Job Discussion Forums

thomthom · Joined: 20 May 2011 Posts: 125

I've been guaranteed a position in Saitama by an ALT company (although they cannot yet tell me specifically which public school I will end up at).

I understand that it's probably not an area of interest in itself, but the proximity to Tokyo is appealing. I'm applying from outside of Japan so it seems hopeless trying to get VISA sponsorship for a job anywhere nearer the city centre.

So is anyone currently living in, or has anyone experienced, living there? I have mental images of quite a grey suburban area, but would I be justified in thinking it's worth it for the sake of having access to Tokyo on weekends?

One guy told me the commute from Saitama to central Tokyo might be as long as 90 minutes. Considering it's only 15 miles, that sounds pessimistic. Perhaps I'm wrong..

kah5217 · Joined: 29 Sep 2012 Posts: 270 Location: Ibaraki

According to Google, it's about an hour to Shinjuku. Not bad if you ask me.

OneJoelFifty · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 463

Depending on where in Saitama your school is, it's possible you could live in the North of Tokyo and commute to Saitama. I do the same from Tokyo to Chiba.

TokyoLiz · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1548 Location: Tokyo, Japan

Parts of Saitama are rural and scenic. Chichibu and Kawagoe, two postcard-pretty places are in Saitama. Those two places are about 90 minutes or less from Ikebukuro.

Closer to Tokyo, Misato City has a gorgeous park that borders on Mizumoto Park on the Tokyo side. Warabi and Soka are dense concrete cities. It really depends where in Saitama.

thomthom · Joined: 20 May 2011 Posts: 125

I've been to Japan twice, and after having lived in a typical suburban part of Seoul, I think a not-so-great part of suburban Tokyo is still probably nicer and more scenic, with more temples and things to see, etc..!

Anywhere to actually drink/go out in Saitama?

Indeed it might be best to find accommodation halfway between the job and central Tokyo.. hmm.

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

Depending on where in Saitama (it's a prefecture rather than a town so quite a large area), you could be 20 minutes from Shinjuku or more than 90 minutes, and you could be in a typical Japanese dormitory suburb or in the middle of the rice paddies so you might need to find out where in Saitama to get some more specific info. I've lived in two different parts of Saitama, one right on the border with Tokyo and the other much further north.

Plenty of places to drink if you are in the more populated areas.

thomthom · Joined: 20 May 2011 Posts: 125

Thanks for the info. Rice paddies wouldn't be great. I suppose once I've got my foot through the door, Japanese teaching visas last 12 months however much you switch or change jobs/locations in that time, right.. so I might take the gamble.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

kathrynoh · Joined: 16 Jul 2009 Posts: 64

jmatt · Joined: 29 Apr 2012 Posts: 122

Regardless, like the rest of the Dasaitama hordes, you can rip it up in Ikebukuro!

Seriously though, Saitama is a pretty big prefecture---hard to say, without knowing where you're gonna live, where you're going to work, and what areas of Tokyo you're interested in, the kind of commute you're looking at.

thomthom · Joined: 20 May 2011 Posts: 125

This issue of not knowing where my placement is until I arrive seems fairly ridiculous.

However, if I arrive in April, and I've got the teaching visa the ALT company set me up with, and if -- IF -- I really hate this location and my job... I can change jobs quite easily, right?

Do I need a clearance letter from my original sponsor and renewal every time I start a new job, or am I free to disappear off to wherever in Japan and find employment?

I'm feeling 50/50 the ALT company will screw me over, but so long as I'm through the door...