Job Discussion Forums

[Ella76]

first of all, again, thanks a lot guys. Your advice is more helpful than you know!

to address some of the questions that were asked, yes, I did get a job and it's for...dare I say...an eikawa.
So, the whole rent issue (more expensive in Tokyo, less in the suburbs) is not a factor for me as my rent is going to be fixed. Commuting time is also not an issue, because whether I am placed in Saitama or in Tokyo, I will be working locally, close to where I live.

So really it comes down to personal preference, I guess, and trying to figure out which place would suit me better. Which is, needless to say, difficult to do over the internet, without actually being there.

I am a city girl, always have been, and love the craziness and hecticness of big cities. I am, however, not a huge party animal and do like to have my quiet time and a more chilled and easy-going everyday kind of routine.

I guess it's true what you say, Cshannon, that it's one thing to visit all these crazy, exciting places and quite another thing to actually live there everyday for a long period of time.
I guess the ideal thing for me would be to live in a quiet neighbourhood within a big city. hmmmm, am I asking for too much?....does such a thing exist in Tokyo?...

[Sweetsee]

Totally, loads of places like that. So, you tell them one or the other and voila, they will place you in Tokyo or Saitama, is that it Ella?

[Mark]

I think it's best not to think of Saitama as a different city than Tokyo. Tokyo is a metropolitan monstrosity and it basically encompasses Omiya. If you live near Omiya station, it's no different than living in Tokyo. It is (I believe) one train line to Shinjuku station. You could easily live in Tokyo (even the 23 wards) and be in a less convenient location than Omiya.

Basically, don't worry about it. If you live in Omiya, you'll be living in Tokyo.

[Cshannon]

I agree with the other posters - Saitama is pretty much just a continuation of the rest of Tokyo. Unless you're way out in the suburbs getting close to the countryside, it will still feel fairly dense and 'urban' (not like N. American suburbs with only 2 car garage houses, freeways and massive shopping malls everywhere). To me it just seemed kind of uglier and less interesting (not so much there for the arts/culture etc. -- I think the word "daSAI" or "un-cool" came from SAItama). Anyway, often people think of "real" urban Tokyo as being in and around the Yamanote line, and to be sure it is busier and I would say more interesting than anywhere you would find in Saitama.

Also, yes there are many "quiet"-ish neighborhoods in the midst of downtown. In Shinjuku I lived about a 20-25 minute walk from the main station, but somehow my block escaped the main hustle bustle. However, anytime you go shopping, or go out to do anything you will feel it. Not many casual strolls on a peaceful Sunday morning. I think Tokyo is even busier and more crowded than big American cities like New York.

Taking the metro everyday will be much crazier than if you live in the suburbs. Taking the Marunouchi line from Shinjuku towards Tokyo station everyday around 8AM was pure hell... That's why I bought a scooter.

Overall I'd say go for downtown Tokyo. From what I can gather, you'll enjoy it much more. It'd be no prob if your job is there too. A standard eikaiwa salary should be enough to live there, just keep high startup costs in mind. Anywhere close to the Yamanote line is best.

[azarashi sushi]

Omiya is located on a very useful train line (the Saikyo line) which connects some of the big centres: Ebisu, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro. There are a lot of rapid trains and you can get to central Tokyo in about 30 minutes or so.

Although the rent is fixed for your apartment, the compnay is not going to rent a penthouse in Roppongi Hills and charge you 42 000 yen ... Obviously they're going to find something close to that price which will mean living outside of central Tokyo. So even though you may geographically be in Tokyo, you might be further away from the centre than in Omiya. Tokyo is very wide from east to west but relatively narrow from north to south.

[Ella76]

wow, these are great answers, you guys. really weighing up all the different considerations. You really have given me a lot of food for thought, some very useful information, and more than anything else, helped me put my mind at ease.