On 27 August following Japan's capitulation, "Lavaca" joined TF 33.1 at Luzon, prepared for the occupation of Japan, and arrived Yokohama 2 September. The attack transport shuttled passengers from Pearl Harbor and San Francisco to Sasebo, Japan, 7 September 1945 to 6 July 1946. In October 1945, she carried passengers from Shanghai, China to San Francisco.