Job Discussion Forums

ejectseat · Joined: 09 Jan 2006 Posts: 21 Location: Fukuoka, Japan

There's been a lot built up to this. I interviewed with Nova 7 months ago, and it's kind of surreal now that it's happening. I will be at 301 Lafore Kashii ave in Fukuoka city, so I wanted to give a shout and see if anyone was in the viscinity. I can't find any street maps, and google earth was unable to help me out. Hit me up!

Anyways, I'm really looking forward to this and I hope if I need any help when I get there I can find it on here.

Thanks everyone.

Colin

cafebleu · Joined: 10 Feb 2003 Posts: 404

I lived in Kyushu for a while and I knew a lot about various places in Fukuoka City and Fukuoka Prefecture. I have never heard of "Lafore Kashii Avenue" but I am guessing the location is this -

Kashii is an area east of Fukuoka City. You can reach JR Kashii Station easily by taking the JR train from Hakata Station. Hakata Station is THE railway station of Fukuoka/Kyushu.

There is also another station called Nishitetsu in Tenjin, the centre of Fukuoka City. While you can get a Nishitetsu train to Kashii, it doesn't run directly from Tenjin and it's not as good as the JR (Japan Railways) line.

Let's say you are at Fukuoka Airport. The international one I presume. There is a Nishitetsu bus that goes from the airport directly to the domestic airport where you can take the subway (Chikatetsu) to Hakata Station.

I don't know if that bus service is free as it was at one time but don't worry - you can buy a 1,000 yen bus card from the driver (about 10 dollars US, give or take current exchange prices). When you change your money try to get a few 1,000 yen notes.

The Nishitetsu bus will take you to the domestic airport. You will see signs saying Chikatetsu and probably there are a few in English. Follow them down the escalators and go to the Kuko Chikatetsu station (Airport Subway station). It costs about 250 to 300 yen to get a ticket.

You will hear announcements on the subway, both in Japanese and English. Get off at Hakata Station. You will need to take the JR kyuko train - not express, which is called tokyu and is expensive. The kyuko you need is fast but not as fast as the express, and doesn't make all the stops like the local train.

The kyuko train you need to get to Kashii station will be headed for Moji Ko or Kita Kyushu. Remember that the Japanese is pronounced like this as you read it - M-o-ji-ko/ K-i-t-a Q-shu.

Or you can ask: "Kashii JR e ikitai desu. Kyuko de ikitai desu. Densha no noriba wa, doko desu ka?"

I want to go to Kashii JR station. I want to go by the kyuko train. Where is the platform for the train?"

I wish I could help more. If you are working for Nova, then yes, they do have a branch at Kashii and I believe it is near to Kashii JR Station. I hope I am correct.

Again - "Nova eikaiwa no atarashii sensei desu. Nova wa doko desu ka?"

"I am a new Nova English school teacher. Where is Nova?"

Good luck - I hope this is the Kashii you are looking for!

cafebleu · Joined: 10 Feb 2003 Posts: 404

Has been Censored! The beeped out part of my post is actually the word
Nishi Tetsu. If this is censored again - Nishit#tsu.

seastarr · Joined: 22 Sep 2006 Posts: 76

I had heard the Kashii Nova branch closed down. I did Chibi training there and they were in the process of shutting it down. I lived in Kitakyushu for a year so if you have any questions about the general area, let me know. Fukuoka is a great city, you were very lucky to end up there. Most of the teachers in Kitakyushu had put Fukuoka on their applications and got put in Fukuoka-Ken instead of the city. Just make sure if you are flying, you get the directions for the international terminal. Many a teacher has gotten lost or missed flights due to the confusion surrounding the domestic and international terminals.

dragongirl · Joined: 19 Sep 2006 Posts: 30 Location: Portland, OR

Fukuoka is nice! I liked the mall at Canal City and there is a huge mall downtown, I can't remember the name, it's been a while since I've been there. Sad

You can also take a ferry and visit Korea too. Have fun!

ejectseat · Joined: 09 Jan 2006 Posts: 21 Location: Fukuoka, Japan

oh my, this place is wonderful! I am 20 minutes from the beach by foot. I'm in Kashii, the Kashii branch is still open, and my apartment is extremely nice!

Not to let anyone down, I have pics of everything, and they are constantly being updated, so feel free to check back...

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/0903/ejectseat/Japan/