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TLL · Joined: 01 Oct 2005 Posts: 10

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 · Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2005 11:34 pm Post subject:

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. Very Happy

Brooks · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1369 Location: Sagamihara

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

madeira · Joined: 13 Jun 2004 Posts: 182 Location: Oppama

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

TLL · Joined: 01 Oct 2005 Posts: 10

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

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 · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Posts: 437

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

Basically, it sucks out there. Sorry. Embarassed

Brooks · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1369 Location: Sagamihara

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.