Job Discussion Forums

[jamhead]

For those that live in the Kanto Region, what are some pros and cons of living in Tokyo vs. other parts of Kanto such as Chiba, Kanagawa, Saitama, etc.?

I'm planning to come to Japan to live and work next fall, and know I don't want to be too far from Tokyo because I have friends there. However, after having lived in Seoul for the past two years, I'm not sure if I can handle another crowded, urban situation and might prefer to be at least a little outside of Tokyo.

I know this may be a general question that applies to too many people, but any searches I did were either dated or not very helpful.

[TokyoLiz]

My suggestion is, ask your friends where their closest stations are, check out some hypothetical places to work, plug the variables into [url]www.hyperdia.com [/url] - a digital train timetable - and see what your travel costs and distances are like.

Parts of Saitama, Gunma, Ibaraki and Chiba are really quiet, rural and pretty, and train trips into Tokyo may take an hour or two.

Google Earth will show you the true horror of Kanto urban sprawl.

[Glenski]

In addition to Tokyo Liz's good advice, you must consider this. If you don't come here to job hunt, your chances of getting places where you want are far less. Most of the places that hire from abroad will tell you that they can't guarantee any location, but that they will listen to requests. In the long run, you go where they have the empty desks.

[AndyH]

Tokyo is definitely more exciting, but you can save a lot of money by living 45 minutes away in the suburbs.

[southofreality]

Yokohama is a big city, but a lot more laid back than Tokyo. If you live near the city center, it's only about a 45-minute train ride into Shibuya. It's definitely worth a look.

[jamhead]

Thanks for the posts so far. Good advice. Anything anyone has to add would be helpful as well.

[TokyoLiz]

You are welcome!

Southofreality says Yokohama's more chill than Tokyo. That's true, but it's still really dense.

I'd recommend south west Ibaraki, South Central Saitama (sorry, Saitamaites) and Gunma. All are within easy distance of Tokyo.

[jamhead]

After doing a little more research, I think I'll focus more on Chiba and Ibaraki (Ibaragi?). They're closer to the ocean, and people tend to have positive feedback. Still open to others, though.

[AndyH]

Between Chiba and Ibaraki, you'll probably find that Chiba has a little more to offer. Ibaraki has some positive things too, but it's a little more rural, from my experience.

[Yawarakaijin]

I would say it really depends on the kind of person you are and what you are looking for. I've lived in large cities ever since leaving home at the age of 19 and ever since always thought of myself as someone who enjoys the urban lifestyle.

Recently though, I was transferred to a rural area in Japan and I have to say I have been loving it. The amount of money I have been saving is shocking compared to what I was squirreling away in Tokyo. If you are the type who has to hit posh bars on Tuesday or Wednesday nights maybe Tokyo is where it is at for you.

If, on the other hand, you like to keep your weeks pretty casual and go out for fun on the weekends then there are a lot of areas in Japan that are great.

I live in Nagano and its been great so far. Weekdays,after work ,I have been heading down to the local river to hit the swimming hole. There are just enough restraunts in town to keep things interesting. The nature in general is simply spectacular and on the weekeds it is easy enough to get into one of the bigger cities nearby for a bit of nightlife.

Life in Japan can be a grind, even for those that have been here for a long time and have overcome the culture shock. I can't tell you how much just having a quiet place to swim or relax out in nature has changed my outlook on life this past month.

After spending 2 years in Tokyo I almost forgot what the real world looked like. You mean there are things called stars that come out at night? The sound of running water....what's that? Moving here was almost like a revelation. No doubt about it, Tokyo is fun but on some level I found it very dehumanizng.

There is so much I could write but I will leave it at this. Japan is so much more than Roppongi, hi-tech, hot chicks and expat bars. Don't get so hung up on having to be in the middle of it all. I was like that for a long time and in many ways I am currently finding myself regretting having spent so much time in Tokyo.

[Seibu]

Hey Yawa...

Your handle reads Sagami-Ono. I spent my last four Japan years in Sagami-Ono and it was certainly NOT Nagano! LOL!

Actually, when I moved out to the Machida area, I thought I was out in the boonies. Nagano is probably pretty sweet.

[AndyH]

Well said, Yawarakaijin!

I feel fortunate to have spent my first year in Japan in eastern Hokkaido. Although it was remote, the natural beauty was fantastic, and I benefitted from seeing a part of Japan that my friends and co-workers who never ventured outside greater Tokyo were never able to experience.

[Sherri]

I spent almost 14 years living in Tokyo and I would not want to live on a branch line because I hate commuting on crowded trains. If you have to travel into Tokyo every day at rush hour or go home at rush hour, you have to be ready for the commute. The Saikyo line for example is a nightmare (IMO) as are some of the other lines that run out to the suburbs. How I do not miss packing myself onto that train and I only lived in Ikebukero, I really felt sorry for the people who had to ride that train all the way to Kawagoe or whereever.

If you like going out at night after work, you have to be careful about catching your last train home. It was great living right on the Yamanote line and being able to get home quickly and cheaply.

There are many small quiet neighborhoods dotted around central Tokyo. If I were single in Tokyo, that is where I would live again.

S

[Yawarakaijin]

Funny how we agree Andy and Seibu. My first year in Japan was also in eastern hokkaido, place called Kushiro. Seeing as it is pretty much the only major city there I would place a bet that you were based there too. Kushiro, while not so exciting in itself, was a great area to launch weeked trips and snowboarding adventures from.

Sagamiono on the other hand. While it was great at first, it soon started to wear me down. Sure I could have done more to try and enjoy it but in the end it just didn't do it for me.

I like my situation now. Surrounded my mountains, rivers you can actually swim in, rice paddies, amazing skies and pretty cool people during the week and close enough to Nagano, Matsumoto, or Nagoya if I wanna hit an urban area.

[AndyH]

I was in Kitami.

Some of my favorite places have been in Nagano-ken as well. Particularly Matsumoto and Kiso Valley.
Being from Oregon, I practically grew up in the woods, and although I came to love Tokyo, I still need my regular fix of nature.