How long did it take you to realize Google Maps doesn’t actually take you everywhere on Okinawa, more specifically, military installations like Kadena Air Base?
For me, it took about five reroutes, several wrong turns and one growing suspicion that my phone was just as lost as I was. I kept searching for a gate entrance that Google Maps insisted existed. That’s when I learned an important Okinawa lesson: Civilian navigation apps and military bases don’t always get along.

The good news? There’s an easy fix.

Download the Waze app.

Available for both iPhone and Android, Waze does a much better job navigating around Kadena Air Base and other military
installations. Whether you’re heading to a squadron, the Exchange, a friend’s house or an office you’ve never visited before, entering
the complete address will usually get you there without the accidental sightseeing tour.

The app is easy to use, provides turn-by-turn directions and often accounts for road closures or traffic along the way. It won’t make Okinawa’s winding roads any straighter, but it can save you plenty of frustration.

So, the next time you’re trying to find that one building hidden behind three others with nearly identical parking lots, let Waze do the heavy lifting.

Article and photography: Marina Chayka