Japan IS an amazing place, but most of people don't really look at it objectively XD It's not a perfect place and definitely not a place where I would live. No problems with checking it out as a tourist, though, in fact I'll go again next year :D

..I think that if you'll get transferred there, you'll just keep spending time with most of your American friends, and will go around with them XD
...The duty station there is in Okinawa?