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undrmynd
Joined: 16 May 2004 Posts: 28 Location: Japan
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Posted: Fri Jul 09, 2004 11:08 pm Post subject: Smaller cities/towns to teach in? |
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Hello all!! I have been in contact with a very well established ESL school in Japan. They are interested in having a formal, face to face, interview with me after they have finished hiring for September classes. (I cannot begin classes until the new year) They have quite a few schools through out Japan, but want me to list a couple of places I would like to work in. I am not interested in working in a city the size of Tokyo, but do not know the names of some smaller places to live and work in. I am not interested in the night life or parties, but some out door activites would be great. If anyone can give me a couple of names of smaller cities/towns I would be very happy indeed. I have tried searching through Google and Yahoo, but there are thousands of threads, mostly in Japanese. Thanks all for your help.  |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan
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Posted: Fri Jul 09, 2004 11:32 pm Post subject: |
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japan is a fairly big place, and a lot will depend on what you prefer in terms of climate- northern japan can get freezing cold in the winter while western Japan is more moderate and even a tropical climate in Kyushu.
A lot will depend on what kind of activities you have in mind. I would recommend any small city on Shikoku (Tokushima, Kochi, Takamatsu or Matsuyama) or perhaps live in Kyushu. the worlds your oyster in those places. I have spoken to someone in Hiroshima and he seems to like it there, too. |
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ByeBye6
Joined: 04 Jun 2004 Posts: 7 Location: California
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Posted: Sat Jul 10, 2004 2:58 am Post subject: |
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I would also recommend one of the capital cities in Shikoku...I really like Takamatsu.
Okayama, Himeji and Nara are my other small(er) city picks.
I wouldn't be too worried about the actual city or town- I would think about climate. Most small cities are within 30 minutes of bigger towns, which are roughly one hour from cities of a million or so, which are about another hour away from a really large city, like Osaka or Tokyo. |
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Gordon

Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan
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Posted: Sat Jul 10, 2004 3:21 am Post subject: |
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ByeBye6 wrote: |
I would also recommend one of the capital cities in Shikoku...I really like Takamatsu.
Okayama, Himeji and Nara are my other small(er) city picks.
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I like all the places mentioned above. I'm especially partial to Takamatsu since that is where I am living. Tokushima is also a good city. You're also close to Kansai airport there (Osaka) so if you want to escape Japan for awhile you can. |
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homersimpson
Joined: 14 Feb 2003 Posts: 569 Location: Kagoshima
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Posted: Sat Jul 10, 2004 4:19 am Post subject: |
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Miyazaki is a nice place; especially if you're looking for a more relaxed environment. As others have noted, climate may be a factor in your decision. Bear in mind, however, that you
weather differently here. Without central heat and poor insulation, you will be cold in the winter, even in Kyushu. And if you teach in the public school system there will be no heat or air conditioning. |
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undrmynd
Joined: 16 May 2004 Posts: 28 Location: Japan
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Posted: Sat Jul 10, 2004 4:38 pm Post subject: |
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I currently live in British Columbia, Canada, so if I could work where the climate is a little like here it would be great. In Victoria, where I live, it never really gets too cold or too hot. We have a couple of really hot weeks in summer and a couple of really cold week in the winter. It usually doesn't really snow here, and I am not a fan of snow anyways, at least not if it sticks around for a while. My guess is that southern Japan would be better, weather wise, than northern.
Thanks everyone for your replies. I can't wait to get there....  |
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monkey_z
Joined: 22 Jun 2004 Posts: 26 Location: Aichi
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Posted: Sat Jul 10, 2004 10:55 pm Post subject: |
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Fukui city in Fukui-ken would be a good choice. Kanazawa in Ishikawa is a little big, but it is nice too. |
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Gordon

Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan
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Posted: Sat Jul 10, 2004 11:13 pm Post subject: |
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undrmynd wrote: |
I currently live in British Columbia, Canada, so if I could work where the climate is a little like here it would be great. In Victoria, where I live, it never really gets too cold or too hot. We have a couple of really hot weeks in summer and a couple of really cold week in the winter. It usually doesn't really snow here, and I am not a fan of snow anyways, at least not if it sticks around for a while. My guess is that southern Japan would be better, weather wise, than northern.
Thanks everyone for your replies. I can't wait to get there....  |
I am from Vancouver and live in southern Japan. Sorry to disappoint you that there is nowhere in Japan with climate like SE BC. Lately it has been about 34C (feels like 39C) with 80-90% humidity and it dips down to a frosty 28C at night. The only relief is a/c.
No snow in the winters here anyways but the temp inside the house is the same as outside as insulation is rarely used in much of Japan. I don't know for sure, but Hokkaido must have insulated houses. |
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