Job Discussion Forums

[Mchristophermsw]

If I taught in Japan I would like to teach in a more rural or less populated area that has a slower pace than a major city. Maybe a meduim size city or small city. When I was in the West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago, I worked in part of the country were the population was under 200,000 and it was very refreshing. The people seemed more friendly than the larger Capitol city.

If anyone can think of a place that might be a good fit let me know

I welcome all thoughts and replies
Thank you in advance

[TokyoLiz]

There are lots of small cities in beautiful wild landscapes in West Japan, especially Shikoku, the least populated of Japan's four major islands. Look up Shikoku Island, Ehime, Tokushima, Kochi and Kagawa prefectures to get an idea.

I lived in southern Ehime Prefecture for a year on the JET Program. I recommend Ozu, Uwajima and Yawatahama cities. They're small, in rugged country with excellent transportation to larger centers and out to pastoral countryside.

I visited Kochi Prefecture, too, and it's also very rural.

[luckbox]

Finding work in Japan's inaka (countryside) will not be difficult. Alot of people coming over here are dead set on living in Tokyo or a big city, so recruiters have a harder time filling the spots in the less populated areas. Your choice will really depend on your lifestyle preferences. If you love the mountains and hiking, there are superb places to be based, eg, Hokkaido, Nagano, north Honshu, and so on. If you want to be close to water, there are amazingly beautiful seaside or island towns in need of teachers.

I've lived in a small rural town, and I've lived in Tokyo. I am now back to a more rural location and loving it. The neon facades and hype of Tokyo quickly faded for me. But then, I'm not a shopper and not much of a partying nightlifer. I found the lifestyle in Tokyo to be crowded, filled with air pollution, packed commuter trains and rude people. Big urban centres in Japan, for me, are good places to visit, not live.

What you should do is research Japan's regions a bit via travel guides and find out where you might like to be situated.

[NorthofAmerica]

I arrived in Arida, a small city of about 40,000, in Wakayama a week ago and am very surprised at how much I like it. There are LOTS of jobs in smaller areas in Japan and contrary to my initial perception of small towns the people are very nice and accomodating, possibly more so than in the big cities.Though this town is only 40,000 or so there are towns right next to it that are slightly larger and plenty of things to do. Wakayama prefecture is south of Osaka and has many nice beaches and fresh fruit farms. Living in the Kansai region also means you can head up to Osaka if you need to scratch the big city itch.

Use wikipedia to find the area that interests you and then stalk some ESL teacher in the area online and ask how they like it.

[Speed]

Thanks for the info about Arida, NorthofAmerica. I`m thinking of relocating to Wakayama-city just north of you. If anyone has any info about Wak-city, throw up the info, please

I would also like to recommend Matusyama, Ehime in Shikoku as a place to live and work for Mchristophermsw. It`s a city of 400,000, but the way the city is set up, it feels much smaller. It has the castle in the middle and has a streetcar system that circumnavigates it. Everything is close to the center and the feel of the city is cozy and friendly. Very little sprawl.

Note:
As for mentioning to check out other internet sites to locate places he would like to live - that`s good advice but the OP doesn`t have any particular ideas of places, so he`s asking US for particular names of areas and places WE like - so he can check them out further.