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SeasonedVet
Joined: 28 Aug 2006 Posts: 236 Location: Japan
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Posted: Wed May 14, 2014 9:42 am Post subject: |
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Mitsui wrote
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a place like Okinawa or Kobe could be a compromise. |
What's the attraction to Kobe?
I have heard foreigners like Kyoto and Kobe as a place to live, or in this case retire.
I haven't seen/felt the attraction.
What is it about? |
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SeasonedVet
Joined: 28 Aug 2006 Posts: 236 Location: Japan
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Posted: Wed May 14, 2014 9:57 am Post subject: |
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Solar Strength
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Osaka - I hear a lot of gaijin say that it's the best place to be in Japan and that the Japanese people there are the friendliest. I don't buy it. The Japanese are Japanese, wherever you go. Sure there's a difference between city and country, but whether it's Fukuoka - Nagoya - Tokyo - Osaka is all shades of grey. |
Yes and no.
The starkness of the differences would be felt differently by different people. Japanese born and raised in downtown Osaka will feel the difference when they visit Tokyo or Nagoya for the first time.
A foreigner in Japan for six months to a year will likely not.
The longer you stay (and understand the culture and sub cultures) the more apparent it will become.
In Osaka people working in service industries, convenis, cashiers, store clerks etc, are known for chatting with customers and even making jokes. (even business level)
You go expecting that in another city and you might be met with a poker face. You will feel it, you will notice it.
It is well known and understood among Japanese. They know which areas to expect what. |
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mitsui
Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 1562 Location: Kawasaki
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Posted: Thu May 15, 2014 12:39 am Post subject: |
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Well it is easy to get around. Kyoto is more attractive.
Kobe is very compact and is easy to go hiking. Just above the shinkansen station is a hiking course.
After working in Tokyo for 13 years, dealing with crowded places all the time and such unfriendly people, I like going to Kansai.
Tokyo is just big and ugly, with a low quality of life.
Naha and Sapporo are also good places too.
I think Okinawa is the only place in Japan where I can really relax. |
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rxk22
Joined: 19 May 2010 Posts: 1629
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Posted: Thu May 15, 2014 11:16 am Post subject: |
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mitsui wrote: |
Well it is easy to get around. Kyoto is more attractive.
Kobe is very compact and is easy to go hiking. Just above the shinkansen station is a hiking course.
After working in Tokyo for 13 years, dealing with crowded places all the time and such unfriendly people, I like going to Kansai.
Tokyo is just big and ugly, with a low quality of life.
Naha and Sapporo are also good places too.
I think Okinawa is the only place in Japan where I can really relax. |
Word, Tokyo is just a concrete wasteland to me. Not much in redeeming value.
Kansai is concrete as well, but the people aren't as zombieish.
I would love to retire to Naha, love the place. Here's hoping  |
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kxx1
Joined: 18 Dec 2009 Posts: 3
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Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2014 3:18 pm Post subject: Tokyo ain't all bad |
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The islands in the south of Tokyo are nice. |
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rxk22
Joined: 19 May 2010 Posts: 1629
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Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2014 1:07 am Post subject: Re: Tokyo ain't all bad |
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kxx1 wrote: |
The islands in the south of Tokyo are nice. |
To visit, yes. To live, I dunno. Not many people and no luxuries such as 7-11s or movie theaters. Prolly few jobs too |
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Pitarou
Joined: 16 Nov 2009 Posts: 1116 Location: Narita, Japan
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Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2014 6:51 am Post subject: |
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rxk22 wrote: |
mitsui wrote: |
Naha and Sapporo are also good places too.
I think Okinawa is the only place in Japan where I can really relax. |
I would love to retire to Naha, love the place. Here's hoping  |
Agreed. Here's hoping I can enjoy a game of Mah Jong with you guys someday. |
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Nagoyaguy
Joined: 15 May 2003 Posts: 425 Location: Aichi, Japan
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Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2014 6:24 am Post subject: |
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I can't imagine retiring in Japan. Surrounded by other old people, expensive, stressful..... nah, it's SE Asia for me. Life in Thailand or Malaysia is far better. Better food, friendly people, variety of scenery, low cost of living, easy access to other countries. Japan is great for making money, but it spends better in other places. |
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Pitarou
Joined: 16 Nov 2009 Posts: 1116 Location: Narita, Japan
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Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2014 7:53 am Post subject: |
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Nagoyaguy wrote: |
I can't imagine retiring in Japan. Surrounded by other old people, expensive, stressful..... nah, it's SE Asia for me. Life in Thailand or Malaysia is far better. Better food, friendly people, variety of scenery, low cost of living, easy access to other countries. Japan is great for making money, but it spends better in other places. |
I take it you haven't married into the country, then. |
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Shimokitazawa
Joined: 16 Aug 2009 Posts: 458 Location: Saigon, Vietnam
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Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2014 10:45 am Post subject: |
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Pitarou wrote: |
I take it you haven't married into the country, then. |
What's wrong with you?
Are you unable to imagine a situation where a guy who has married a Japanese woman doesn't want to retire in Japan? |
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Pitarou
Joined: 16 Nov 2009 Posts: 1116 Location: Narita, Japan
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Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2014 11:33 am Post subject: |
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Shimokitazawa wrote: |
Pitarou wrote: |
Nagoyaguy wrote: |
I can't imagine retiring in Japan.... |
I take it you haven't married into the country, then. |
What's wrong with you?
Are you unable to imagine a situation ... |
Read back. It's Nagoyaguy who's having difficulty imagining. |
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kpjf

Joined: 18 Jan 2012 Posts: 385
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Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2014 1:55 pm Post subject: |
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mitsui wrote: |
I much prefer Kansai to Tokyo, but cannot get a job there.
All Japanese share similarities but there are regional differences too.
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Why is Kansai a difficult region to get work? Is this generally across the whole Kansai region? Thanks  |
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mitsui
Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 1562 Location: Kawasaki
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Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2014 11:33 pm Post subject: |
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The Tokyo area is bigger with more jobs.
Fewer jobs in Osaka and too many teachers.
I applied for a job at a university in Osaka. 100 people applied for 1 position. |
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mitsui
Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 1562 Location: Kawasaki
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Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2014 11:35 pm Post subject: |
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It seems that British and Canadians do not want to go back to their own country to work or retire.
I think retirement in Japan would be dull as older people here are often anti-social.
Maybe only Okinawa would be acceptable. |
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kpjf

Joined: 18 Jan 2012 Posts: 385
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Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2014 3:04 pm Post subject: |
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mitsui wrote: |
The Tokyo area is bigger with more jobs.
Fewer jobs in Osaka and too many teachers.
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Thanks for the answer. So, Kyoto for example would also be a bad option for looking work as a teacher just like Osaka, right?
I thought people also said Tokyo was swamped with teachers and along with the high cost of living, people willing to work for less it's not so good either!
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I applied for a job at a university in Osaka. 100 people applied for 1 position. |
That's some competition! |
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