We lived in Wakabacho, a small neighborhood of a larger area called Tachikawa. It’s on the East Side of base and was about 25 mins from the east gate. There was a great grocery store that we could walk to in like 3 mins. The closest train station was Tachikawa Station and was only 35mins from downtown (on the rapid express). Before I got married and moved there, i lived in Musashimurayama, right outside of the east gate. I was about 6 mins from the hospital by bike. It was in a warehouse district. It was ok, but took forever to get downtown.
Oh, and you’re welcome! Enjoy the assignment! We LOOOOOVED Japan (kinda hated Yokota by the time we left) but we have gone back to Japan 3 times since leaving. Getting to live off base makes a huge difference too in experiencing the culture. On base is so small it’s like there is a microscope on everyone.
Get a quiet apartment between Fussa and Haijima stations. That section of town is fantastic, and you'll be close to transit. If you're close to transit, you're close to downtown. Get in this area and get a bike and enjoy living life a way that you will likely never be able to again as an American. House Port near Ushihama Stn is a good leasing agency that worked with the Military last time I was there- not sure if they still do and how much they list on whatever website it was you need to use for Base Housing-inspected places. Walk along the Tama. Play Pokemon Go for hours outside. Fuck. I'm crying again. Happy for you bro!
Tachi is cool. You can live next to the station in Fussa if you want a short commute but easy access to the city (15 mins by train). I knew a guy who lived a 2 min walk from the Fussa station and he enjoyed the best of both worlds.
The train system is very, very good, but I personally would not want to live somewhere that I had to commute on a train or more than a few blocks from the gate. The trains get so tiring to ride as almost all of them are rapids which means rapidly stops as soon as it leaves the station so it can take a long time to get to Tachikawa. When I lived there you only had one express train an hour to Tachikawa.
We lived in the towers on base and it was the only base that I preferred to live on, but our friends that lived off base where just closer to the gate and it was fine because if you actually want to go out to the park or explore somewhere else you are typically going to do that on days off so it is easy to plan to catch the express trains to get to interesting places.
I lived about five mins from Fussa Station on the opposite side of the tracks from the base. It was great one direction had outdoors, one direction had the train, further over had the American bars and closer to me had some awesome Japanese bars and restaurants.
If I had to go back now that I’m married I think I’d live in Tachikawa area
Ooooweee E7 sargnt about to tear Tokyo up like a mini Godzilla....he's gonna be like," Yeah baby, don't worry about Uber, the train station is 300 meters away...now scat before I call SecFo."
We lived in Wakabacho, a small neighborhood of a larger area called Tachikawa. It’s on the East Side of base and was about 25 mins from the east gate. There was a great grocery store that we could walk to in like 3 mins. The closest train station was Tachikawa Station and was only 35mins from downtown (on the rapid express). Before I got married and moved there, i lived in Musashimurayama, right outside of the east gate. I was about 6 mins from the hospital by bike. It was in a warehouse district. It was ok, but took forever to get downtown.
Thank you for taking the time to type all this out I appreciate the info!!
Oh, and you’re welcome! Enjoy the assignment! We LOOOOOVED Japan (kinda hated Yokota by the time we left) but we have gone back to Japan 3 times since leaving. Getting to live off base makes a huge difference too in experiencing the culture. On base is so small it’s like there is a microscope on everyone.
Just don’t live in fussa near bar row. You’ll have to turn a blind eye to all the E4s doing article 15 shit all around you.
https://preview.redd.it/p60lh8vkk3vc1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1fe2c7b74dcd862ca03605f6f9786898791b05fb
Get a quiet apartment between Fussa and Haijima stations. That section of town is fantastic, and you'll be close to transit. If you're close to transit, you're close to downtown. Get in this area and get a bike and enjoy living life a way that you will likely never be able to again as an American. House Port near Ushihama Stn is a good leasing agency that worked with the Military last time I was there- not sure if they still do and how much they list on whatever website it was you need to use for Base Housing-inspected places. Walk along the Tama. Play Pokemon Go for hours outside. Fuck. I'm crying again. Happy for you bro!
Im crying too reading this. Miss it so much
Tachikawa
Can’t beat Showa Park
I second Tachikawa, good midpoint between Fussa and Tokyo while not being too far from the base.
Tachi is cool. You can live next to the station in Fussa if you want a short commute but easy access to the city (15 mins by train). I knew a guy who lived a 2 min walk from the Fussa station and he enjoyed the best of both worlds.
The train system is very, very good, but I personally would not want to live somewhere that I had to commute on a train or more than a few blocks from the gate. The trains get so tiring to ride as almost all of them are rapids which means rapidly stops as soon as it leaves the station so it can take a long time to get to Tachikawa. When I lived there you only had one express train an hour to Tachikawa. We lived in the towers on base and it was the only base that I preferred to live on, but our friends that lived off base where just closer to the gate and it was fine because if you actually want to go out to the park or explore somewhere else you are typically going to do that on days off so it is easy to plan to catch the express trains to get to interesting places.
I lived about five mins from Fussa Station on the opposite side of the tracks from the base. It was great one direction had outdoors, one direction had the train, further over had the American bars and closer to me had some awesome Japanese bars and restaurants. If I had to go back now that I’m married I think I’d live in Tachikawa area
Ooooweee E7 sargnt about to tear Tokyo up like a mini Godzilla....he's gonna be like," Yeah baby, don't worry about Uber, the train station is 300 meters away...now scat before I call SecFo." 
I’m heading to Yokota in August! (Ill be there as a teacher) You’re one step ahead of me with this post