Job Discussion Forums

matias · Joined: 21 Oct 2004 Posts: 1

i�m looking into a job in omiya and was wondering if anyone out there can give me a little info on this city. the internet doesn�t have much to say about it, which leads me to believe that its kind of a small place. is it a quite place? too quiet? cheaper than centric tokyo? far from downtown? any info could be of help. cheers.

Filinadian · Joined: 09 Aug 2004 Posts: 27

Omiya is part of Saitama City (Saitama City = Urawa + Omiya + Kawagoe)

Omiya is big city. They have a Ginja (Shrine/Temple) and also a park.

Recently the JR company renovated Omiya, it looks great and very clean.

I go to Omiya often for shopping, to take the Saikyo line or Tobu Tojo line. I prefer Omiya from most Tokyo areas.

As for the size, well for me it's big enough. I am a country boy, so I love the open space and being away from the noise of the big city. Omiya is perfect if you want to enjoy the access of big cities without the fancy lights.

As for schools, well I heard that my company is expanding to Omiya soon. I don't know when, so I guess Omiya must be significant, atleast if you are in Saitama

I hope this helps. If you have any other questions, just reply back and I will try to answer it as best as I can.

Filinadian

azarashi sushi · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Posts: 562 Location: Shinjuku

Rents are considerably cheaper and food perhaps a little cheaper than in central Tokyo.

Omiya is very well served by trains. It's on the Saikyo, Keihin Tohoku, Shonan Shinjuku and Takasaki lines. It's very convenient to get to Ikebukuro, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Yokohama and Ueno. The Joetsu and Tohoku shinkansens stop there aswell.

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

Omiya station is busking central when it comes to guitar players and the like.

tokyorabbit · Joined: 15 Feb 2004 Posts: 30 Location: Tokyo, Japan

I agree with all posts so far. Omiya is a great place, decent sized, with pretty convenient access to Tokyo. Unless you specifically want to live IN central Tokyo, I think you will be very pleased. I think Omiya is probably the most exciting city in Saitama (Kawagoe is decent too).

I just checked on my cell phone.. it is 39 minutes from Omiya to Shinjuku (by Saikyo line at 11pm, as I write this). Less than my daily commute to work back home!!

If you have any other specific questions, please feel free to post them.

Senshixena · Joined: 06 Aug 2004 Posts: 16 Location: USA

TokyoRabbit, since you seem to know a bit about Kawagoe, could you tell me a little about it? I will be moving there in a little over a month and a half from now. How does it compare to other cities? What's the nightlife like? Will I be bored out of my mind or is there enough to do there?

From what it sounds like, I guess I will have to pay Omiya a visit too...

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

Definitely no night-life in Kawagoe. There is some interesting sight-seeing and an annual festival, other than that very boring. In fact, if you take away the station building, there's zip. Once went looking for a marine sports shop, pheew, was I ever in the wrong place!

Mike L. · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 519

Omiya is a great place for drinks and food. Around the station, there are so many places competing with each other that the fare is good and the prices lower than Tokyo.

As for Saitama, well at least you have access to Tokyo or nearby mountains by train.

Kawagoe, well probably some stuff to do but if you can create your own entertainment you'll do fine.

You sohuld also be able to save better than in Tokyo unless you blow all of your cash entertaining yourself on things like trips to Tokyo..

Senshixena · Joined: 06 Aug 2004 Posts: 16 Location: USA

Thanks all! Mike L. I figure that most of my money will probably end up swallowed by Tokyo trips anyway, but at least I got the heads up on it.

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

Well while we are on the subject, where do you go out in Tokyo and how much coin do you reckon you drop in a go?

moot point · Joined: 22 Feb 2005 Posts: 441

20,000yen on a good night.

Train fare: 2000
Dinner (something gaijin like Cajun): 8000
Drinks: 5000
Karaoke: 5000

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

Hmmm...don't feel so bad now but we obviously do not march to the same drum.

BradS · Joined: 05 Sep 2004 Posts: 173 Location: Tokyo, Japan

Omiya's a great place to live. I was thinking of moving there myself. There's a really beautiful street with trees that leads to the largest shrine in the area the Hikawa Shrine, good shops (a few plazas), jazz bars, clubs and 20mins from Tokyo (I think).

However I've heard the Novas at Omiya aren't the best organised, in fact half the teachers have all transfered to my area (Koshigaya) due to internal squabbling, people sleeping with other people, etc... but if you're not working at Nova, I'd say go for it!

Mark · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Posts: 500 Location: Tokyo, Japan

Omiya has jazz bars and clubs? I've never been there, I just assumed that people lived there but went out in Tokyo and therefore there'd be nothing to do. Guess I was wrong.