Job Discussion Forums

CPA · Joined: 29 Jan 2016 Posts: 24

I was looking at a position teaching English to adults in Kushiro, Hokkaido.

It seems like it is pretty rural. Anyone have any experience with this city or ones like it?

What's life like?

currentaffairs · Joined: 22 Aug 2012 Posts: 828

Very laid back.. Even Sapporo is relaxed compared to the mainland!

rxk22 · Joined: 19 May 2010 Posts: 1629

Depends. I'm married and can speak Japanese pretty well. If I was single and couldn't speak Japanese, I would think really hard

mitsui · Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 1562 Location: Kawasaki

If you don't mind snow, it might be OK.
Probably you would need to be a self-starter there.
It has 180,000 people. Outside the city, it does get rural.

Plus the low is -13 tonight. Bet that wind chill gets fierce.

Nemu_Yoake · Joined: 02 Aug 2015 Posts: 47 Location: Iwate

If you can drive and can buy a car, yes.

I live in a rural prefecture and I love it. I'll move to a more rural place this month (100 000 hab). I don't mind not having loads of places to spend my money because I'm not interested in shopping. What about your wife? She might get bored rapidly with nothing to do and nowhere to go...

CPA · Joined: 29 Jan 2016 Posts: 24

Right now I am 30 years old and I don't have a wife or a girlfriend, but I would like to find a Japanese girlfriend while I am in Japan.

I grew up in the suburbs of one of the biggest US cities and I like the city life. I also went to college in a small college town that was surrounded by rural areas and I liked that too.

I don't think I will be able to afford a car, so public transportation (that I can navigate in English until I learn Japanese) and walking need to be my main methods of movement.

I want to be able to study Buddhism and martial arts, play sports, visit bars and restaurants, meet other young people, and walk around a city and take in the culture.

I hear Kushiro is a beautiful place with great nature reserves, but I worry that it may not be a great fit for what I desire at this stage in my life. Hopefully I can find a job in a medium sized city, but I am considering Tokyo. Thanks for all your replies.

fluffyhamster · Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2016 6:41 pm Post subject:

FWIW I was in Obihiro (about halfway between Sapporo and Kushiro), and still found plenty to do (though it helped having a bigger, main city within a two-hour train journey some weekends). Looking at Kushiro on Streetview etc it seems a bit more spread out and not quite as neatly grid-like (lots of bisecting rivers and bridges), so I wonder how much of it will be within walking distance of a winter with snow and ice everywhere (you can get some idea of what Hokkaido winters are like from this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVjX4nELFH4 , but see also https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S98KoOl-N-w . Mind you, Sapporo seemed too built-up and large to clear away the snow, whereas in Obihiro they bulldozed and trucked it out so the city remained comparatively clear on the main thoroughfares). Anyway, Kushiro's a little too far east for my taste, but I think you could have a good time even there, life's what you make it. Besides, how many other job offers have you got coming in? That may well be the deciding factor! Wink

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

You don't have a wife or girlfriend. Go for it, buddy!

I lived in Hakodate for a year. It's a big city, but I loved Hokkaido. Great food. Laid back people. And I think you'll really get immersed in the language and pick it up quickly. And maybe the Buddhism, too.

mitsui · Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 1562 Location: Kawasaki

You get better at Japanese being in a place like that, plus you buy less since there are fewer stores.

Tokyo is a tough place. It is not easy to get good work since so many people are looking. I had an interview today and the interviews were over two days, for I think just one teacher. And this is just part-time work too.

Fewer people would even go to Kushiro. You get a visa and can always move on.
Less stress up there, though some get bored.
Tokyo is too big and crowded for me. People are not friendly.

Tokyo is just about work. And work can dominate your life. It is hard to find a balance.

fluffyhamster · Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2016 4:55 pm Post subject:

Ooh, Hakodate, very nice! Slightly envious. Mr. Green

weigookin74 · Joined: 30 Mar 2010 Posts: 265

What are the rents up there? Are they cheaper than Tokyo? I'd imagine much more so. If you can get a similar salary in the 250,000 yen range, you'd prob save more money as there'd be less other things to spend on?

kzjohn · Joined: 30 Apr 2014 Posts: 277

When you say you like sports, if that means hockey, by all means go to Kushiro!