Job Discussion Forums

[prufrockwakes]

tokyo, seoul, or hong kong?

[Marcoregano]

It depends...they're all great cities but in different ways.

What are you looking for?

Hong Kong is without doubt the most westernised (ruled by the Brits for 150 years). More cosmopolitan than the other two, but culturally lacking IMO.

Seoul - whacko in your face Korean culture. Compared to HK or Tokyo not many foreigners and not much variety in terms of restaurants. People tend to love it or hate it.

Tokyo - I don't know it as well as the other two. Still very Japanese but with more foreigners than Seoul, therefore more 'western' stuff to eat/do. My least favourite of the three, but I'm sure I could happily live there if it came to it.

[prufrockwakes]

....but I'd like something less pressured, nervous, and xenophobic than Tokyo, so HK does have that upside. Culture-wise, Tokyo has so many museums and music venues, but travel is a pain, people are repressed, and most things are quite expensive (I hear Tokyo is even more expensive than HK).

HK seems like a smaller, cooler, more western Tokyo. The beaches are nice in HK? People stare at you a lot or seem to fear/hate you? Are there a decent number of pubs, clubs, museums, music places? Tenis courts! Ah, tennis courts. In Tokyo, you must reserve them by the hour, and it's about 10 US dollars an hour and a pain to arrange. How about HK?

Last thing, I hear HK is $$$. People only/mostly think of $. Do you think this is true? It cost about 5 US bucks to go somewhere (roundtrip) only a few km away in Tokyo and a small so/so studio costs around a 1000 US (often with a 2-5 month deposit). Most things cost about twice as much as the same thing in the States and the taxes are brutal (residence tax was 2000 US). HK looks small enough to walk to most places. Is this true?

Anyway, thank you for the response. I have appreciated your helpful answers in other posts. Cheers

[Marcoregano]

I agree with your reservations about Tokyo.

HK, yes the people are money-obsessed but that's no big problem - they won't try and take your money - it's a very safe city and a very low tax rate - 15%.

Tennis courts and walking - HK's not a great place for tennis or walking for about 7 months of the year because it's so hot and humid. However, the weather is great at the moment and up until Xmas it's great for outdoor stuff. There are some nice beaches and also some surprisingly remote mountainous areas.

Travel and public services are very good and cheap. Plenty of pubs, bars and clubs. Probably the best choice of resturants in Asia - maybe the best anywhere.

Culturally a bit dead though - not much of a local live music scene because everyone's out to save loadsofmoney. But it is getting better IMO - there's a jazz fest on this week and I saw a good production of waiting for Godot (from Ireland) a few weeks ago, so I guess it can't be that bad - but London it isn't. Museums and art galleries...no, not very good in HK, not yet.

[dodgee]

I will contrast HK and Tokyo. Only been to Seoul for a few days on holiday so no real life experience.

HK is much cheaper than Tokyo for eating out in the top range and the bottom range but probably dearer when you are going middle-of-the-road.
Socially you will find the locals more reserved than the Japanese can be once lubricated! But there are lots of thirsty expats hanging about in HK and they seem to be a more outgoing and interesting bunch than the ones I met in Tokyo.

Tennis is easy as you can find many buildings which have tennis facilities, swimming pools, gyms, saunas etc. But it is hard to play for a few months in the height of summer. Plenty of great places to walk, hike and run once you leave the MTR areas and find the trails and country parks.

Getting around is easier as the MTR, bus, taxis are more efficient than Tokyo and leaving HK is much easier than Tokyo as HK airport is a real Hub in Asia.

Culturally less interesting than Tokyo in terms of non-western culture. But plenty of artists come through to perform so it is harder to lose touch with western culture in HK than Tokyo which assists expats in adapting to living in a foreign society.

[kowlooner]

[prufrockwakes]

Thanks a lot. This is very helpful feedback.

I am surprised that hK natives are more reserved than the Japanese. The J-people are famous for their invisible samurai masks and tentativeness.

Tokyo is cool for concerts. Lisa Loeb and Sheryl Crow are comming soon. Kravitz, Def Lepard recently. Do foreign artists ink HK on their schedules?

Btw, taxes in Tokyo are a freakin' nightmare. Cool place to visit but,,,,,,

I've had the HK itch for over a year. I lived in Seoul for 2 years, going on 3 now in Japan; I'm starting to think it's a 2 year itch thing.

Cheers

[Serious_Fun]

[Marcoregano]

[prufrockwakes]

You got the boy dance bands and the glam boy rocks bands which take in a ton of teenagers, 99% chickies of course, and then you've got the decent bands (live house) who draw about 20-30 people and half or so are their friends.

...And of course the never dead old bands from the States who charge 80-120 bucks per nose bleed seat and pack the house, nostalgia in the air, ah yes.

Sidewalks bands are quite popular too, hawking their CD's as the droves os people pass with nary a glance.

[kowlooner]

[Jason Goren]

[Serious_Fun]

[Jason Goren]

[prufrockwakes]

or at least to me (Japanese taking leisure/food/life seriously).

I have been in Tokyo 2 1/2 years; most westerners don't seem to worry or even talk very much about money--they are all busy spending it all in Roppongi (the foreigner area of bars).

In my 2 years in Seoul and in other cities in SK, westerners seemed a little more concerned with money, getting/spending, than the westerners in Japan.

Yes, teachers are always looking to pick up a few more bucks/privates..... but as a central topic, money is not Mammon. Maybe the more white collar workers area area a different story.

Tokyo Japanese singles (and married women) spend most of their money on food/fashion (married men--golf/hostess clubs/pachinko gambling); few that I met had much, or any, of a savings.