Job Discussion Forums

phillis · Joined: 10 Jun 2003 Posts: 7

hi guys and gals

i am leaving in a few months to work for Aeon School in Atsugi city and was wondering if anyone had ever been there. Any advice on cool bars, restaurants, must see places would be much appreciated. thanks

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

hi.

well Atsugi is divided by a river into two parts. On one side is Atsugi, which is smaller. It has a JR and an Odakyu line train stop.On the other side is Hon-Atsugi which has an express stop on Odakyu.

Nearby there is hiking and a few onsens, but in terms of going out, dunno.
Doesn`t look like much when I go there.

The bookstore Yurindo is ok. There is a Virgin record store.

nearby is the Atsugi air foce base for the US military. What I don`t like is that they fly their planes too low and so they are loud. I can hear a plane right now, in fact.

phillis · Joined: 10 Jun 2003 Posts: 7

thanks for the reply brooks.

i am actually going to be living in hon-atsugi. where are you living? i found what looks like an opera house in atsugi through some searching on the web and it looks beautiful. i'm wondering if there are any music festivals there. by the way, do you happen to know how far a train ride is from hon-atsugi to tokyo?

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

it takes 51 minutes to get to Shinjuku from Hon-Atsugi.
Tokyo is a big place and starts in Machida, which is not far from Atsugi. When I go out to eat I tend to go to Machida just because it is close.
Shinjuku is where the government offices are and is on the west side.

I live near the Odakyu-Sagamihara station which is 5 stops away from Hon-Atsugi.
I don`t know anything about music festivals or opera.
But there are summer music festivals (late July) but kind of far away in places like Nagano or Yamanashi Ken.

I think Yokohama is a nice place to be at night but kind of far from Atsugi. You can get there by changing at Ebina station and taking the Sotetsu line.
I just find Tokyo too crowded so that is one reason I prefer Yokohama. Yokohama also has Japan`s largest Chinatown and good shopping at Ishikawacho.

To the norh Yamanashi Ken has good hiking and also Mt. Fuji.

About ten minutes west is the Odakyu train stop Tsurumaki Onsen. There is a nice onsen there. I have been there several times.

Some people go to Hakone, but it has expensive hotels.
Kamakura is not far. It used to be the capital about 700 years ago and has a big buddha and many temples.
Enoshima is also nice.
To the south is the Izu Peninsula which has 2300 hot springs and is a nice, relaxing place and good for hiking. Atami is nice but expensive. Ito, Shuzenji, and Shimoda are cheaper.

Vince · Joined: 05 May 2003 Posts: 559 Location: U.S.

I lived in Hon-astugi for a few months. It's a pretty developed area, but not the zoo that downtown Tokyo is.

There are four or five major department stores and probably too many smaller shops. Most of the Western fastfood chains are there, and there's also a Sizzler. There are several places to go grocery shopping, and some of them have a good selection of foreign food. If you're bored with the ubiquitous Starbucks, try the Cafe du Monde (a New Orleans cafe) in the Parco department store.

There are a couple of movie theaters, and a new theater complex in Ebina (two stations away on the Odakyu line).

There's a major furniture store called Taishodo, so furnishing your new place shouldn't be a problem.

There's a public sports center, and a couple of private gyms. The roads are pretty crowded on the busy side of the station, but the ones on the other side are quiet enough for jogging. There are also a few small parks.

The only place in Hon-atsugi to buy English books is the Yurindo bookstore, but their selection is small. I don't know about the library, because I used the library near my work in Sagamiono. Do check the library though, because even a mediocre English section can save you a lot of money. Some of the libraries have movie and CD rentals too. If you find yourself going to Machida a lot, be sure to check out the third floor of the Book Off used book store; small selection, but it's dirt-cheap and their are usually a few good titles. Other than that, Amazon.

I guess the noise from Atsugi Naval Air Station can get pretty loud at times. Since I spent five years living on Air Force bases, I probably don't notice it as much as most people.

megan · Joined: 14 Oct 2003 Posts: 3

Dear Phillis,
I am considering a placement with AEON (Amity) in Hon-Atsugi and I am having a hard time finding information about the place.
I know it is near Yokohama, Kamakura and the mountains but I am a bit concerned about what the actual place is like. I like the proximity to Tokyo but it's a long way to go for entertainment.
I am into jazz music, movies and walking and I want to get stuck into learning Japanese and some kind of 'cultural pursuit' like ikebana, Japanese cooking.
Have you found out anything more (websites, general info)?
Does anyone else know if this place is a good one?
Cheers from Australia,
Megan

phillis · Joined: 10 Jun 2003 Posts: 7

hi mega,
i have found very little information on atsugi as well. i did contact the jnto (japanese national tourist organization) and they sent me a map of tokyo and surrounding area, atsugi was included in the map. that is the only other info i got. i did ask my aeon rep here in the US about it. he said its pretty developed, about an hour to Shinjuko and 45 min. from yokohama. he also said they had good sea fishing but i have no idea what that is. through google the only things that come up are US Naval Base websites and personal websites from officers who were stationed there but most of the photos looked dated. oh and i also found some weird website about a kazoo convention in atsugi, or maybe it was harmonicas, anyway the concert hall it was playing in was beautiful. sorry i couldnt be more help. keep me posted on anything you decide. i am scheduled to leave Jan. 8th. maybe i'll see you there.

megan · Joined: 14 Oct 2003 Posts: 3

Dear Phyllis,

I have found a slightly more detailed map of Hon Astugi at www.brl.ntt.co.jp/event/cisn2003/CityMap.pdf
Seems like a place that is close to a good range of things- nightlife, nature and 'traditional' Japan. I think Kanagawa as a whole sounds pretty cool.
I'm off in March so maybe our paths will meet. Smile

Good luck, Megan

Len · Joined: 16 Oct 2003 Posts: 1 Location: Northampton

Hello,

I've just been browsing this website and came across this discussion. I lived in Atsugi, which is one stop on the Odakyu line from Hon-Atsugi, for a year.

It depends on what you want really, if you want the buzz of the nightlife and the big city then you really need to go into Shinjuku/Shibuya, which takes about 1 hr (ish) on the train, if you take the Romance car (super express) it will only stop at Machida and Shinjuku and so is faster. It's not too difficult to go into town and stay up there until the first train home as the bars stay open until 5.

Hon-Atsugi is reasonably good for shopping as there are a few big department stores, but Machida is only 20 mins by train, where there is a greater choice of shops and restaurants. There is also a library and a great Karaoke bar, if you turn left out of the main exit at Hon-Atsugi station and take the first road round to your left. Follow the road around, it's a bit of a dark alley and there are a few seedy bars but trust me. Keep going past an Italian restaurant and you'll eventually reach a karaoke bar with a neon rainbow outside (it is not a gay bar, contrary to what it looks like!) we have had a few great nights here, there is a good selection of english songs and it's cheaper than Big Echo. (make sure you ask for the drink all you like deal!!) Hon-Atsugi has a big firework festival by the bridge once a year, it was August 2nd this year.

You'll find Izakaya etc in Hon-Atsugi too. Our local Ramen bar was pretty good, if you get off at Atsugi station (not Hon-Atsugi) and turn left out of the station, turn left at the first road and cross the rail tracks, there will be a small bar on the corner, this is a great little Japanese bar which a good atmosphere, next door the food is fab and the owner more than a little crazy! You are fairly likely to bump into a few Geijin there too, as there are a lot of English teachers living in the area.

Ebina is two stops from Hon-Atsugi station (one from Atsugi) and has many shops and restaurants. There are also two large cinemas, and if you're really craving big portions of western style food, 'The Outback Steakhouse' is great. There is a nice bar called 'The Sandglass' which is laid-back and chilled, good music, good food and great drinks.

If you're into walking then most people head to Hakone, you can buy a day pass at the station for 5000 yen which enables you to use all trains, buses, cable cars and boats to and from Hakone, and around the area. Winter is definitely the best time to go if you want a decent view of Mt.Fuji and go early while it is still clear. It will take a couple of hours to get to Hakone. If you want somewhere closer then head to the Oyama-Isehara mountain. Take the Odakyu line to 'Isehara' (one stop beyond Hon-Atsugi) there is a bus station outside, get on the number 4 bus and go right until the end of the route, it will cost about 400 yen and take about 30 mins. From there you can take a cable car, but you have to walk up to the top (about a two hour walk) it's worth the effort, but go prepared, vending machines are few and far between and it can get a little steep. Again go in the winter because there are good views of Fuji to the west, and also enoshima island in the other direction.

Information overload? There are loads of things to do around the area, but you have to look for them, we stumbled across a few fantastic festivals during the Hanabi (firework) season in the summer. If you want to find out about things locally you should look in 'Metropolis' a weekly, free magazine for foreigners, you can find this in HMV, Tower Records, any British Pubs (oh if you want to know about a decent British pub with fantastic roast dinners, let me know!) Hope this helps!

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

well in Machida there is HUB, which is near the Odakyu train station.
It is a British style pub.
In Tokyo you can find British or Irish pubs.
What the Dickens is in Ebisu.

I know of British pubs in Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe.
One chain is the Pig and Whistle.

for jazz there is a place near Ishikawacho in Yokohama called Windjammer.
Beer starts at 650 yen. Not a cheap place.
Also there is an Australian restaurant by the same station that the australian ambassador has gone to.

megan · Joined: 14 Oct 2003 Posts: 3

Firstly, thank you everyone who has responded with info on this area as the net has very little!
I have heard about some kind of music festival that happens near Yokohama. Does anyone know anything about this- i think it's an outdoor dance music festival? I would also love to hear about other music festivals (of any kind but esp jazz or 'rock').
Cheers, Megan

phillis · Joined: 10 Jun 2003 Posts: 7

i would like to thank you guys as well. your information has been such a load off. when i took the job the only thing i knew about atsugi was that it semi close to tokyo. now i have such a better mental picture of where i am going. by the way, would anyone know of any jungle clubs or raves tokyo/atsugi?

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

well Atsugi is kind of far out, so if you want a rave or techno music, you can
probably find it in Tokyo. In Shibuya I am sure you can.

There are a few summer rock festivals. They take place out in Yamanashi or Nagano ken. The end of July I think. One is the Fuji Rock Festival.
One of my students went and it cost him 50,000 yen. I am not sure what he spent his money on. He got to see Coldplay and he was happen about that. These festivals last about three days.

I think there is something like a jazz festival in Yokohama, if I remember.

In Kobe it is easy to find jazz music. Blue Note is in Osaka.