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Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Getting JCI done on Okinawa! Part 2016...

So it is that time again…the lame JCI, but for my second car. As I wrote this up in detail in a prior post, which is linked here ( Getting JCI done on Okinawa! , I won’t get too much into it. However, I wanted to share the latest info for 2016 and what my costs were this go around…ok then, lets’ go!

So I have a 500-plate 2007 Nissan Cube that is in good shape and I have had zero issues with it for the 2 years I have had it. Knowing this, I decided to wing this JCI again, and just take it down to the JSVRO.  What is the worst that can happen, right?? So my first step was to head over to the USO on Kadena and get a new JCI policy. As they typed that all up for me, they gave me a nice “how-to” while I waited with all the fees listed too, super handy! Here it is below…

JSVRO - JCI - Page 1

JSVRO - JCI - Page 2

Well luckily after I paid the lady there she told me that the JSVRO doesn’t do JCI inspections on Fridays…and it was Friday…dammit! I got up early for nothing it seems. I was trying to knock this out before we rolled into a 4-day weekend, oh well. Fast forward to next Tuesday (Monday was the holiday day off), and I headed over to the JSVRO. I drove there thinking smugly to myself that getting there at 9am I would beat the rush, and be in-and-out in less than an hour like the last time….yea not so much. My advice to you is to NOT do your JCI when everyone ELSE on the island has the time off too! Let’s just say I got there at 9am to a long line that was formed even before I got there and I didn’t get back to my front door until 2pm! Yup a complete waste of a day if you ask me, but it is freaking done now at least. Ok I am done bitching, and on with the story. In reality, the time spent on actually doing the admin stuff and the inspection was pretty quick. It was just all the waiting around that ate up my time. Funny YouTube videos on my iPhone definitely filled most of my time then.

So as far as the inspection went, I did well, except my rear license plate holder was missing a lower mounting bracket screw (no idea) and (surprise surprise!) my headlights needed an alignment. I am beginning to suspect the headlight alignment deal is a sham…I mean the inspection machine definitely showed I failed something since some of the blocks were red that I saw. It was just suspicious when almost everyone before me in the line was at the auto hobby shop for the same thing too…hmmmmm but whatever, at least it was just that and not some major repairs needed. So after I got that fixed, I went back and got the green lights and was good to go. Moral of the story, go early and on a day that NOBODY has off, since all of them are going to ALL have the same idea as you. Don’t waste a day like I did…

Here is a breakdown of my costs this go around….

1. JCI Policy:  13,230 Yen
2. Weight Tax:  15,800 yen
3.  Inspection Fee: $20
4.  Auto Repairs:  $24.60

Total: ~ $323.614


I didn’t include my insurance cost as I renewed it back in August and I am too lazy to see how much it was at the time. But I would count that to the total cost of ownership when you do your JCI as I assume most people’s JCI and Insurance are due at the same time. 

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

2016 Road Tax Collection Schedule

***2017 UPDATE HERE***

So it is that time of the year again! I was gone most of 2015, so I didn't get a chance to post that schedule, but I am here this time around. I am not going to get on my soap box like last time either, but you can read about it in the 2014 post. 

Anyways, I have used the OTS insurance on Kadena the whole time we have been here with zero issues. They charge a 500 yen fee for their efforts, and since I am lazy, 500 yen is just fine by me. Just understand, you will have to go to Foster to pick up the road tax sticker (super easy) after you get your paperwork from them. I posted OTS's instructions if you want to go through them, and I have also posted the road tax schedule where the Japanese officials visit a base near you to collect your fee/paperwork. Since I hate crowds and waiting, I will go the OTS route. 


OTS Insurance Road Tax Service

Road Tax Collection Schedule

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Okinawa World

Ok, here is another post I wanted to do for some time and just forgot! Okinawa World! This place is perfect of the visiting in-laws haha. It is all about Okinawa and it has plenty of shopping for “Okinawa” and “Japanese” things, local dancing, and other exhibits…basically perfect for visiting in-laws and friends to check off their Okinawa experience to-do list. You can spend almost a full day there if you wanted to to, as they have food and drinks on site too. I am not going to get too much into it, as there are plenty of reviews of this place already on the interwebs. But here is the Google map link and brochure for your use…have fun!

Google Map Link:





English Brochure

Okinawa World


Okinawa World








Saturday, January 16, 2016

AEON MALL Okinawa Rycom / 이온 몰 오키나와 Rycom



So it has been awhile since I have posted anything, so I thought I would dust off the keyboard and get something newish up.  Well the AEON MALL Okinawa Rycom has been open since April 2015 and so it isn’t really “new” anymore, but I thought posting the shopping  guides would be nice for those planning your shopping venture there.  Just know it can get pretty hectic during holidays and weekends, especially if they have some type of crazy sale/campaign going on. But the new reality this mall made is that it basically made every other shopping mall on this island irrelevant. You can find just about anything you need there, especially if you don’t want to wait for Amazon…like me. When I decide I want something, I want it now! Well here it all is…the floor/shop guides, the food court guide, the tax free guide, and the Google maps link. Enjoy!

English weblink: AEON MALL Okinawa Rycom

Google Maps:






ENGLISH FLOOR GUIDE


AEON MALL Okinawa Rycom Floor Guide






AEON MALL Okinawa Rycom Floor Guide



AEON MALL Okinawa Rycom Floor Guide



AEON MALL Okinawa Rycom Floor Guide
















AEON MALL Okinawa Rycom Floor Guide


AEON MALL Okinawa Rycom Floor Guide

AEON MALL Okinawa Rycom Floor Guide


AEON MALL Okinawa Rycom Floor Guide









FOOD GUIDE
AEON MALL Okinawa Rycom Food Guide


AEON MALL Okinawa Rycom Food Guide



























AEON MALL Okinawa Rycom Food Guide

























AEON MALL Okinawa Rycom Food Guide




























AEON MALL Okinawa Rycom Food Guide




























AEON MALL Okinawa Rycom Food Guide














AEON MALL Okinawa Rycom Food Guide










































한국어 쇼핑 가이드


이온 몰 한국어 쇼핑 가이드


이온 몰 한국어 쇼핑 가이드


이온 몰 한국어 쇼핑 가이드



이온 몰 한국어 쇼핑 가이드



이온 몰 한국어 쇼핑 가이드



이온 몰 한국어 쇼핑 가이드



이온 몰 한국어 쇼핑 가이드





















이온 몰 한국어 쇼핑 가이드




이온 몰 한국어 쇼핑 가이드




이온 몰 한국어 쇼핑 가이드



이온 몰 한국어 쇼핑 가이드





이온 몰 한국어 쇼핑 가이드





























































































































































































































































TAX FREE SHOPPING GUIDE