Housing

All family housing under the jurisdiction or assignment control of the Marine Corps is assigned to eligible personnel without regard to race, color, religion, sex or national origin. In addition, residing in government-owned housing is a privilege not an entitlement.

If you or your family members have special needs (ex: wheelchair, walker/cane, other disabilities etc.) please contact us as soon as you have orders or expect to report to Iwakuni. This is an Overseas Command and all needs may not be able to be accommodated.

Government Housing Eligibility: Family Housing is mandatory if the capacity is below 90 %.

◾ All military members on accompanied orders with accompanying family members and area clearance/dependent entry approval as well as U.S. civilians who are on a Transportation Agreement and who receive a living quarters allowance are eligible to reside in base housing. 

◾ Accompanying bona fide family members are those family members who have bona fide dependent status and are included on your command sponsorship approval/area clearance/dependent entry approval and will reside with the sponsor for nine consecutive months or more each year. Joint custody of children does not make someone eligible for family housing An unmarried military member with joint legal custody of dependent children and physical custody for more than 9 months per year is eligible for Family Housing . Family Housing will review the court order or settlement document with the application for government quarters to determine custody periods.

◾ Advance applications will be accepted but will not advance into the freeze zone until member physically arrives on station.

◾ Members must check-in with the family housing office within two working days of arrival with a copy of endorsed original orders. If member is traveling non-concurrent, member must show an itinerary indicating that family members will arrive within 45 days before a housing offer can be made. If member checks in after 30 days, the control date will be the date when member checks into the housing office and provides a copy of orders, area clearance and housing application. The last day that all documents are received will be the established control date.

Waiting list:

◾ Applicants will be placed on the waiting list when housing receives the DD-1746, copy of web orders/orders and area clearance/dependent entry approval. Once all these documents are received, a control date will be established.

◾ Housing will offer the first available unit in the member’s designated category that has been vacant the longest, regardless of having a pet.

◾ Pets are not a valid reason to refuse government or local economy housing. Failure to accept housing because of pets will result in the termination of Temporary Lodging Allowance the day prior to the day housing could be occupied.

◾ Per the Marine Corps Installations Pacific TLA order, refusal of government housing will lead to termination of TLA effective the day member could have moved into quarters.

◾ Please stay in touch with housing who will continue to keep you updated on the current waiting times which can change without prior notice.

◾ Contact Family Housing by e-mail: iwknfamilyhousing@usmc.mil.

The U.S. government does not provide property insurance and does not assume liability for a sponsor’s personal property. Additionally, the U.S. government is not liable for personal property damage due to lightning strikes or storm damage. The housing office highly recommends that sponsors purchase a suitable renter’s insurance policy from a reputable insurance agency or credit union.

Animal/Pet Policy

Breeding or raising animals for shows or commercial purposes is prohibited. Operating a commercial-type kennel in government housing is prohibited. There is a maximum of two pets (cats/dogs) allowed per household.

Prohibited full or mixed dog breeds aboard MCAS Iwakuni: Pit bull, Rottweiler, Chow, Doberman and canid/wolf hybrids, or any canine breed with dominant traits of aggression present.

Dogs are permitted in midrise towers on the first two floors only. Up to two cats are permitted in any tower unit.

Assignment Policy

Members will be offered the first available unit in accordance to grade and family size (selection of units by address is not permitted). Additional standard policies are:

• When members reach the top of wait list, they will be offered the first available unit in accordance to their rank and family size. Once the offer is made, the member has 24 hours to accept or refuse. If member does not respond within 24 hours, the offer will be considered a refusal.

• Each member will be allowed two offers. Upon first refusal, members TLA is terminated on the projected move-in date of first offer. TLA expense will be borne by member.

Currently, Iwakuni Family Housing has a mandatory on-base housing policy in place. Military members must reside on-base if the capacity is under 90%.

Living Off Base in Iwakuni

The Department of Defense standard for commute time between home and work is 60 minutes or less for off-base housing.

Many newcomers are assigned to military family housing soon after arrival, however the waiting time will vary in accordance to grade and family size. Many families will live off base, so knowing as much as you can before you get here will help you have an enjoyable experience. Family Housing can help you with information your family will need. Here are some “off-base” tips:

There may be some adjustments to make, but living in the local community can be a very rewarding cultural experience. Japan is a clean, modern country and Japanese neighbors are considerate and are very interested in learning more about us. There may be tatami, which are woven straw mats on some of the floors in a Japanese house. They are very beautiful, but not designed for heavy furniture. You may want to bring inexpensive area carpets to cover them. Closets and storage space may also be limited. The climate in Iwakuni is similar to North Carolina, with cold winters but not a lot of snow. Plan on bringing warm bedding and clothing. Summers are hot and humid. The electricity in Iwakuni is 100 volts, versus 110 in the states. Most appliances will function, but you may want to put larger appliances such as your microwave or computer on a transformer.

When moving into off-base housing, if you are eligible for housing allowances, active-duty members will receive Overseas Housing Allowance, a one-time Move-in Housing Allowance and Utility Allowance. For civilians with a transportation agreement, you will receive Living Quarters Allowance.

Bi-lingual contracts, setting up, GI Bill payment system, utility service, and disputes between the resident and landlord will be handled by off-base referral specialists.

Locating and finding a home off base is the member’s responsibility. Housing will assist by explaining the house-hunting requirements, and once quarters are found, will work with the agent/owner to complete the leasing process.

Off-base rentals are available online at Homes.mil. Type “Iwakuni, Japan” for location. All available homes on Homes.mil have been inspected and approved by the Family Housing Office. The off-base process cannot begin until the service member arrives in Iwakuni. Homes are rented on a first-come first-serve basis and cannot be held for service members who have not arrived in Iwakuni.

Be prepared to cover the costs of moving: A four-month deposit of the rent is required when signing a lease (first month’s rent pro-rated; agent fee; two months’ security deposit), a used car and household items ($6,000 to $9,000 is recommended). Stop by your current installation personnel administrative center (S-1), personnel support detachment or civilian personnel office to get a copy of the current allowances.

Don't bring a lot of large furniture. Homes off base (and on base also) will be smaller than homes in the States. If a piece of furniture can't fit through a standard door, you probably can't get it into a Japanese home. The staircases in most Japanese homes are extremely steep and narrow. Getting American-size furniture onto the second floor of a Japanese home can be a tremendous challenge.

A refrigerator, microwave oven, and Japanese washer and dryer for off-base use may be provided for all accompanied tour personnel. Unaccompanied personnel are not eligible for loaner furniture or appliances.

Temporary furniture is available for those who have found a house but are waiting for their household goods to arrive. Loaner furniture is available for members on an accompanied tour. Linen is not provided with the loaner furniture. Marine and Family Programs has a Lending Locker for kitchen items.

It is VERY difficult to find an off-base house that allows pets.

Internet access is available through local service providers.

Visit InMyArea.com to search for utility providers based on your zip code. This website serves as a one-stop shop where you can explore your options, compare prices and purchase services.

The Iwakuni Family Housing website contains important information concerning family housing. For more information, and for availability, please contact the Family Housing Office, calling from USA: 011-81-827-79-5541/5542, (DSN) 315-253-5541/5542.