Job Discussion Forums

[slowdive606]

Hello. I am due to start work with NOVA in Takamatsu in a couple of weeks. I was wondering if anybody has any experience of working here? If so, what can I expect? And what is the city like to live in? Thanks for now.

[seanmcginty]

I've never worked for NOVA so I can't answer that, but my wife's hometown is Takamatsu. Its a nice city on Shikoku, not too big but not too small. Its got a good little shopping district, though unfortunately unlike most Japanese cities it isn't right next to the train station. There are some good restaurants. It has a castle, though its not a big one and there isn't much left. There is an excellent Japanese garden, Ritsurin Koen, which is one of the best in Japan in my opinion and a great place to spend an afternoon. It is also close to Kotohira, a famous mountain shrine and Yashima, the site of a famous 12th century battle. The end of Shikoku's 88 temple pilgrimage route is also in the area.

Enjoy!

[ironopolis]

[PAULH]

My first year in Japan (1987) was in Takamatsu at Language House. Ditto the above comments- Ritsurin is one of the most famous landscaped gardens in Japan. A beautiful part of the country, friendly locals and is well known for the Sanuki udon, or buckwheat noodles.

Havent been back in years but Okayama on Honshu is accessible by the Seto Ohashi bridge.

[Gordon]

I live in Takamatsu, a good city, not a lot to do, but have been here 4 years already . Ditto what others have said before.
Welcome and feel free to ask any questions about the place.
Ritsurin is great, worthwhile to get a year long pass so you can go as much as you want.

[cornishmuppet]

I was there at Golden Week. The garden was nice enough, probably wouldn't go there more than a couple of times, though, and the nightlife seemed a bit lame, but then it does in most places I've been outside of Osaka, Fukuoka or obviously Tokyo. And lots of shopping arcades it seemed. In terms of getting to places it seems fairly central in Japan, about as far to Kyushu as to Tokyo, but I personally wouldn't have wanted to live there.

I did have a cracking curry there, though, and the highlight of my trip involved me and my mate hitch-hiking from Takamatsu to Hiroshima, dressed as pilgrims. That was pretty good fun.

[slowdive606]

Thanks for your comments! It seems like a nice place to live. It doesnt bother me too much if there isn't a lot to do, as I come from Scotland. A night out here involves taking a carry out to a local field and watching the sheep. And I am sure I will be able to go to a bar in Takamatsu without the fear of getting a kicking, thats good enough for me.
I look forward to seeing the garden that has been mentioned, and I am sure there will be lots of places to see in the surrounding areas on my days off. I hope I do well at NOVA, I have read a lot of conflicting reports about working for them, thats my only worry. Sometimes I wonder if the bad reports come from people with little life experience, as a lot of them come across as being naive. I don't know, I'll soon find out. Thanks again for taking the time to reply to my post.

[luckyloser700]

[Gordon]

[ironopolis]

[Gordon]

Thanks for that. I will try that place out. It must be just past Lingo school, everyone's favourite school . It is just west of Spice Kingdom (the place I was thinking of).

[J.]

It's interesting that there's another Indian restaurant in Takamatsu. I agree with your assessment of Spice kingdom; just okay. Too much asfoetida in the dishes I tried, unsubtle hand with the spices. I'll have to try the new one out on my next visit.

If you're willing to go a bit further, I think the best food I've tried around here is in Zentsuji; a little hole-in-the-wall place (though nicely decorated) near Shikoku Gakuin university, on the street from the station to the Temple. Don't know the name but there are a lot of pictures in the window so it's easy to spot. The chef knows what he is doing, trained at a big hotel I think, and everything is spiced right and the most authentic I've tasted here. Good chickpea curry. Of course, if I want the _best_ Indian food, then I just cook it at home using stuff I can get from Indojin.com.

[Gordon]

[David W]

While I haven't been to the restaurant I believe the guys that run it are Pakistanis. Great bunch of guys too. If you want a car they'll fix you up as well.