Misawa, Japan, anyone been?

masraum · 01-24-2007, 12:01 PM

Just curious. It's a small world. When I was a kid my dad was stationed there twice, once '78-80, and again from 83-85. I loved it. I understand it's changed a lot. I'd love to go back again someday, but I guess this time it'd be as a tourist.

gaijindabe · 01-24-2007, 12:11 PM

Just passed by on the train. All the other Americans got off and I kept going up to Hokkaido. Japan is a bit expensive, but you can get by on the cheap if you get a rail pass and take it easy on the food.

fastpat · 01-24-2007, 12:18 PM

I was stationed in Wakkanai Air Station, at the very north end of Hokkaido. Landed at Misawa Air Base on the way, but didn't get off the aircraft (an Air America C-54).

gaijindabe · 01-24-2007, 12:22 PM

Wakkanai is pretty much the end of the world - at least that part of the world.. Cold up there.

masraum · 01-24-2007, 12:29 PM

We took an MWR tour to Sapporo once for the Snow Festival. Cool place (no pun intended), but damn, DAMN cold.

Quote:

Originally posted by gaijindabe
...and take it easy on the food.

that seems unlikely.

fastpat · 01-24-2007, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by gaijindabe
Wakkanai is pretty much the end of the world - at least that part of the world.. Cold up there.

It sure is, on a clear day, one of ten each year, we could see Sakalin Island. Winter snow fall, 1968, 240+ inches.

Sapporo is much colder, but not as much precipitation.

masraum · 01-24-2007, 12:42 PM

The first time I was in Misawa a snowfall record was set that I believe still stands. In 1978 or 79 we got 240 inches of snow. That's a ton. When walking on shoveled sidewalks as a kid the top of the snow was well over my head.

fastpat · 01-24-2007, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by masraum
The first time I was in Misawa a snowfall record was set that I believe still stands. In 1978 or 79 we got 240 inches of snow. That's a ton. When walking on shoveled sidewalks as a kid the top of the snow was well over my head.

Going from my barracks to the airmen's club, we used the gutter along the roof as a hand railing. Steps in hard snow were cut down to the front door.

masraum · 01-24-2007, 01:40 PM

Yeah, that's a lot of snow. Fortunately, we didn't go with my dad for the year that he spent in Adak Alaska. He told me some stories about the weather there...

fastpat · 01-24-2007, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by masraum
Yeah, that's a lot of snow. Fortunately, we didn't go with my dad for the year that he spent in Adak Alaska. He told me some stories about the weather there...

Adak was worse, and Shemya was so bad it was a 12 month tour, same length as a combat tour.

JavaBrewer · JavaBrewer's Garage

I was in Misawa Nov of 05. Stayed on base of course. It was cold, especially coming from Yokosuka, but no snow on the ground. I didn't get a chance to see much of the town so no real help to this thread other than "I've been there". Per Diem is very good in Misawa!

JavaBrewer · JavaBrewer's Garage

Was back in Misawa recently. The place has not changed much since the last time I was there. Flew in this time - JAL lands on the USAF base and taxis over to the far corner. Not nearly as cold as last time.

Steve, that must have been quite an experience as a military kid there. What was your off-base experience like as a kid? I have to admit that even though Japan is not 'American friendly' it is unique and definitely something to experience. Sushi is better in San Diego (Cafe Japengo and Sushi Ota) though... come to think of it I had great sushi in Seattle too. I had to pass in Omaha...went with beef

m21sniper · 10-13-2009, 06:27 PM

I'd love to visit Japan some day.

masraum · 10-13-2009, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JavaBrewer

Was back in Misawa recently. The place has not changed much since the last time I was there. Flew in this time - JAL lands on the USAF base and taxis over to the far corner. Not nearly as cold as last time.

Steve, that must have been quite an experience as a military kid there. What was your off-base experience like as a kid? I have to admit that even though Japan is not 'American friendly' it is unique and definitely something to experience. Sushi is better in San Diego (Cafe Japengo and Sushi Ota) though... come to think of it I had great sushi in Seattle too. I had to pass in Omaha...went with beef

Yes,

It was pretty amazing as a kid. When I was there everyone was very friendly and very polite. I've read some stuff online that there are several clubs and bars in the area where Americans are not allowed. I'm guessing things have changed A LOT since I was there (25 years since the last time).

It was just about as exotic as you can get coming from the US so every site, sound and smell was a thing of awe and wonder. Living off base allowed me to see more closely how the regular Japanese lived. Even the housing we lived in was different in small ways from the sort of things that an American would be used to. I found it an extremely beautiful country, even as a kid.

Unfortunately, as a kid, even through high school, I had very little desire to learn any foreign languages. I wish I'd learned more when I was there. I'm sure it would have enhanced my experience 100 fold.

I've had some VERY good sushi in the US. I think I had sushi once or twice in Japan, but it was the basic cucumber rolls and that sort of thing. I'm sure amazing sushi can be had in Japan, but I suspect you've got to go to the best places to get it.

I'm so Jealous. I'm sure I'll end up back in Japan some day.

JavaBrewer · JavaBrewer's Garage

Sushi in Japan (where I ate it...Yokosuka, Tokyo, Misawa, and Kadena) is all sashimi style...fish on a a bed of rice with a dab of wasabi. All said I don't think the fish in Japan is any better/fresher than what I can get in San Diego. America seems to take the best cuisine and just tweak it a bit...sushi rolls are not found in Japan unless you visit a place frequented by Americans...so Misawa defintely fits that description.

Consider yourself lucky to have experienced the Japanese culture. Most American kids will never have that opportunity. You should definitely go back some day.

emcon5 · emcon5's Garage

I spent some time at Misawa when my P3 squadron deployed there, although that was about 20 years ago. It was a really nice base, pretty good gym, awesome Mongolian BBQ at the NCO club.

Best thing was there were train tracks that went from the front gate straight to the Navy enlisted barracks, so it was always easy to find your way home when hammered.

masraum · 10-14-2009, 03:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JavaBrewer

Sushi in Japan (where I ate it...Yokosuka, Tokyo, Misawa, and Kadena) is all sashimi style...fish on a a bed of rice with a dab of wasabi. All said I don't think the fish in Japan is any better/fresher than what I can get in San Diego. America seems to take the best cuisine and just tweak it a bit...sushi rolls are not found in Japan unless you visit a place frequented by Americans...so Misawa defintely fits that description.

Consider yourself lucky to have experienced the Japanese culture. Most American kids will never have that opportunity. You should definitely go back some day.

Sashimi is fish with no rice. If you're talking about a box of rice with several pieces of various fish, that's chirashi. If you're talking about bite sized lumps of rice with a single piece of fish on top, that's nigiri. I mostly eat nigiri these days when I'm out. Very few rolls.

Yeah, I think you might find 3 rolls in Japan, tekka maki, kappa maki and futo maki. (tuna, cucumber and "fat" roll which has several ingredients). The various rolls that we have in the US, California rolls, Philidelphia rolls, spider rolls, etc... are mostly concoctions that we've created.

I find it so odd when I meet people in their 30s that have never been more than a few hundred miles away from home, much less to a foreign country. I do count myself very lucky to have been to Japan twice and Spain twice and visited a few other places as well as many places around the US either because my father was in the Navy or through my work.

Fortunately my wife is interested in travel. So we will travel more eventually.

masraum · 10-14-2009, 03:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emcon5

I spent some time at Misawa when my P3 squadron deployed there, although that was about 20 years ago. It was a really nice base, pretty good gym, awesome Mongolian BBQ at the NCO club.

Best thing was there were train tracks that went from the front gate straight to the Navy enlisted barracks, so it was always easy to find your way home when hammered.

Yeah, I remember going for Mongolian BBQ with my parents occasionally.

masraum · 10-14-2009, 05:20 AM

When I lived in Japan, the exchange rate ran between 200 and 300 yen to the dollar. Those were the days. I suspect it's much harder these days when it's closer to even at around 100 yen to the dollar.

chuckr · 10-14-2009, 05:29 AM

I was stationed in Yokosuka from 73-77 went everywhere... from Okinawa to Sapporo, yes the Ice festival was amazing in Sapporo, everywhere I went I was amazed, did experience
some anti-american resentment but it did not bother me. I do plan to go back !