Job Discussion Forums

[hip-hop boy78]

hi guys, another question, i apologize if some of you are getting a little sick of my posts but i have lots of questions i'd like to ask.
well, what's it like living in the boonies in japan? i've never lived in the countryside before, not even in my own country let alone a foreign one, so what should i expect? apart from the fact tht i'll most likely be the only gaijin for a hundred square miles and nobody will speak any english...
what are the advantages and disadvantages of living in the country?
i'd like to hear from those who have some experience.
thank you.

[spidey]

First, let me ask you this...

What are your expectations for living in Japan. Are there any specific things that you plan on doing, besides working, after you arrive?

S

[homersimpson]

Unless you're applying to the JET Program or somehow manage to arrange an ALT position yourself (unlikely without prior in-country experience and connections) you probably won't be in the boonies. Most conversation schools that will be looking to hire are in populated places. Of course there are exceptions and small schools do exist in the countryside. I just don't know how many of them recruit on sites like Dave's or ohayosensei. That said, there are certain areas of Japan that are very rural (Kagoshima, Miyazaki, and Tottori come to mind, but there are more). My definition of "very rural" means the town has no train access and very limited bus (if any) lines. But, again, unless it's JET, I doubt you'd even find a job offer in a place like that. Logistics aside, country folk in Japan tend not to have a lot of disposable income either for themselves or their children to learn English at a conversation school. If you parents are going to dole out the coin, it would more likely be to a juku (cram) school.

[Gordon]

I live on the outskirts of a city, pretty rural. For those of you in Tokyo, I am certainly in the boonies.
People are generally quite friendly and you're certainly a novelty. I know all 4 foreigners in my neighbourhood and 3 are in my house!
I disagree about the privates. The great thing is if they want a foreign teacher, you're it and name your price. I am too busy now and turn down 6,000 yen/hr. I have enough and could get a lot more.My privates range from 6-10,000 yen/hr, more than I'd get in a big city. If you're single, you'd be bored, but for a family, this is perfect. Cost of living is lower, especially rent. Apt rents go for about 45-55,000 and houses 60-90,000. Park on the street, driving is easy, big parking lots. You have a lot less adjustment coming here than a big city. Not many schools, but there are some. My city has a couple Novas and there is a Peppy's Kids club about a km from my house.

[hip-hop boy78]

well i've lived in japan before but that was in yokohama, a pretty big city, so i was just wondering what country life would be like in japan, not necessarily in a small village miles from anywhere but perhaps in a small town with very few foreigners around. i'm a single guy so i would hope to find a gym to work out and maybe a bar or two to hang out, watch sports, increase my chances of meeting a lovely lady, eat occasional junk food. maybe i'm expecting too much right?

[Nismo]

Buy Lonely Planet's Japan Guide and read descriptions of key cities in most prefectures. If something sounds good, investigate it more on the internet. Look for blog's on current or past teachers in Japan.

Personally, I would love to live in a small town. The most appealing town for me, though, might be your worst nightmare. All you can do is read publications on cities and prefectures, and then read some more and form your own opinion. Pictures help a lot, but a photograph can be deceiving.

[kitano]

I lived in the boonies in Nagano and I would not reccommend it unless you really know what you are getting into. On the other hand if you find a rural area with easy access to a large city it might be ok, or live on the outskirts of a small city. Then you can have the best of both worlds. How about Matsumoto in Nagano? In kansai places like Sanda or Akashi are good. In Kanto I don't know so much. My friend used to live in Fujiyoshida and it was countryside without being too isolating. It is a bit personal, how much isolation can you take, what do you really need in your life, etc

[hip-hop boy78]

well i gotta be honest and say that i'm more of a city-boy so i'm not sure if i could handle small town life in japan. living close to a big city wouldn't be bad or on the outskirts of a small city too. there should at least be some fresh air around.
i was just looking for jobs on the net the other day and found that most of them were for schools in rural prefectures/areas like gifu, gunma, hyogo, saitama, nagano etc whereas i'm really keen on heading to a big city like tokyo or osaka.
but saying that i would be willing to live in a small town for a year just so i could get back to japan and then maybe once there, i could look for another job in the city.

[stretch]

My old placement was the epitome of rural. I lived in the outskirt, on the top of a mountain, 20 minutes away from the centre of a town of 5000. My little village consited of about 150 with the average age about 70. My area had no conbini, no trains and 6 buses up and down the mountain per day. Thankfully I had a car. My school had a whopping 11 students.
I did however teach at a couple other schools that had 150 or so. For me, the boonie thing was the best. I was welcomed beyond my imagination, had the greatest time, and wish I could be back there. If I ever needed the city feeling, just hop in the car for 30 minutes or so. (however, if i needed to rely on the bus that would have been impossible.)
I'm hopefully going back to Japan again this April (fingers crossed) and given the choice would go nowhere but inaka.
Good luck to ya.

[space]

stretch:

Did you go through JET?

If so, what did you put as your placement preference?

[Nismo]

[stretch]

Nismo,
Yup I went through JET.
I asked for rural Yamanashi. That is exactly what they gave me. A little more rural than I knew existed but, hey I got what I asked for.