Financial Assistance

The cost of living in Japan is very high. The Navy compensates for this difference by a Cost of Living Allowance included in the active-duty service member's pay. The amount of COLA is adjusted as the yen rate fluctuates.

We recommend you carry yen when you are traveling with your family in Japan. Dollars are not accepted and not all credit cards are accepted throughout Japan. You can change dollars to yen at Narita Airport upon your arrival.

It would be wise for incoming personnel to pay off as much debt as possible before coming to Naval Air Facility Atsugi. Computing Services DISA does not encourage personnel to take advance pay. Please remember that advance pay is a loan. It must be paid back.

Housing Costs: The Navy will provide assistance including Temporary Lodging Assistance and Move-In Housing Allowance. However, incoming personnel will not receive this assistance directly upon arrival. To move into a Japanese residence, one must pay the following: appreciation money (one month's rent), plus an agent's fee (one month's rent), a security deposit (one month's rent) and a one-month advance in rent. Therefore, one should have four month's rent to move in to his/her off-base residence. The appreciation money and agent's fee are reimbursed by the Navy. It is wise to prepare to pay for miscellaneous expenses out-of-pocket and consider allowances to come later as reimbursement.

Overseas Housing Allowance is based on rate and rank, marital status of the service member and the yen rate. The leasing amount of off-base housing referrals is based on fair market values conducted by NAF Atsugi’s Housing Service Center. The prices range from 67,000 yen to 318,000 yen ($728.26 to $3,456.52) depending on unit size (384 square feet to 2077 square feet), number of bedrooms, location and year built. Allowance for utilities are the following:

ALLOWANCE UTILITIES: Percentage - Amount

• With dependents: 100% - $1,056.27
• Without dependents: 75% - $792.20
• Sharing: 50% - $52

MIHA Miscellaneous, $683.88, is a separate, one-time-only payment. These allowances are subject to change due to fluctuations of the yen rate.

Transportation Costs: We recommend incoming personnel have $1,500 to $3,000 to cover the purchase of a car and miscellaneous expenses such as: fees based on rank, rate and age of an individual. Below are some estimates.

• Insurance or Japanese Compulsory Insurance - 30,000 yen ($300)
• Registration initial payment - 4,900 yen ($49.00)
• Weight Tax - 8,400 to 21,000 yen ($84 to $210)
• Road Tax - 7,500 to 19,000 yen ($75.00 to $190.00)
• License Plate - 1,500 yen ($15.00)
• Off-base parking certificate - 2,600 yen ($26.00) NOTE: The landlord can charge an extra parking fee around 10,000 yen ($100.00)
• Liability insurance, three months minimum based on age - 20,000 yen ($200.00) and up, base Inspection $30.00
• Transfer/bill of sale for military-to-military sale (on base sale) - 2,300 yen ($23.00)

Atsugi Fleet and Family Support Center's Personal Financial Management Program provides financial education, training and counseling that emphasizes long-term financial responsibility through instruction on sound money management, debt management, saving, investing and retirement planning. Please contact NAF Atsugi's Fleet & Family Support Center by calling DSN 315-264-3372.

Financial classes available include:

• Home and car buying strategies
• Million Dollar Sailor
• Checkbook management and banking basics
• Money Habitudes
• MyFICO credit report and credit score education tool
• Consumer awareness/developing a spending plan
• Credit management
• Financial Planning for Deployment
• $$$$ and the Move
• Military pay issues
• Savings and investments introduction
• Insurance issues
• The basics of retirement planning
• Mutual fund basics
• Teens and money

Financial Management Services

Counseling and resources are available as well as one-on-one training and group workshops.