Job Discussion Forums

[abyssiniangrl]

if you could tell me anything (first hand experience would be great) I would really appreciate it!

[sunnylv051114]

Where exactly in Saitama will you be located? I was living in Saitama-shi until a few months ago...

[Quibby84]

We drove through Saitama a few days ago and it is beautiful as in almost every other place in Japan. I dont think that Gunma is as pretty...I live in Tochigi, where exactly will you be?

[abyssiniangrl]

I'll be moving to Kamikawa-machi, which is actually on the border of gunma and saitama...has anyone heard of this place?

[sethness]

Saitama is called "the New Jersey of Japan", because it's considered the boring 'burbs compared to nearby Tokyo (just as New Jersey is tame compared to nearby New York City).

It also goes by the derogatory nickname "Da-saitama", which emphasizes that it's boooring for Tokyo sophisticates.

I've personally watched videos from an ex-girlfriend living in Saitama. Looks a little rural, but like most of suburban Japan in most other respects-- imagine an outer suburb from any American city, change the haircolor and height of the people, and wala... you have a mental picture of Saitama.

[Mothy]

I have friends who live in Gunma so I've spent some time there both of the times I've visited Japan. It seems to be a pretty rural prefecture, but I found plenty of things to do there. I'm not sure where they are in relation to Saitama, but I found Takasaki and Maebashi to be pretty fun for smaller sized cities. I also visited an onsen in Gunma, and although the onsen itself didn't seem that special, the town it was located in was pretty cool. I wish I could remember the name of it. But in conclusion, although Gunma might not be as an exciting place as some other places, I really enjoyed it and thought there was plenty of fun things to do.

[Apsara]

I really didn't like the area of Saitama I lived in 10 years ago (Koshigaya, northeastern Saitama). Absolutely flat, very featureless landscape- once away from the station all you could see was dusty vegetable fields and garbage burning facilities. Relatively few parks given the amount of space- the ward I live in in Tokyo has more greenery. Further north towards Tochigi it was all rice fields- interesting at first if you are not used to it but it soon gets tedious.

Where I lived was regularly 2 degrees or more hotter than Tokyo in summer (reaching a boiling 39.6 degrees one day in summer) and several degrees colder in winter (there would be snow on the ground when there wasn't in Tokyo). Compared to other places there is relatively little of interest. Chichibu (national?) park is an exception- it's nice, but on the opposite side of Saitama from where I lived.

After a year I moved to Kanagawa, a short way to the south of Yokohama and I loved it there. Quite hilly, close to the coast and to the mountains, Kamakura was only a few stops away. Those were the things I missed while living in Saitama.

After a few more years I moved to Tokyo. I love it here, others can't stand it. I couldn't stand da-Saitama, some like it. Really it depends on the individual.

[thekiwis]

We actually lived on the border (literally right on the border) of Saitama and Gunma near a place called Tatebayashi in 2003. Not a pretty place at all but handy to Tokyo for the weekends. We had a huge place and it was 55,000 yen a month (power included).

If we were to go back I would be closer to Tokyo or to the mountains. It was a little "no man's land".

[gaijinalways]

I am thoroughly spolied in Tokyo, living downtown. Advantages of living in Saitama or Gunma would be;

..

..ups

lower rents for a larger place
some cheaper groceries
more chances to practice Japanese

maybes

possible access to wilderness areas, depends on area of Gunma or Saitama
possible better access to highway to get away to nicer areas

downs

lower status area (in local eyes)
neighbors will likely be more provincal
less places to work
fewer places for entertainment
fewer good restaurants
fewer choices beyond Japanese food
less goods selection