Job Discussion Forums

[steki47]

I'll share my experience. At the Nova interview (back in '03), I asked for Nagoya and they sent me to Matsusaka, Mie-ken. I was told maybe 3 weeks or so in advance. I was a bit disappointed in a small town and thought about transferring to Tokyo or Osaka. For a few reasons, I stayed in Matsusaka for 4 years and loved it. I lacked for nothing. And I visited Osaka and Nagoya regularly.

A big plus about the big schools is that they are all over Japan and will (within certain circumstances) let you transfer to a different part of Japan. With a job (and often an apartment) lined up for you.

Smaller towns (100,000 pop.) aren't so bad. Plus Japan is pretty small with great transportation.

[inuzuki8605]

Another thing to consider with larger cities like Tokyo and Osaka is the rush hour where they would shove you into trains every morning and evening (depending on when you would have to leave). In a smaller city like, Matsusaka (I lived in Mie-Ken in Tsu City) which is close to a big city like Nagoya, you wouldn't have to worry about that and you could still visit a large city as much as you want. It doesn't cost that much either. You could very well get the best from both worlds while you wait for a better position next year.

[midas224]

I know this seems lame, but I've always found the culture in rural areas to be "richer," whatever that means. I suppose I'm trying to say that, to some extent, all big, cosmopolitan cities the world over are somewhat the same. When you get out into the middle of nowhere, that's where you can really experience something weird and awesome.

[steki47]

[gaijinalways]

It really is going to depend on what kinds of things you like to do. Certainly, you could live near a city, but I think it's more difficult to do some things if you're into late night activities, because basically in Japan; there are no night buses/minibuses (think Hong Kong or London and/or trains or subways (think NYC) that run overnight. If you live outside the city, you either have to develop friends who can put you up, stay out overnight, or head home early to catch the last trains home.

Recently, I don't seem to do these kinds of things much, so living in the city is mostly an advantage for commuting to work (I work in Tokyo 4 days a week) and possibly shopping (more for my wife than myself). We do still like to eat out, and depending on where you live in a larger city, there are a lot more choices. Some rural places can be dreadful for this in Japan, and I'm even talking about places relatively close to Tokyo (choices, Japanese, Chinese, and possibly Italian, and don't expect the last two to be that authentic)!

Other than that, there is something to be said for living in the sticks as your neighbors may be friendlier, lower rents, and possibly cleaner air.