Job Discussion Forums

[Birdog3344]

Hello to all. Thank you to those who responded to my previous posts, this forum has been an invaluable resource at this stage. My girlfriend and I are planning to interview with ECC in the coming month and need to decide on living arrangements once in Japan. Positions are currently available in the Kinki District (Osaka and surrounding area), the Kanto District (Tokyo and surrounding area) and the Chubu District (Nagoya and surrounding area). We are confident that Tokyo is not for us (just to big and crowded), so have narrowed our choices to Osaka and Nagoya. We are looking for a medium sized city with as much traditional culture mingled amongst the inevitable modern wasteland that I gather is ubiquitous in any Japanese metropolis. We enjoy the outdoors (hiking and camping) so would love to be within a short distance of mountains and/or nature preserves. As far as apartments, we require a private apartment but not necessarily 2 bedrooms. We may be willing to pay a bit more (up to 800k Yen?) if that would mean a nicer place. I've been informed from the North American recruiter that if we choose the Chubu District (Nagoya) we will most likely be required to take ECC arranged housing, whereas we will have the option to take ECC accommodation or arrange our own if placed in the Kinki District (Osaka). So my two part question is; 1) which area do you think fits our needs best? and 2) are we better off taking arranged housing or finding a place on our own?
Thanks in advance for your advice.
By the way, Shmooj, what is "the best thing that ever happened to anybody..."?

[azarashi sushi]

[guest of Japan]

[Mike L.]

Go co-op if you can.

It generally overcomes all of the negatives of renting in Jpan.

There are no real estate agents or foolish landlords..

No key money, no guarantor..but you'll nedd 3 month deposite and first months rent!

Ususally a cheap super in the complex..

The good thing is that your APT isn't linked to your employer!

The units are often rennovated!!

Prices vary a lot. But ones in the burbs, where you might get placed, are suusally quite affordable.


You'll need someone with good Japanese to help you though. THey've changed the site too lately!!

http://www.ur-net.go.jp/[/quote]

[Birdog3344]

Yeah, I meant 80k. I think we'll take the company housing. Question is, are we forced to take what they give us or do we have a few apts to choose from and are we able to get a nicer one if we fork over a little bit more cash.
Also, any info on the difference b/w Nagoya and Osaka?

[bearcat]

If you think Tokyo is too big for you Osaka wouldnt be any better.

If Tokyo was like NYC, then Osaka would be like L.A. and Nagoya like Chicago with a bit of detroit sprinkled in(since Toyota is a hop skip and a jump away).

ECC in Nagoya used to put up alot of teacher in FreeBell apartments and those had two people to an apartment. However with all regions, you may not even get to work in the cities proper but in branches in the hinter lands on the outside. Thus if you were placed in the Toyota area (pretty much 1 hour and 30 minutes from Nagoya station) you'd most likely not duck into Nagoya to teach or visit unless on your own time or for a training session etc.

That said, regions themselves are misleading to consider for working because its better to know exactly where you will teach/live. Unfortunately this doesn't get decided in some cases until after you're here.

Its pretty difficult to say whats best for you because we dont have enough information to truly gauge.

[Gordon]

[Joannda]

I lived in Osaka for a year 4 years ago, and really enjoyed it there. I can't say anything much about Nagoya though, so this may be a bit biased Anyway, although Osaka is undoubtedly a huge city, it's big enough to have a lot of smaller 'cities' within it, if you know what I mean? So it doesn't necessarily have to feel like you are living in the second largest city in Japan. As you like the outdoors and want to see some of the traditional aspects of Japan etc, it's not a bad area either, because you are close enough (about an hour by train) to both Kyoto and Nara, where there are enough temples and shrines and the like to keep you entertained for a while The area surrounding Kyoto is also nice to go walking in (not so much tramping perhaps, but there are trees and streams/rivers which is more than can be said for some of the other bigger areas). Hope that helps a little good luck!

[shmooj]

Nagoya is where you want to be if something the size of Tokyo scares you pricewise and sizewise.

We lived near Nagoya for 6 years and went to Osaka twice. Both times it scared us

Nagoya is small enough but it really lacks any charm (but hey what Japanese city has this anyway). Good base for lots of great scenery and history in central Japan too.

For 80K you will find a decent apartment. We had a really nice one for 67K but that was in a smaller city outside Nagoya.