Job Discussion Forums

[stillnosheep]

Simple solution. Ring the recruiters and ask them whether you can be placed in downtown Tokyo and how long you may have to wait before a vacancy becomes available.

[Willy_In_Japan]

Jeez, do you even realize that Funabashi is closer to Tokyo than Narita airport? I am in Moriya, Ibaraki, and can get into Akihabara in 35 mins on the TX.

Unless you want to work in Ginza, or Shinjuku, or Shibuya, I can't see how you can complain about not having an "ideal" offer. You can take a 10 min train ride and technically be in 'Tokyo". Yokohama is right beside Tokyo and is farther away.

Check out the map.

http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?address=&city=Funabashi&state=&zipcode=&country=JP&location=%2b7kKQ9vua5LwURqqJM4bpr4K1XXjnj9mreTfoKBXa1%2buhxExKBDEm28UxAOU4Tg%2feu1e0JTlpRaJyd7GE7RjorF3JA0%2fyEIg&ambiguity=1

[angrysoba]

1. Take the position.
2. Post to tell us you have done so.
3. We'll get off your back.

[guest of Japan]

With AEON most people who are placed in Tokyo schools are actually living in Saitama or Kawasaki. They typically have a commute of at least a half hour. Considering the trains shut down at around 12:30 you would only have about 3 hours after work to enjoy the Tokyo nights.

I lived for two years in Funabashi. My wife commuted everyday to Roppongi to work while I went the opposite direction toward Narita. It takes about 1 hour to Roppongi, 1 hour to Narita, 45 minutes to Shinjuku, 25 minutes to Tokyo station, 50 minutes to Yokohama, and 20 minutes to Chiba City.

Funabashi is not the greatest city in the world. It has a population of about 400,000 after its recent merger with another town. The area around the station is very crowded, and the city has a rather large seedy element. For shopping there is a huge shopping mall called Lalaport in Funabashi. A short train ride will take you to the planned city of Makuhari which has an outlet mall and a nice park. If you take the Sobu line toward Narita the first stop in Tsudanuma. Tsudanuma is the place where a lot of foreigners in Chiba congregate. My favorite bar there is actually a tent, which has pretty cheap drinks and a real interesting clientel. One more stop on the train will take you to Inage which has a beach and I hear it even has an ice rink.

Funabashi is crowded with izakayas and hostess bars. The latter of which you couldn't do often on an AEON salary.

The AEON school is on the main street in Funabashi. It's about 1o minutes from the station walking. My guess is that your apartment would be about a 10 minute walk from the school.

Personally I think you are quite lucky to get this location. It has all the advantages of a Tokyo placement without all the negatives. Getting to Tokyo from Funabashi is no problem at all. However, as others have said you might find that eikaiwa life doesn't leave you all that free time to party in Tokyo that you were expecting.

[angrysoba]

There are plenty of people who apply to work in Tokyo who end up in...Maizuru!

[J-kun]

You could do a lot worse than funabashi. Even if your school is in shibuya, shinjuku, roppongi or whatever, you ain't gonna be living there. Making the last train home(or deciding to party till 5) is a fact of life in tokyo. That bar with the tent is cool, too. I'd say take it.

[wolfman]

[womblingfree]

I'd hold out for Tokyo. Sure you might be living in Saitama but they'll give you a train pass to and from Tokyo which will save you lots of money.

Don't demand to be placed somewhere else just ask nicely and you'll see if it's a possibility.

Having said that ending up in Funabashi wouldn't be the end of the world and it's easy to get to and from the Yamanote line.

Let us know where you end up.

[cafebleu]

Sweetvespertine - there's nothing wrong with asking about night life, cultural aspects, etc. Most posters here would regard that as a perfectly acceptable question to ask.

Don't be put off by posters who are intent on making themselves feel better at your expense, eg the nonsense about the airport that one little person felt they needed to add.

As a Londoner who worked in the Kyushu countryside for most of her time in Japan, I'd have to say the location you're looking at is close to one of the best you can get. If I had my time again in Japan I would consider the location you will be in as far superior to anywhere I lived when in Japan.

Just remember that Japan can look very tacky in the city/suburbia. I don't know where you are from but I had Aussie and NZ friends who thought Japan was the ugliest, most run down, one area indistinguishable from the next, unplanned place they had seen on the planet. The convenience of your location will make up for any eyesores. Good luck!

[sweetvespertine]

I accepted the job offer and should be leaving at the beginning of November. I am both nervous and excited, especially since I had mixed feelings when I was making a decision. Thanks to those with helpful insights.

[earthmonkey]

Good luck. I think you made the right decision.

By the way you might want to get a Costco membership. There's one in Makuhari (near Funabashi)and they'll accept the American member card. Cheap stuff,and feels like home.