Job Discussion Forums

gesundheit71 · Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 18 Location: New York, NY

Me again with a question!

I'm wondering who can recommend good cities in which to teach. Tokyo and Osaka are a bit much (financially, and plus... we're leaving NYC, so we've dealt with a lifetime of intensity, it'd be nice to get a breather).

I can tell you some of the things we're looking for: population around 1-4 million. EXCELLENT public transportation. Welcoming to Americans. Good culture/entertainment.

I guess this sounds nice to most people, so it's asking a lot. But I guess the only other detail is climate. We don't want to be in the colder climates -- I've done research on climates and cities and something like Sapporo sounds wonderful until I hear that snow starts in October.

Suggestions? Should we be looking into Kobe? Yokohama? Hiroshima?

Thanks!

foster · Joined: 07 Feb 2003 Posts: 485 Location: Honkers, SARS

I don't know much about some of those cities, but I do know that during my week long holiday in Hiroshima I seriously considered living there. There was a few schools in the area looking for teachers as well.

Hiroshima was nice and I thought quite convenient. Admittedly, I was just there for a holiday, but it was beautiful.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Snow in the mountains around Sapporo may begin in October, but you won't find any on the ground in the city until mid-November. I've been here for the last 6 years, so I know. It does stay a long time, though, but the temps are pretty pleasant for winter. Coldest in Sapporo is about -15C.

gesundheit71 · Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 18 Location: New York, NY

So do you recommend Sapporo? Is there a lot going on there, does it seem welcoming to Americans? From your other posts, I think you might have said that you are American, but I may be wrong -- is there a U.S. or Canadian city you could compare it to in general, or also climate-wise?

Thanks!

buffy · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 57

Hiroshima is a great place to live. check out www.gethiroshima.com for what is going on in and around.

Lynn · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 696 Location: in between

Matsuyama

easyasabc · Joined: 13 Jul 2003 Posts: 179 Location: Japan

Yep - I would say Hiroshima too. I don't live right in Hiroshima but I live pretty close, go there often and used to work in the centre of the city there. It's big enough to be a real city but doesn't have the crowds etc that you find in big cities like Osaka.

bshabu · Joined: 03 Apr 2003 Posts: 200 Location: Kumagaya

Kobe is nice. They have a lot to offer. Nice shops, places to eat. Not too big and you can get to Osaka or head into the mountains and return in the same day. I believe this is one of the nicest cites in Japan.

Mark-O · Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2004 10:30 am Post subject:

Like Foster, I spent a short period in Hiroshima and loved it. Due to its total rebuild after the shameful bombing, it appears to be very spacious and roomy almost, unlike many japanese cities, there seemed to be a better respect for space! I also loved Nagasaki - though I hear that there are very few opportunities in that city. A great place though.

Speed · Joined: 04 Jul 2003 Posts: 152 Location: Shikoku Land

I agree w/ Lynn about Matsuyama. It's on Shikoku - one of the least visited of the 4 major islands - the capital of Ehime Prefecture and the largest city on Shikoku (450,000 pop.).

It's got trolleys/trams that circle the city and goes around the beautiful castle. The city is easy to get around, easy to live in and still somewhat pretty as far as mid-sized cities in Japan go. Almost all the major ferries stop in Matsuyama and it's got an international airport (goes to Seoul).

The foreigner population is still relatively small compared to the other main islands. Matsuyama people still aren't used to seeing a whole lot of foreigners and I found them to be relatively friendly.

Brooks · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1369 Location: Sagamihara

there is also Fukuoka and Kyoto.
Some people like Sendai.
Nagoya I don`t like. It is crowded and not attractive. But Nagoya`s economy is doing well.

I prefer Yokohama to Tokyo. Yokohama is the second largest city in Japan with 3.4 million people. But it doesn`t seem that big, especially when I have been there on the weekends. It has the biggest Chinatown in Japan and it feels spacious, which is relative. But compared to Shinjuku or Shibuya, it definitely is.

Yamate is my favorite part of Yokohama. It is on a hill which overlooks the bay, and has a large foreigner graveyard.

fat_chris · Joined: 10 Sep 2003 Posts: 3198 Location: Beijing

Brooks · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1369 Location: Sagamihara

well go there and check it out. It is mentioned in guidebooks.
Lots of people buried there fought in Europe in World War I.
Amazing how they were buried in Japan.
Ypres, Flanders, and Galipoli are pretty far away.

The cemetery is a quiet and green place. It is not macabre at all.

Yamate is nice because it is a green place. Lots of trees. Really nice for a stroll. Too many places in Japan have concrete and pachinko and are eyesores. Yamate is easy on the eyes.

Lynn · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 696 Location: in between

fat_chris · Joined: 10 Sep 2003 Posts: 3198 Location: Beijing