Job Discussion Forums

[lizweezee]

Okay, what's your final word on these cities?
Any you absolutely love...or absolutely despise?
And lastly, why?

Sendai
Aizu-wakamatsu
Fukushima
Shirakawa
Yonezawa
Yamagata
Niigata
Joetu
Akita
Aomori
Goshogawara
Kitakami
Ichinoseki
Ishinomaki
Koriyama

Muchas Gracias!

[shmooj]

Ha ha

In 6 years there I never went to even one of those on your list.

Just for the record then, there wasn't a single city I really liked, but there were heaps of places that I loved.

Japan is not to be known for its cities. Further off the track usually beaten by teachers there is fantastic scenery what the smaller places have to offer can often be outstanding.

So, to shift things slightly in favour of those who haven't been to the cities you mention, what do you think of these places

Karuizawa
Mt. Aso
Kisofukushima
the San-in coast
Hokkaido for skiing
Yamanakako
Kamikochi
Hagi
Magome and Tsumago

[shmooj]

Actually, rereading your list, I notice Shirakawa.

Is this the one in Gifu? If so, it is a valley/area and not a city as far as I know. Anyway you'd have to be really fortunate to land a job teaching round there.

[kiracle]

Don't know any of them personally, but a co-worker lived in Sendai and claims it lives up to its reputation of being an incredibly unfriendy city......

[nomadder]

Aizu-Small city surrounded by mountains with a nice castle. There was a tight gaijin scene a few years back and a proliferation of foreigners marrying locals. I can�t imagine living there for life but one year might be ok. Bit of traditions still there. I needed the ocean though and moved.

Koriyama-not much to recommend it but bigger stores than Aizu and on the shinkansen line.

Fukushima-not a bad place. Not huge but a good feeling. My pick of this lot.

Sendai-a biggish city. OK. Lots of stuff but not too huge. Ocean access.

Niigata-not that nice but again you have ocean and more stores,etc. The weather is very overcast on that coast.

Alot of cities in Japan are clones of each other-kind of like....

[Lynn]

[homersimpson]

Sendai -- City of 1 million plus; decent shopping; cold in the winter.
Aizu-wakamatsu -- Inconvenient train station; very cold in the winter; historically significant.
Fukushima -- Shinkansen access; good size (300,000); not much nightlife, but a decent place.
Yamagata -- Snows a lot; skiing is available.
Niigata -- Not bad, but beaches are filthy; depressing weather in the winter.
Koriyama -- Some decent shopping; not the friendliest people in Japan; Shinkansen access; known for strong yakuza prescence.

Of the places on the list I'm familiar with, I'd opt for Fukushima (City), with Sendai second.

[joncharles]

Hmmmmm Sounds like the location list for James English Schools. I had a friend who had been to Aomori and it wasn't too bad. There are good and bad places, but sometimes I think most places can be a good experience if you look for the good things and forget the bad..