Job Discussion Forums

[jimboclark]

I will begin my JET application next month, and I'm trying to decide in which cities or towns I should request placement.

I lived with a host family in Nagoya for a year, and I have two good friends who live in Gifu-shi, so I'd like to live within a one-hour train ride of Nagoya so that I can make day trips to see them on weekends.

Now, I live in Knoxville, TN. The top 3 things I like about Knoxville and what I'm looking for in a town in Japan, in order of importance:

1) I love hiking in the mountains, and Knoxville's within a one hour train ride of the beautiful hiking trails of the Smoky Mountains.

2) I love listening and dancing to live music, and in Knoxville, there's a good local music scene and I can enjoy a wide variety of live music on any given night.

3) I love riding my bicycle, and Knoxville is small enough that I can ride my bicycle practically anywhere I'd ever want to go within city limits.

Imagine drawing a circle with Nagoya at 6 o' clock and Gifu-shi at 11. I'd like to live somewhere on or just outside that circle.

Anybody know of a town like that?

In other words, the Japanese equivalent of Asheville, NC; Telluride, CO; or Portland, OR?

[6810]

I think you're asking a lot.

Nevertheless.

I think once you are in Japan, your notion of "city limits" will shift. Urban sprawl is order of the day.

Although much of the time, great hiking and natural environments are available and relatively "near" by American standards. Travelling these relatively short distances can be quite costly in terms of time and money.

That said though, if you are anywhere in northern Aichi, southern Gifu, most of your needs ought to be met.

The live music scene will however, bear success of your efforts - live music "scenes" here work a little bit differently to what you might be used to. Other people may have more to say on that.

[maya.the.bee]

i can't recommend any place for you....but i can tell you it really is a request. JETs like to say that they ask for Hokkaido and get Okinawa, so be aware you will most likely end up (should you make it through the process) not where you want to be. but mountains & cycling are easy enough to do almost anywhere...(right now i wish my bike came with a/c).

the music scene is completely different though...look for flyers where ever you get placed - clothing stores are generally a good place to start. and don't be afraid to be the only gaijin.

anyway..those are my 2 cents....but ESID

[markle]

your request reminds me of what to do when getting a mountain bike: you need one that is strong, light and cheap but you can only have two of these.

Againj as others have pointed out the music scene is the mostb problematic of your criteria.

[jimboclark]

Thanks for the replies.

Yeah, I know that I'm asking a lot. I'll probly just try to get a job in Gifu-shi, that way I'll be halfway in between the mountains in the north and the music and entertainment of Nagoya in the south.

I just thought I'd ask just in case there's some cool little town that I've never heard of that just happens to have a great music scene. Kinda like Asheville or Telluride... small towns that I'd never know had a scene without visiting or meeting people from there.