Job Discussion Forums

sakhan2 · Posted: Fri May 16, 2003 10:56 pm Post subject: Sasebo-shi and Omura-shi Info

Hi there,

anyone currently in or recently travelled to either of these cities in Nagasaki-ken? I've just received my JET placement and am anxious to learn any and everything about these towns (my boyfriend is posted in Sasebo and I going to Omura)....Any info would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Saman

CokoSensei · Joined: 27 Apr 2003 Posts: 11 Location: Canada

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sakhan2 · Posted: Mon May 19, 2003 11:17 pm Post subject:

Come on...someone must know SOMETHING...I haven't found much online seeing as they are not major cities...Any help would be appreciated...
Thanks!
Saman

David W · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 457 Location: Japan

sakhan2 · Posted: Tue May 20, 2003 1:45 pm Post subject:

I've tried google, lycos, webcrawler, altavista...you name it. Found a bit on Sasebo but hardly anything on Omura...I guess I'll be waiting till I hear from my employers.... Rolling Eyes

David W · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 457 Location: Japan

Romulus · Joined: 17 May 2003 Posts: 18 Location: Japan

Hi,
I just saw your message.The area you are going is really beautiful.There are many attractions in the area to distract you from work.Huis Ten Bosch an theme park based on a Dutch city.Bio park which is a pretty good zoo,Hollanda Mura an old fashioned Dutch village also a theme park albeit small and the Glover House outstanding examples of housing in the Showa/ Meiji period.

Onsens(hot springs) there are lots of them all over to enjoy.

Unzen an active volcano that on occassion activates.

There is a good Chinatown in Nagasaki with a fun Chinese New Years Festival.

Sasebo,being a base there there are loads of watering holes there.Great seafood and fishing too if thats your thing.Also the American Festival in July.(We caught Big Mountain there two years ago).Check out their homepage for this years musical guest.Also they have good shopping centers there too!

There are loads of music festivals in Nagasaki or within an hours drive everything from outdoor Reggae to Rock concerts.

The nightlife on weekends often moves to Fukuoka with nonstop bus service from Nagasaki.

There are many great road trips around Kyushu and parties going on all the time its also a good stepping off point for Asia.

If you have any specific questions please post or E-mail me.

Romulus · Joined: 17 May 2003 Posts: 18 Location: Japan

Glover House(s) dates from the Tokugawa/Meiji period.

sakhan2 · Posted: Thu May 22, 2003 1:51 am Post subject:

Romulus,

Thank you for all your input, where exactly are (or were) you located? Is there deep sea fishing in Sasebo? also, is it possible to go whale watching in or around Sasebo? I've got many questions as you can imagine...any info would be GREAT!

Thanks again

Romulus · Joined: 17 May 2003 Posts: 18 Location: Japan

Yes,deep sea fishing is possible as well as half/full day coastal trolling.I heard that the good deepsea fishing is in Okinawa. I went once off Nagasaki I caught alot but mostly Mackerel,Horse Mackerel,Blowfish and Squid.None of the sport fish I like to catch. As far as whale watching you can perhaps do that in Amakusa south of Omura across the straight. Definitely can do dolphin watching there.

Im in Fukuoka out in the countryside.When are you arriving?

The American Festival Site says the festival is finished probably due to security concerns.But there are other things going on all summer long.Summertime here is great lots of things to do.

sakhan2 · Posted: Mon May 26, 2003 1:15 pm Post subject:

I am arriving at the beginning of August (probably around the first or second). another question: How's the driving in Nagasaki/Kyushu? For someone who's never driven outside of Canada, how easy/difficult is it to transition to Japanese roads? Are people relatively good safe drivers?

Thanks

Romulus · Joined: 17 May 2003 Posts: 18 Location: Japan

Highways are usually good but expensive so use them only when necessary.The national roads (next size down)are usually ok but can be alot of traffic on weekends or during events. An important thing to do is buy a map book of roads at any gas station,plan your trip ahead and try to drive early at off peak times.There are also roads in the mountains that you can bypass traffic but you had better explore them in advance with someone who knows.So in your case I imagine you will be driving to Nagasaki or Sasebo often so you should find out from people who are outgoing types dont ask the quiet shy types they will be clueless.Also check your map book.The worst thing is you could get lost in the beautiful countryside and find some cool spots.My wife always gets a laugh because we are always stopping here or there.You can also park and ride which we usually do when going into the city.