Job Discussion Forums

Ella76 · Joined: 16 Feb 2006 Posts: 8

Hi all,

I've just been offered a job in Saitama city and as I know nothing about this place any info would be very much appreciated.

what's it like? all bad or are there any redeeming qualities?
Any nightlife or entertainment, restaurants or good places to shop? can it classify as "cosmopolitan and interesting" or will I be bored out my brain? Many foreigners around or will I stick out like a sore thumb? and how close is it really to Tokyo?

I don't have very long to decide so any info, tips, or advice would be a huge help!!!

thanks!

Big John Stud · Joined: 07 Oct 2004 Posts: 513

Ella76 wrote:

Hi all,

I've just been offered a job in Saitama city and as I know nothing about this place any info would be very much appreciated.

what's it like? all bad or are there any redeeming qualities?
Any nightlife or entertainment, restaurants or good places to shop? can it classify as "cosmopolitan and interesting" or will I be bored out my brain? Many foreigners around or will I stick out like a sore thumb? and how close is it really to Tokyo?

I don't have very long to decide so any info, tips, or advice would be a huge help!!!

thanks!

Saitama city is large. Many good restaurants and the rent is a lot cheaper than Tokyo. Not much of night life because so close to Tokyo. When I lived in Saitama I spent all my night life in Tokyo. However, I do believe there is some night life in Urawa.
You will not be bored unless you are a boring person. I had lots of fun in Saitama.

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

Saitama's huge, whereabouts?

Filinadian · Joined: 09 Aug 2004 Posts: 27

I have posted a similar response a while back. Another person was asking questions about Saitama City. Basically Saitama City is made up of the three major cities in Saitama (Urawa + Omiya + Yono).

I often go to Omiya because it is a big station, it reminds me of Ikebukuro in a lot of ways. They renovated the station about a year ago, and they have new shops and restaurants all over. I prefer Omiya from other Tokyo cities because it has a lot of the things that Tokyo has to offer (Restaurants, Shops, a bit of Nightlife and also a Park). It isn't as crowded (even on the weekends) as most of the cities in Tokyo and the price of things are a bit cheaper too.

I don't know much about Urawa or Yono, but recently the JR Urawa Station is going through some major reconstruction, maybe similar to what Omiya Station went through a year ago. Things seem to be looking up for Urawa, better yet for Saitama City.

Check it out, it's a lot of fun and yes it is not boring, as long as you are not a boring person.

Filinadian

Ella76 · Joined: 16 Feb 2006 Posts: 8

thanks a lot guys,

you really put my mind at ease. I was getting a little worried because a friend who had lived in Japan told me to avoid Saitama at all costs, so it's good to hear that it's not all bad.

If I had a choice, my prefered location would be Tokyo, as I like to be right in the middle of it all, but I guess if I can't have that, would Saitama be an ok substitute?....what do you think?

as for the specific location within Saitama, I'm not exactly sure, but I think it might be Omiya. Any opinions?....

Brooks · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1369 Location: Sagamihara

not all people like Saitama - it sometimes is called dasaitama, or kusaitama by some people, as a joke.
It reminds me of the way that New
Yorkers make fun of New Jersey.

A lot of people live there because it is close to Tokyo but the rents are cheaper.
I have known people who got sick of the commute, so decided to live in one of Tokyo`s 23 wards in order to be closer to their jobs.
Kawagoe is probably the nicest place in Saitama ken.

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

What's nice about it Brooks?

Brooks · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1369 Location: Sagamihara

well you live there, so you know.
I have only lived in Kanagawa.

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

That would have been near Kawagoe and not any more, drive through it still, though. Oh yeah, okay, you are probably talking about the famous shopping street with the super old buildings, where they stashed all the treasures from marauding samurai back when. Yeah, that's pretty nice, once, for me anyway, and you'd never want to drive through there. I don't know; Omiya, Urawa, Kawagoe, not really more than eki-biru, no?
I would take Omiya, it has a thriving busking scene, and it's the big one.
You will be lucky to live there Ella. What do you like to do anyway?

Ella76 · Joined: 16 Feb 2006 Posts: 8

Why will I be lucky to live there?

anyway, not wanting to start a poll or anything, but if you guys had your choice, would you say it was better to live right in the middle of it all in the centre of Tokyo, or to live in the slightly less hectic outskirts in somewhere like...say...saitama? (commuting hassle aside)

I guess this is quite a big decision for me and one that I am not taking too lightly, so any opinions or advice from all you out there would be greatly appreciated!!!!

Brooks · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1369 Location: Sagamihara

it comes down to saving money on rent OR to be able to commute less to work and to spend more time at night in Tokyo.
For me, I live in Kanagawa, so if I am in Shibuya on a Saturday night, and it is 11 p.m. I would be thinking of heading to the station soon.
But people that live in Nakano or Ueno can keep drinking for another hour or so.

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

I meant if you were going to live in Saitama you would be lucky if it was Omiya, in my opinion. Why? Because it is the Tokyo of Saitama--it has the biggest station, more stuff, I don't know. I have lived in Saitama for over 5 years but not in Omiya, never go there either, don't have to, used to go to the bank there at Sonic-something or other. They had the only ATM around happening for me at the time.
As for here or there, Brooks pretty much summed things up for you, if you plan on partying than you would want to live in town, definitely.
When are you coming and did you get a job?

Big John Stud · Joined: 07 Oct 2004 Posts: 513

Sweetsee wrote:

I meant if you were going to live in Saitama you would be lucky if it was Omiya, in my opinion. Why? Because it is the Tokyo of Saitama--it has the biggest station, more stuff, I don't know. I have lived in Saitama for over 5 years but not in Omiya, never go there either, don't have to, used to go to the bank there at Sonic-something or other. They had the only ATM around happening for me at the time.
As for here or there, Brooks pretty much summed things up for you, if you plan on partying than you would want to live in town, definitely.
When are you coming and did you get a job?

I beg to differ! I guess liking a place is an individual! A place one person might like someone else might not. Nothing wrong with Omiya, however, I preferred living in Urawa. The rent was cheap and I was a short train ride from Ikebukuro my favorite place for night life. I also like the restuarants in Urawa cheap and tasty. There is also a large grocery store in a mall near Urawa station.

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

Hold on John, I prefer Urawa, too. I know Urawa, I don't know Omiya well. I thought someone deciding between here and Tokyo might prefer Omiya because it is bigger, on a grander scale. The only thing that attracts me to Omiya is the busking, lots of musicians play there, there is life.

Cshannon · Joined: 10 Dec 2004 Posts: 114