Foreigners attending events on US bases in Okinawa

score:3

Accepted answer

It certainly looks like they're checked, before opening time.

From the "Rules" page on MCCS Okinawa's flea market:

  1. The Flea Market opens to sellers at 6a.m. on Camp Courtney and at 11 a.m. on Camps Foster and Kinser.

  2. Anyone entering before opening time must be a seller with SOFA status and have a valid Department of Defense (DoD) identification card. The following are exceptions to this rule:

    • Visiting family members with valid passports who are accompanying sellers.
    • Local national family members dependants with valid DoD ID card who are accompanying sellers.

  3. The flea market opens to the public at:

    • 7 a.m. - Camp Courtney
    • Noon - Camps Foster and Kinse

In addition, I contacted MCCS Okinawa, and they confirmed that citizens of other counties / tourists are welcome.

Upvote:3

We went to the flea market at Camp Kinser last Sunday afternoon, about half an our before the market closed.

I was a bit worried about the rules and didn't have a visa or ESTA. I went with my local Okinawan friend who has nothing to do with the military or the bases.

The flea market is inside the outermost perimeter fence. There are further perimeter fences that market attendees do not pass. There is a Japanese security guard at the entrance gate. I did not notice any US or military officials at all. The guard did not ask for passports or any other kind of ID.

So it appears that at least for this particular regularly held event at this particular base that shoppers do not require any paperwork at all, not even ID. I was surprised.

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