---

Context

This is a project I started because of my university dissertation on the presence of U.S. bases in Okinawa, Japan, and my aim was to integrate cartography with ethnography in the context of Okinawa's history of U.S. occupation.

The goal of this repository is to provide the best and most reliable source of information on this topic by providing a historical and geographical database that existed from 1945 to 2026 for researchers and historians to rely on.

Every map that has ever been made on this topic has many issues, such as missing bases, inaccurate borders, lack of base detail, missing airspaces/waterspaces, omittance of previously existing bases that were demolished, and conflicting reports. Even the official Japanese Ministry of Defense website has these problems, while showing legal borders of control instead of physical fencelines that align with realistic observations on the ground.

This motivated me to create one single encompassing map that fixes all the aforementioned issues while providing quantitative and historical data on each U.S. base that has ever existed. So to accompany this, I did my best to compile the correct details and discarded the incorrect ones from each source I could find to make it as accurate as possible from my own research.

I visited Okinawa in 2025 (travel photos shown on the banner of this README), and I spent approximately 150+ hours in total manually mapping the areas using ArcGIS while binge listening to Nujabes. 10/10 experience btw, would highly recommend. Although I'm most likely on some sort of watchlist by now, it was definitely worth it :)

Mapping methodology

The tracing was done by using 4 methodologies, each with varying advantages and disadvantages. This is done through a fallback system, where the most reliable metholodgy will be used but if it isn't good enough for the specific area that's being mapped, then it goes down a level of reliability as seen here:

Show

1. Direct tracing: tracing the fencelines using satellite imagery is the main method to map the bases, and there are 2 main resources used for this. Firstly, ArcGIS's default satellite imagery is used to follow and trace the fencelines as objectively as possible. However, ArcGIS's resource on its satellite imagery can be outdated, and the quality can be poor at times. This is where Google Maps is used as a secondary reference tool to confirm the presence of fences in clearer quality. It also has the additional benefit of being taken when the sun is projecting sunlight at an angle where the fences can appear white rather than black as seen on ArcGIS. This makes identification far easier, so that tracing using ArcGIS and Google Maps can play in tandem as the tracing tool for the former, and the visual confirmation tool for the latter. While an estimated 60% of the map was created this way, this method is not always reliable due to reasons such as poor image quality in some areas, fence colours that are too obscure, and fences being hidden by dense vegetation and jungle trees.

2. Google Street View: To solve the issue of the first methodology, Google Street View may be used to manually observe fences being placed next to roads which is a common placement for the base fences. This visual confirmation has been reliably useful at times, but some fences are not situated next to roads. However, Google Street View is not entirely useless in this case, because volunteer users and online tour guides can submit their own images to the service in places where it wouldn't be possible from roads. For example, Torii Station is an Army base located on the west coast of Okinawa, but the satellite imagery's quality for the bottom left section was too poor for the human eye to discern any fences. Using user-submitted images, many sections of the unknown borders could be spotted through user submissions of the beach adjacent to the base, and visual confirmations could be made using this method of mapping. Additionally, users on Google Maps can post reviews of the places they've visited, which can sometimes include images they've attached themselves. These images can sometimes provide many insights into the geometric details at the ground level, and fences may be spotted depending on the angle and frame. This open source format can be useful, but it often falls short mainly due to reasons stemming from lack of user submissions of the area of interest.

3. Georeferencing: If Google Street View isn’t useful for the base that’s being mapped, existing maps on U.S. military bases in Okinawa are used to copy the outlines to our map. The reason why this is the third most reliable methodology is because the maps can often be inaccurate, imprecise, and incomplete. Not only do the maps only show the legally U.S.-owned territories instead of fenceline borders, they also have inconsistencies between the resources being used and they can often be inaccurate in multiple ways. While the pre-existing maps themselves are a useful starting point to have an idea where the target base is located, which military branch it belongs to, and what its general shape may look like, they are not reliable enough for mapping material. Nonetheless, if it was deemed appropriate to fall back to this option, the map resource will be used as a georeference layer with control points to distort the source map to the target map that was being made. A third-order polynomial was used to morph and match the reference map to the target map as a transparent layer using control points to precise locations on the target map (such as corners of buildings, corners of airport landing strips, road intersections, etc). This method allows us to not only solve the issue of mismatched coordinate systems to warp it correctly, but also accurately and reliably trace over the borders as seen in the reference. However, along with the aforementioned downsides, this method is only an approximation of the fencelines, not a direct trace based on confirmable real-world images. Below is an example for mapping Camp Zukeran Radio Station with this method:

Online map reference	Georeference used	Traced result

4. Aerial visual-ground tracing: Lastly, if all else fails, aerial photographs are used. Some of the early bases do not have any maps associated with them that were archived or found online. However, some U.S. archives do contain aerial photographs of them, requiring the base outline to be manually traced through visual ground coordination. There are many problems with this approach, such as bad image quality, photograph angles that make georeferencing difficult to trace mentioned in the method above, and limited details on spatial geographical data. For example, Camp Kubasaki fell under this methodology category due to the scarcity of details, on top of many undocumented details surrounding it. The image shown below was taken between 1957 and 1959, and it is situated in a village called Nakagusuku. Geolocating it was not easy, as the image shown has a coastline that doesn’t appear to match with the present coastline. This also demonstrates one of the problems of this methodology of changes in geographical and topological features over time, making it harder to give exact geolocations. Overall, this is considered as the least reliable method of mapping as it is nearly guaranteed to have inaccuracies, making the tracing an approximation rather than a concrete shape that aligns with historical reality.

Aerial photograph reference	Traced result

Quantitative data and sources

Historical overview (1945-2026):

Area category	Number of bases/zones	Total perimeter length	Total area
Waterspaces	31	5351.2 km	144297.3 km²
Airspaces	23	6696.7 km	186798.9 km²
Marine Corps	33	547 km	237.1 km²
Air Force	18	157.4 km	72.9 km²
Navy	13	70.98 km	19.1 km²
Army	51	98.3 km	13 km²
Unknown	6	27.5 km	7.7 km²

Present overview (2026):

Area category	Number of bases/zones	Total perimeter length	Total area
Waterspaces	31	5351.2 km	144297.3 km²
Airspaces	23	6696.7 km	186798.km²
Marine Corps	17	318.9 km	160.9 km²
Air Force	7	108.1 km	59 km²
Navy	6	29.7 km	4.9 km²
Army	12	30.9 km	4.1 km²
Unknown	0	0 km	0 km²

Overall, 120 bases took up 350 km² of Okinawan territory has been used for military purposes by the U.S. since the Battle of Okinawa in 1945. For reference, Okinawa's total land area is only 1199 km², meaning that 29.1% of the island's land was designated as belonging to the U.S. military. It is worth noting that this figure includes demolished bases that don't exist anymore. Presently, only 40 of them are still standing which is 228.9 km² of territory as of 2026, which is a total reduction of 34.6%. This also means that 19% of total Okinawan inland territory is still in use for the same purposes today.

Complete base table:

OBJECTID	BASE_NAME	BRANCH	CREATION_DATE	DEMOLITION_DATE	FACILITY_CODE	PERIMETER_KM	AREA_METERS²
1	Naha Air Force and Navy Auxiliary Facilities	Air Force & Navy	1945-01-01	1980-01-01	FAC 6066	10.732	4159.98
2	Kadena Airbase	Air Force	1945-01-01	nan	FAC 6037	27.316	24770.2
3	Okuma Recreational Area	Air Force	1947-01-01	nan	FAC 6004	4.572	625.359
4	Senaha Communication Site	Air Force	1945-01-01	2006-01-01	FAC 6021	5.078	758.148
5	Kobi Sho Range (Air Force administration)	Air Force	1948-01-01	1956-01-01	FAC 6084	3.816	1025.6
6	Yaedake Communication Site	Air Force	1950-01-01	nan	FAC 6006	0.862	20.865
7	Irisuna Jima Firing Range	Air Force	1954-01-01	nan	FAC 6078	2.365	324.023
8	Kume Jima Range	Air Force	1978-01-01	nan	FAC 6080	0.214	2.75
9	Tori Shima Firing Range	Air Force	1951-01-01	nan	FAC 6077	1.059	28.011
10	Machinato Housing Area	Air Force	1977-02-28	1987-01-01	FAC 6061	6.725	2702.97
11	Naha Freezer Warehouse	Air Force	1978-03-15	1993-01-01	FAC 6062	1.539	130.953
12	Bolo Airfield	Air Force	1945-01-01	1972-01-01	FAC 6021	14.408	4449.18
13	Bolo Point Shooting Range Nike Hercules Site 1	Air Force	1945-01-01	1974-01-01	FAC 6021	1.036	47.352
14	Bolo Point Shooting Range Kadena 1st Site Mace B	Air Force	1945-01-01	1974-06-30	FAC 6021	0.763	35.623
15	Sunabe Warehouse	Air Force	1967-01-01	1993-01-01	FAC 6039	0.383	8.881
16	Miyako Jima Air Communication Facility	Air Force	1950-01-01	1973-02-15	FAC 6287	3.537	440.653
17	Kadena Residential Area	Air Force	1945-01-01	1977-11-30	FAC 6038	1.308	104.55
18	Kadena Ammunition Depot District	Air Force	1945-01-01	nan	FAC 6022	71.727	33307.2
19	Naha Port Facility	Army	1945-01-01	nan	FAC 6064	6.402	581.288
20	Torii Station	Army	1945-01-01	nan	FAC 6036	6.795	2138.39
21	Kadena Airbase	Army	1945-01-01	nan	FAC 6037	1.151	59.684
22	White Beach Oil Storage Facility	Army	1945-01-01	nan	FAC 6048	3.463	245.28
23	Zukeran Radio Station	Army	1945-01-01	1976-01-01	FAC 6045	1.999	153.137
24	Torii Station Radio Antenna	Army	1945-01-01	nan	FAC 6036	0.264	2.726
25	Gesaji Communication Site (incomplete)	Army	1995-01-01	2015-02-27	FAC 6007	3.498	782.866
26	Tengan Communication Site	Army	1945-01-01	1983-01-01	FAC 6030	4.658	1221.63
27	Deragawa Communication Station	Army	1945-01-01	1974-01-01	FAC 6034	3.505	366.223
28	Machinato Service Office	Army	1945-01-01	1974-01-01	FAC 6055	0.216	1.928
29	Machinato Warehouse	Army	1945-01-01	1974-01-01	FAC 6054	0.223	2.276
30	Urasoe Warehouse	Army	1945-01-01	1975-01-01	FAC 6059	0.611	22.651
31	Machinato Purchasing and Contracting Office	Army	1945-01-01	1974-01-01	FAC 6058	0.427	10.945
32	Machinato Supply District Auxiliary Facility	Army	1968-01-01	1993-01-01	FAC 6057	0.21	2.458
33	Camp Mercy	Army	1945-01-01	1974-01-01	FAC 6053	2.527	306.247
34	Harborview Club	Army	1945-01-01	1972-01-01	FAC 6063	0.572	15.941
35	Yozadake Air Station	Army	1945-01-01	1976-01-01	FAC 6272	3.135	217.412
36	Camp McTureous	Army	1945-01-01	1957-01-01	FAC 6031	2.82	464.916
37	Chinen 2nd Site	Army	1945-01-01	1973-01-01	FAC 6269	3.212	324.436
38	Chinen 1st Site	Army	1945-01-01	1973-01-01	FAC 6268	1.436	131.393
39	Southern Ammunition Depot	Army	1945-01-01	1977-01-01	FAC 6075	3.02	231.886
40	Corps of Engineers Office	Army	1968-01-01	2002-01-01	FAC 6060	1.068	75.465
41	Awase Storage Area	Army	1945-01-01	1973-01-01	FAC 6049	1.281	80.332
42	Kashiji Army Annex	Army	1954-01-01	1976-01-01	FAC 6041	0.901	21.541
43	Army POL Depot Kinbu No. 2 Tank Farm	Army	1945-01-01	nan	FAC 6076	2.12	164.768
44	Army POL Depot Kinbu No. 1 Tank Farm	Army	1945-01-01	nan	FAC 6076	2.532	205.85
45	Army POL Depot Kuwae Tank Farm No. 1	Army	1945-01-01	nan	FAC 6076	2.245	161.704
46	Army POL Depot Kuwae Tank Farm No. 2	Army	1945-01-01	nan	FAC 6076	2.727	266.229
47	Army POL Depot Kinbu No. 3 Tank Farm	Army	1945-01-01	nan	FAC 6076	3.276	288.178
48	Army POL Depot Tengan Booster Station	Army	1945-01-01	nan	FAC 6076	nan	nan
49	Army POL Depot Kuwae Booster Station	Army	1945-01-01	nan	FAC 6076	nan	nan
50	White Beach Katsuren Peninsula Army District (Hawk)	Army	1945-01-01	1972-01-01	FAC 6048	1.047	44.558
51	White Beach Kadena 2nd Site (Mace)	Army	1945-01-01	1976-12-31	FAC 6048	0.627	26.028
52	White Beach Nishihara 2nd Army Auxiliary Facility	Army	1945-01-01	1973-01-01	FAC 6048	0.583	25.573
53	Nishihara Army Auxiliary Facility (Nike) B Site	Army	1959-01-01	1973-05-01	FAC 6047	0.727	30.95
54	Nishihara Army Auxiliary Facility (Nike) A Site	Army	1959-01-01	1974-01-01	FAC 6047	0.838	33.698
55	Kumejima Air Communication Facility	Army	1950-01-01	1973-01-01	FAC 6279	3.361	116.287
56	Yozadake Site	Army	1945-01-01	1973-01-01	FAC 6273	1.652	127.49
57	Yozadake Army Auxiliary Facility	Army	1945-01-01	1974-01-01	FAC 6074	0.87	49.471
58	Machinato Housing Area	Army	1953-01-01	1977-02-28	FAC 6061	6.725	2702.97
59	Miyako Jima Voltac Site	Army	1956-01-01	1973-01-01	FAC 6286	2.008	268.651
60	Namihara Army Annex	Army	1945-01-01	1974-01-01	FAC 6035	1.127	87.195
61	Naha Service Center	Army	1945-01-01	1978-09-30	FAC 6065	0.692	27.533
62	Naha Site	Army	1945-01-01	1973-01-01	FAC 6267	2.742	164.705
63	Naha Freezer Warehouse	Army	1945-01-01	1978-03-15	FAC 6062	1.539	130.953
64	Yomitan Army Auxiliary Facility	Army	1960-01-01	1974-01-01	FAC 6025	1.357	97.379
65	Sunabe Army Annex	Army	1945-01-01	1977-01-01	FAC 6040	0.775	35.505
66	Koza Communication Facility	Army	1945-01-01	1973-01-01	FAC 6042	0.31	2.097
67	Yaka Rest Center	Army	1945-01-01	1974-01-15	FAC 6018	0.951	57.466
68	Chika Site	Army	1945-01-01	1996-01-01	FAC 6023	2.082	283.049
69	Camp Kubasaki	Army	1945-01-01	1981-01-01	FAC 6050	2.032	168.143
70	White Beach Training Area	Navy	1945-01-01	nan	FAC 6048	9.025	953.887
71	Awase Communication Station	Navy	1945-04-01	nan	FAC 6046	3.214	599.124
72	Sobe Communication Site	Navy	1945-01-01	2006-01-01	FAC 6026	3.054	605.754
73	Camp Shields	Navy	1950-01-01	nan	FAC 6032	6.389	835.522
74	Yonabaru Airfield	Navy	1945-05-01	1947-06-30	UNKNOWN	9.652	4716.14
75	Sekibi Sho Range	Navy	1956-01-01	nan	FAC 6085	2.5	58.809
76	Kobi Sho Range (Navy administration)	Navy	1956-01-01	nan	FAC 6084	3.816	1025.6
77	Oki Daito Jima Range	Navy	1958-01-01	nan	FAC 6088	4.778	1474.08
78	Gesaji Communication Site (incomplete)	Navy	1962-01-01	1995-01-01	FAC 6007	3.498	782.866
79	Camp Boone	Navy	1945-01-01	1974-01-01	FAC 6053	1.731	180.549
80	Kume Jima Range	Navy	1962-01-01	1978-01-01	FAC 6080	0.214	2.75
81	Naha Naval Air Facility	Navy	1945-01-01	1975-01-01	FAC 6089	12.38	3727.29
82	MCAS Futenma	Marine Corps	1945-01-01	nan	FAC 6051	12.616	5814.37
83	Camp Kinser	Marine Corps	1949-01-01	nan	FAC 6056	8.77	3230.31
84	Camp Schwab (coast)	Marine Corps	1959-01-01	nan	FAC 6009	10.963	2129.36
85	Kin Blue Training Area	Marine Corps	1972-01-01	nan	FAC 6020	4.727	471.993
86	Camp Courtney	Marine Corps	1956-01-01	nan	FAC 6029	13.793	1638.08
87	Ukibaru Jima Training Area	Marine Corps	1972-01-01	nan	FAC 6181	3.841	368.364
88	Tsuken Jima Training Area	Marine Corps	1945-01-01	nan	FAC 6082	1.505	17.546
89	Tengan Pier	Marine Corps	1945-01-01	nan	FAC 6028	2.133	29.083
90	Henoko Ordnance Ammunition Depot	Marine Corps	1959-01-01	nan	FAC 6010	6.603	846.177
91	Camp McTureous	Marine Corps	1957-01-01	nan	FAC 6031	2.82	464.916
92	Northern Training Area	Marine Corps	1958-01-01	nan	FAC 6001	88.867	44584.5
93	Ie Jima Auxiliary Airfield	Marine Corps	1943-01-01	nan	FAC 6005	22.688	10711
94	Camp Foster	Marine Corps	1945-01-01	nan	FAC 6044	31.86	6046.77
95	Camp Schwab (estimate)	Marine Corps	1959-01-01	nan	FAC 6009	22.514	24219.7
96	Yomitan Auxiliary Airfield	Marine Corps	1944-01-01	2006-01-01	FAC 6027	7.328	2453.87
97	Camp Lester	Marine Corps	1945-01-01	nan	FAC 6043	6.048	758.854
98	Old Northern Training Area	Marine Corps	1958-01-01	2016-12-01	FAC 6001	153.445	56484.2
99	Kin Red Beach Training Area	Marine Corps	1962-01-01	nan	FAC 6019	0.72	13.356
100	Gimbaru Training Area	Marine Corps	1957-01-01	2011-07-31	FAC 6017	3.916	750.554
101	Hisashi Training Area	Marine Corps	1957-01-01	1974-03-31	FAC 6112	2.405	152.708
102	Ishikawa Army Auxiliary Facility	Marine Corps	1957-01-01	1974-01-01	FAC 6024	1.181	42.928
103	Camp Hague	Marine Corps	1945-01-01	1977-01-01	FAC 6033	3.545	739.757
104	Aha Training Area	Marine Corps	1945-01-01	1998-01-01	FAC 6102	13.415	6470.6
105	Onna Communication Site	Marine Corps	1953-01-01	1996-01-01	FAC 6013	4.098	725.164
106	Camp Hardy	Marine Corps	1945-01-01	1977-01-01	FAC 6014	7.192	2587.09
107	Chinen Service Area	Marine Corps	1945-01-01	1974-01-01	FAC 6071	6.959	2475.99
108	Maejima Training Ground	Marine Corps	1945-01-01	1972-05-14	FAC 6083	13.718	2398.93
109	Iha Castle Hotel	Marine Corps	1971-01-01	1979-01-01	FAC 6090	1.517	60.01
110	Naha Service Center	Marine Corps	1978-09-30	1995-01-01	FAC 6065	0.692	27.533
111	Camp Hansen	Marine Corps	1945-01-01	nan	FAC 6011	78.502	59628.4
112	Yaka Rest Center	Marine Corps	1974-01-15	1979-08-31	FAC 6018	0.951	57.466
113	Onna Site	Marine Corps	1953-01-01	1975-01-01	FAC 6215	2.774	186.195
114	Awase Golf Course	Marine Corps	1948-01-01	2010-07-31	FAC 6044	4.981	582.04
115	Kawata Training Area	UNINCORPORATED	1945-01-01	1971-01-01	"No. 3"	13.035	5157.09
116	Sedake Training Area	UNINCORPORATED	1945-01-01	1971-01-01	"No. 8"	3.398	569.706
117	VOA (Voice Of America) Manzamo	UNINCORPORATED	1951-01-01	1977-01-01	NONE	4.086	657.968
118	VOA (Voice Of America) Okuma	UNINCORPORATED	1951-01-01	1978-01-01	NONE	4.068	1153.45
119	Shinzato Communication Site	UNKNOWN	1945-01-01	1974-01-01	NONE	2.952	207.641
120	VOA (Voice Of America) Chatan	UNINCORPORATED	1951-01-01	1977-01-01	NONE	nan	nan

Complete airspace/waterspace table:

OBJECTID	BASE_NAME	BORDER_TYPE	PERIMETER_KM	AREA_METERS²
1	Area Mike Mike	MARITIME_AIRSPACE	515.457	1.20805e+07
2	Area Hotel Hotel	MARITIME_AIRSPACE	726.39	2.48647e+07
3	Area Alpha	MARITIME_AIRSPACE	369.243	5.28981e+06
4	Gesaji Water Area	MARITIME	32.139	3458.97
5	Northern Water Area	MARITIME	5.737	1549.62
6	Awase Communication Station Water Area	MARITIME	7.9	2078.76
7	Tsuken Jima Water Area	MARITIME	16.08	11597.3
8	Kin Red Beach Water Area	MARITIME	11.109	1645.64
9	Camp Schwab Water Area	MARITIME	64.725	146169
10	Camp Hansen Water Area	MARITIME	2.4	313.39
11	Army POL Depots Water Area	MARITIME	7.011	797.891
12	Camp Courtney Water Area	MARITIME	9.097	2669.57
13	Tengan Pier Water Area	MARITIME	13.357	8467.29
14	White Beach Water Area	MARITIME	115.193	407843
15	Kobi Sho Water Area and Airspace	MARITIME_AIRSPACE	38.841	96590.2
16	Taisho Jima Water Area and Airspace	MARITIME_AIRSPACE	37.525	97554.6
17	Kume Jima Water Area	MARITIME_AIRSPACE	28.718	65629.5
18	Area India India	MARITIME_AIRSPACE	702.265	2.88246e+07
19	Ukibaru Jima Water Area	MARITIME	10.613	3264.87
20	Ie Jima Water Area	MARITIME	26.087	30563.4
21	Kin Blue Beach Water Area	MARITIME	10.326	2895.34
22	Tori Shima Water Area and Airspace	MARITIME_AIRSPACE	34.918	97022.2
23	Area Hotel Hotel	MARITIME_AIRSPACE	726.39	2.48647e+07
24	Area Alpha	MARITIME_AIRSPACE	369.243	5.28981e+06
25	Kume Jima Air Space	AIRSPACE	103.979	580195
26	Northern Okinawa Range	AIRSPACE	470.837	1.36306e+07
27	Southern Okinawa Range	AIRSPACE	468.532	1.42064e+07
28	Area India India	MARITIME_AIRSPACE	697.487	2.88261e+07
29	Tori Shima Water Area and Airspace	MARITIME_AIRSPACE	34.918	97022.2
30	Area Mike Mike	MARITIME_AIRSPACE	515.457	1.20805e+07
31	Area Golf Golf	AIRSPACE	487.38	1.38286e+07
32	Ie Jima Air Space (Area 2)	AIRSPACE	135.384	1.19423e+06
33	Ie Jima Air Space (Area 1)	AIRSPACE	63.905	242862
34	Ie Jima Air Space (Area 1) DIVISION	AIRSPACE	63.994	243963
35	Kobi Sho Water Area and Airspace	MARITIME_AIRSPACE	35.025	97615.8
36	Taisho Jima Water Area and Airspace	MARITIME_AIRSPACE	35.024	97608.4
37	Idesuna Jima Airspace	MARITIME	116.665	801872
38	Oki Daito Jima Water Area and Air Space	MARITIME_AIRSPACE	35.87	102388

All the data and additional information is provided in the data_tables folder for bases and airspaces/waterspaces. There is also an optional copy in csv format.

The majority of the sources were taken from the Japanese Wikipedia articles regarding every base. Each of them are documented on the source column of base data, but they include various different sources which includes those of declassified CIA documents.

Credits

Made by kernelwernel, crediting my work is not strictly necessary since I consider this to be in the public domain, but a mention/link to this repository would be appreciated!