drive only on base.
Refer to the Driving in Japan section of the base web site for more information.
Buying a Vehicle:
The base is very small, so you can walk pretty much everywhere. The commissary, bank, post office, exchange, 7-day store, library, etc are right in the center of the base. However, as good as walking is for your health, it does get old eventually. The single people here often make do with bicycles or motorcycles, both of which are widely popular, but for those who need a better mode of transportation, buying a vehicle is the next step.
It is not advisable to bring your vehicle. The laws for cars in Japan are different from the US. For you to bring your car, you may have to have it modified to meet Japan’s standards, which could be costly.
Cars are cheap here, so it’s more economical to obtain something once at Iwakuni. You can buy a car from one of the local dealers located just out the main gate, such as (TNT Cars) for around $3000, which includes two years of the required JCI (Japanese Compulsory Insurance; click the link below to read more about this) and usually includes a 90-day warranty – or you can also buy outright from someone on base (usually for much less than that). The prices are usually directly related to how much time is left on the JCI.
These are not new cars; they are old, ranging anywhere from the late 1980s to the 1990s. You can get new cars, but realistically, unless you’re going to be here for a decade, there’s really no need to buy a new car when a used one will suffice, and save you a lot of money!
When you find a vehicle you like, you will need to take care of some business.
First, you will have to go off base to get your insurance (there is an AIU insurance agency conveniently located just outside the main gate to the right.
Then, both the seller and buyer need to meet at PMO to do the required paperwork and get a temporary base decal (piece of paper that they stick inside your window).
If you obtained a loan for the vehicle, you will need to take some of the forms from PMO back to the bank.
Finally, you need to take the Title, Road Tax Receipt, JCI documents, proof of secondary insurance (AIU or ACE, or other approved insurer), and whatever else you have in your hands at this point, to any dealership off base and have the title changed to your name.
Total Costs Incurred Buying a Vehicle:
Cost of Vehicle: $3000 or less
Secondary Insurance (varies slightly, plan on $400 to be safe): $300 (30,000 yen)
Title Transfer: $50 (5000 yen)
The freedom to drive instead of walk: Priceless!
Road Tax:
You will be required to pay annual road taxes on all vehicles during the month of April in order to continue driving them. Failure to pay road tax can result in the impoundment of your vehicle.
Japanese Road Tax officials come to PMO on base for a few days during the month to collect road taxes on Heavy Vehicles only (Heavy vs. Light can be determined by the vehicle’s plate number; refer to the charts below). Light Vehicle and Motorcycle road taxes can only be paid off base at City Hall (telephone number 0830-1715), located across from the Police Station (parking is free; maps can be obtained from PMO Pass & Registration on base).
Use the tables below to determine the cost.
Obtain enough Yen to pay the full amount (road tax may only be paid in Yen).
Bring the following documents to the Japanese Tax Officials (either on base during designated days/times, or off base) along with your payment:
Japanese Title
Secondary Insurance
JCI Insurance
Previous Year’s Road Tax Receipt
SOFA License & Armed Forces ID Card
Your Vehicle(s)
Once your road tax has been paid, bring all of the documents listed above to PMO Pass & Registration to receive your new base decal.
What Type of Plate Do I Have?
How do you know which plate is which type? It’s really quite simple. Look at the photo below of a Japanese license plate. It is a typical 5-series Y plate (a 500Y to be exact). The 2008 Road Taxes on this vehicle were ¥7,500. The plates on our vehicles will have a letter Y on them; you may notice the ones off base owned by Japanese have Japanese characters in place of our Y. Many people refer to these as “yankee” plates or just “Y” plates.
When looking for a vehicle, you might take the annual taxes into consideration, and choose to purchase one with a 4-series or 5-series Y or 500E plate, instead of a more expensive 3-series Y/E or 100Y plate.
Tax Rate Tables for 2009 (These rates may change):
All About JCI:
JCI (Japanese Compulsory Insurance), is basically a vehicle safety and emissions inspection and is good for two years from the date the inspection was administered. It can be costly if very many repairs need to be done on your vehicle in order to pass the inspection, so consider the amount of JCI time left when buying a used vehicle. If you buy a vehicle from one of the dealers off-base, they usually include the full 2-years of JCI with the vehicle. When you buy from someone selling their car on-base, the JCI can be anywhere from 1-24 months, so the price of the vehicle will reflect the amount of time left before JCI expires.
The JCI expiration date will be listed on the printout given to you by PMO Pass & Registration when you register your vehicle. If you are buying a car, ask to see this printout for verification, or contact PMO to determine this information.
When it’s time to renew your vehicle’s JCI, you can have it done on base at the MCCS auto repair shop, or you can take it to one of the off-base car dealerships and they can take care of it for you, or you can drive to Yamaguchi city (a couple hours away) and take care of it yourself. I found that the off-base dealership had fair rates and a fast turnaround time. The procedure went something like this:
I called TNT 30 days before the JCI expiration date and stated that I needed my JCI renewed.
They asked what make/model of vehicle it was, and they told me how much the basic tax amount would be so that I could pay that up front when I dropped off the car.
I took the car and payment in Yen to TNT the following morning, along with all necessary paperwork (Title, proof of Secondary Insurance, current year’s Road Tax Receipt, and current JCI), and they called me back the next day to come pick up my car.
I had to return about a week later when the actual bill come in to them from the place that does the work to pay the final bill.
Finally, I took all paperwork to PMO Pass & Registration to be updated in the system and received a new printout reflecting the new JCI expiration date. This is an important step, so don’t forget! Always update any vehicle changes with PMO as soon as possible.
Expect to pay around $800-1200 per vehicle if you have a dealer it for you like I did. My first one was right at $1000 total (including the basic tax fee), and the other vehicle was around $800.
You can save some money if you are willing to do it yourself and drive to Yamaguchi city. There is a lady named “Keiko-san” that charges a reasonable fee to walk through the whole process for you. Basically, you call her to make an appointment, drive to her office next to the JCI center in Yamaguchi City, and wait in her office while she has her mechanics check the vehicle and make any necessary repairs to ensure it will pass the inspection. After they take it through the JCI center, she completes the paperwork, you pay and you’re done. It usually only takes a couple hours for the whole process and you can typically save a couple hundred dollars by using her service versus taking it to a dealer, so if you can take half a day to drive to Yamaguchi, it may be worth your while. If you would like to number for Keiko-san’s JCI service, just send me a message through the website and I will get it for you.
