Job Discussion Forums

[ESLgeek]

Hi everyone,
I have had a job offer in a small town outside Nagano called Nakano. Funnily enough, it is called Nakano City, but the population is only about 43,000. I was just wondering if anyone has had experience living in a small town. What's it like compared to a big city? Are there things to do? I am seriously considering this offer. I know it would be much cheaper than living in Tokyo or Osaka, for example, but I also want to know that there are things to do. Thanks in advance for any responses.

[dove]

I lived in a small town in Yamanashi Prefecture for two years. It wasn't for me. I was bored a lot, but I sure did have time to study Japanese (mainly by myself--there were no schools near me) It used to get on my nerves when people would say "but you're experiencing the REAL Japan." I think Shibuya on a Sunday afternoon is just as much the "real" Japan as the deep inaka. Anyway,some good points: There were absolutely gorgeous views of the mountains and the rice paddies; rent was also cheaper. Bad points: not a lot of choices when it came to restaurants, supermarkets, bookstores. Also, I was the only English-speaking foreigner.No one to commiserate with. At that time I worked in a junior high school, which also wasn't for me. I guess it all depends on the person: some people like the countryside (just like some people like working in a junior high school). I'm glad I gave it a try, though. Helped me determine what I like and don't like. But if you go to the countryside, please don't spout out that you're experiencing the "real" Japan and you poor city dwellers are getting a diluted version. Thanks.

[flyer]

Yes, its 50/50 and very much up to what kind of person you are and how you handle things.
It will be very quiet, not much shops, etc etc
but you will make many good friends, see the real Japan, safe and enjoy the trips to the cities more
I have been in a small town for 4 years and I like it, but it doesn't mean that I don't miss the shops etc in the city and get lonely sometimes
... as I say its 50/50.
Probably a good place to start

[G Cthulhu]

If you're talking about the "Nakano outside Nagano" that I think you are then it's an okay place as far as smaller cities in Japan go. It's well connected to Nagano in so far as you won't notice leaving Nagano and entering Nakano. Nagano is reasonably well connected to the rest of Japan IMO.

Aside from that it's neither here nor there. Best place in Japan to break a bone though. (Seriously.)

Then again, maybe you're meaning one of the other 65000 "Nakano" towns.

[cornishmuppet]

I live in Nagano City, but I've been to Nakano once or twice. Not much there, but the train line gets to Nagano in about 40 minutes, and its close to several ski resorts if that's your thing. Don't know much else, but its a pretty enough little place.

[GIR]

[Tiger Beer]

I'm in a town of about 110,000 people. There are some international restaurants - Indian, Chinese, Thai, Italian, etc.

I'm also not too far from the ocean, and mountains do overloom one side of this smallish city, and there stores. There are even bars, but I find them mostly frequented by older people singing karaoke.

I'd also agree with the above posters about 'the real Japan', as I don't feel this is the real Japan whatsoever. This is town/city is more spread out and has a small mall and a lot of large stores. It feels sleepy like a suburb. There aren't many pedestrians anywhere. If you aren't using a car, then you'll be on a bycycle. It feels less like a 'real Japan', and more like a nondescript suburb that could be anywhere in the world with large chain stores of the generic kind.

For me, I find I have the basic essentials here. But what I really miss are pedestrian-dominated streets with tiny little locally owned shops abound. This is a decent enough INTO Japan (as I can't say anything bad about it), but ultimately I hope to move on to the more urban pastures of Japan - preferably anywhere in the Tokyo or Osaka region.

[degolasse]

I agree with everyone else. There's pros and cons to both rural and city life, and it depend on what you prefer. If you don't care for the country life in your home country, than you probably won't in Japan either. I've been living in the middle of nowhere (10,000 people spread over 40km of mountains) in Western Honshu for he last 10 months and I love every minute it. However, I can't deny that a part of me longs for the bright lights. Every time I go into the city (usually Hiroshima or Okayama) I feel like I've been missing out on the real Japan, which is to me found in the quirkiness and style of Japanese city folk. It's in the metros that Japan is at it's most exotic. Folk in my town are not a whole lot different from the people in my small town back home in Canada.
So far I've found about living in a rice field:

Pros:
You get to know your town pretty well, and EVERYONE knows you. I got on a bus the other day and a complete stranger who should have no reason to know me said hello and called me by name. I feel like a celebrity.
You learn to appreciate the simpler things in life - I go for long bike rides and hikes, take slow mountain drives, have developed my photography skills etc.. as there is little else to do.
You save money - not only is the cost of living less, but there is nothing to spend your spare money on. I know I would be broke in a city.

Cons: Because everyone knows you, you have no privacy. I can't do anything at all without one of my students or parents seeing me and it's guaranteed that if it's anything interesting, it will be mentioned in class the next day.
There is little to do all week. Weekends are fine as I have many friends in a small city nearby, but from Sunday night til Friday, I'm solo with nothing to do but look at the mountains. But at the same time, it's forced me to get involved in community activities during the week which I enjoy.
It's hard to meet people your own age. There is no one my age in my town, and there would be nowhere to meet them if there was.
Like in any small town anywhere, there is little variety in shopping, entertainment etc...and there are few resources for English speakers. If you think you'll constantly need English things, movies, shopping, etc...then you might find yourself pretty bored much of the time.

[flyer]

[parrothead]

Perhaps when people talk about the "real" Japan they actually mean the more "traditional" Japan. Either that or it is just a tool recruiters use to lure new instructors to places they might not normally be inclined to go.

[Tiger Beer]

[dove]

Actually I think you can "get into" the culture quite easily in the big cities. Big cities have lots of options when it comes to studying Japanese, ikebana, kendo, koto, etc. In my experience, people in the city were more than willing to introduce me to Japanese culture. I remember once I casually mentioned that I was interested in making miso, and soon enough, a trip to an organic miso company was arranged. But I think Japanese people--whether in the country or the city--love to share aspects of their culture. That's one of the best things about living in Japan.

[GIR]

[jezebel]

[gaijin4life]