Job Discussion Forums

[jkozera]

hey everyone, a while I posted about a job offer in Japan and yesterday they offered me a position just north of Sapporo to start this summer. I am from Oregon so I am a little used to the cold but I am worried about the several feet of snow that area gets and limiting my ability to walk around or meet new people during the harsh winter months. I want to walk around a lot and talk to new people on my free time to practice and learn more about Japanese. Anyone in this area experience being stuck in their homes during the winter? In oregon if there is snow everyone just stays inside and its like a ghost town walking around any city so I don't want that =/
I haven't accepted the offer yet I am hoping for some insite to Hokkaido life

[fluffyhamster]

I was in Hokkaido for 3 years, and the winters there are long (must've been or certainly seemed like 6 months long) and icy. The only way you'll be able to get around much locally is by driving (assuming you like wintry driving) or public transport, as one can only walk so far (and slooowly) over compacted snow that's turned into ice (which if not cleared from streets or roofs can become solid blocks a meter or more thick!). What made it bearable in the city I lived in was that they had heated pavements on the central streets, and had bulldozers and trucks immediately out to clear the worst of it, but on the back streets or further out of town you'd be SOL if you wanted to walk anywhere. I thus had to lead a somewhat curtailed life during those winter months, and yes, certainly the outer streets were like ghost towns (magical snowy ghost towns tho) with the temperature often below freezing. I'd suggest then that you get a job much further south (Kanto, Shikoku, Okinawa LOL).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan#Climate

[jkozera]

I am nervous about declining the offer as I did mention I would work in Hokkaido though it was third after Kansai being first and Kyushu being second. since I graduate in June and want to leave ASAP, (I don''t want to be without income too long after graduation) I am worried about getting put somewhere even worse in weather. I am from Oregon and our humidity is like 15% TOPS on the extreme so I would prolly melt in southern Japan. I have been to Kansai twice but only during the summer and that was pretty brutal.
I can handle cold to an extent (great cuddle weather! :3) and my apartment will be within a 10 min walk to work. I just don't want the ice and snow to ruin my ability to socialize, meet people and practice Japanese.
the summers there look beautiful. Thanks for the info fluffyhamster, I am still gonna ponder a bit on this spot

[fluffyhamster]

Well, you could do a lot worse than Asahikawa! I'd accept the offer if I were you, as you can always work your way south later.

[mitsui]

That city is both hot and cold.
86 F in the summer and really cold in the winter.
The wind chill is brutal.
People socialize regardless of the weather.

[Maitoshi]

Yup! Socialize with beer during the summer and atsukan during the winter.

[jkozera]

Thanks for the feedback! I think I will accept as Sapporo is only about 2 hours away by express train and the surrounding cities look beautiful during the summer. I think I am too used to Oregon cold where public transit shuts down with a little ice or snow and I didn't want to be stuck at home during my days off during the winter months. It seems that this area is pretty good at keeping the trains running during the coldest months

[Rooster.]

I would accept, Hokkaido is such a nice place. You will be able to go into Sapporo on weekends, or whenever you have off, but after a while I'm not sure how often you'll be wanting to make that trip. That is as long as you are satisfied with Asahikawa.