Job Discussion Forums

[TLL]

Hi everyone. I'm a long time lurker but first time poster. I've been living and working in Japan for about 2 years now in Nagoya. Next week I'm moving to Sagamihara, near Tokyo and Yokohama, Kanagawa. I was wondering if anybody has been there or knows anything about it. I haven't been there before and granted I'll eventually learn about it myself but I was just hoping for a little advance info. Thanks

TLL

[nawlinsgurl]

There is a US military base there called Atsugi, so if you can find a friend to help escort you, you can get many US goods at low low prices. Other than that, I dunno. Only been there once for the US base.

[Brooks]

I have lived here for 5 years.
What do you want to know?
(I work in Machida).

[madeira]

Well, it's pretty flat. You can see the mountains on clear days, though.

[TLL]

basically I just want to know what kind of things there are to do there. Is it convenient? fun? close to things? all the introductory stuff with a hint of inside info......

[Sweetsee]

Hi TLL,

I imagine you will find it to be exactly the same as where you came from, just closer to Tokyo, if that is convenient for you.
If you find anything fun or different please tell.



Enjoy,
s

[SEndrigo]

TLL,

Sagamihara is home to 600,000 residents, and I'm sure it'll be more exciting than Nagano. But in all honesty, there's not much to do in Sagamihara.

It's basically a Tokyo suburb. Many people live there and commute to Tokyo.

Where in Sagamihara are you moving to? Avoid the JR Yokohama line as it's unreliable and slow. Odakyu line is much better.

One good thing about the city is that it's not so far from the beaches in Enoshima and Kamakura.

As far as nightlife is concerned your options are few and far between.

As far as it being convenient, you can catch a 32 minute rapid express train to Shinjuku in Tokyo, but those trains are almost always packed. Packed Tokyo trains are no fun. In fact, you'll wish you were dead. ha ha !

[Sweetsee]

Basically, it sucks out there. Sorry.

[Brooks]

I think of Sagamihara like Hoboken, New Jersey -
close to the city but cheaper.
300,000 people live in Sagamihara city.
Sagamihara is a suburb, and a place where salarymen live because it is cheaper, but it is right next to Tokyo, so it isn`t so far to get to Shinjuku.
But it is far enough so that if you can get a seat on Odakyu, consider yourself lucky.

Sagami-Ono has gotten really developed in the last ten years.
Frankly I live here just for the location.
It is crowded and ugly and has a lack of zoning and could use more trees and parks.

For places to live, Ebina and Hon-Atsugi cost as much as Sagami-Ono, so I thought I might as well be closer to Tokyo.

The US military presence is evident: There is Camp Zama, family housing, and the supply depot (which will return to Japan soon).

You get to listen to those planes from Atsugi which fly so low and are so loud. And on route 16 the bosozoku like to ride around at night.
Sagamihara is home to yakuza, too.

In fact, when I first moved here 5 years ago my rental contract stated that they would not rent to yakuza.

[TLL]

wow, thank you for the honesty. i guess it doesn't sound all that good. one thing i found appealing about Sagamihara was that it wasn't so far from Tokyo or Yokohama or the beaches. In Nagoya, everything is far away and expensive to get to.

I think I'm going to be living around Minami-Hashimoto Station (if I get the apartment), which seems to be a pretty residential area, but not so far from Sagamihara St. and Hashimoto St. which have a little more to do.

can't say I'm so excited now after reading some of the posts here, but I guess I'll have to make the most of it. Thanks again.

TLL

ps. is there a COSTCO near Hashimoto Station in Sagamihara? I thought i read that somewhere on the internet.

[Brooks]

Costco is actually near the Keio line. Go to Hashimoto then take Keio there and I think it is one stop away.

Is Minami-Hashimnoto on JR Sagami Line? If so, that may be a less crowded place in Sagamihara.

[SEndrigo]

haha things only get worse for you matey....if that is on the JR sagami line then you'll be taking the slowest train line I have ever seen in my life.

Everything Brooks said is true. But you are about an hour away from Shinjuku and Yokohama and the beaches. Not too bad. Could be worse I suppose!

The Costco is great and not too far from where you'll be living.

Understand that where you're moving to is a residential area...suburbs. If you want excitement, this is not the place. It offers nothing other than quiet and cheap(er) living.

Sorry to be so brutally honest but I think that's the best policy !

cheers

[chixdiggit]

Relax man it isn't that bad, quite convenient actually. I lived in Hashimoto for 4 years and it was cheap as dirt and accessible to Yokohama and Shinjuku.35 mins to SHinjuku on Keio and 38 to Yokohama. Costco is one stop away at Tamasakai or a 5 minute drive. Machida is 12 minutes away on Yokohama with a thriving foreign/local nightlife. The area around Sagamihara station is pretty boring but Hashimoto is decent and growing rapidly. I had a sweet 2ldk apartment for 60000 yen a month. THe Yokohoma line is just as reliable as the Odakyu and less crowded and I rode BOTH of them everyday for 3 years so don't listen to all that negative crap. For the price and convenience it's one of the best places to live for Tokyo suburbs. In fact, I had my choice of places to live and chose Hashimoto so and try and get that there as opposed to Sagamihara-eki area. I can answer any questions you might have about the area. This board tends to be fairly negative so PM me if you want.
Cheers,
Chix

P.S You're going to have a ball, don't worry about it.

[Sweetsee]

Hi TLL,

I didn't mean to harsh you out, there. Sorry. Fact is, I know nothing about the place. Drive over there occasionally from here in 2 hours when I have to. Used to live on the Keio line.
It's out there, so should be green and if you are lucky quiet, should be okay, probably a lot of parks around out there. Hills, too, if you like skateboarding that will be convenient, or did someone say it was flat?

Costco is near you.

As for beaches, right. Probably won't need to get down there very often. Well, maybe once. Kamakura is worth the trip. Best travel more if you like beaches.

First off, get a bike to explore and on a day off try riding to work,
you'll be surprised and have fun. Bikes rule, bring one.

Be sure and let us know how it goes!


Enjoy,
s

[Brooks]

Machida I think is just too crowded, but it is convenient.
800,000 people live in Machida.

Machida has become seedier since the cops in Shinjuku started cracking down.
The Yakuza relocated to Machida, among other places. 'Crows' like to recruit in Machida, if you catch my drift.

Thai prostitutes have been busted along the Yokohama　Line.