Job Discussion Forums

[SF21]

Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Tochigi, Fukushima, Aichi.

I'm considering doing a three-month stint in Japan with Westgate, but don't want to dig too deep into the savings acount. Thanks.

[AndyH]

It really depends on the city. Kanagawa is great, but is also the most expensive, especially if you are somewhere like Yokohama or Kamakura. I lived in Chiba Prefecture, and the price of rent all depends on where you are. Aichi is the prefecture in which Nagoya is located, and if you are there, it might be more expensive than if you are in a rural area or small city. Like Chiba and Kanagawa, Saitama borders Tokyo, and you'll find a mix of higher-rent and cheaper apartments, depending on where you are. Tochigi and Fukushima might be cheap, but they are fairly rural, and might not offer a lot of excitement.

I was able to save money in Chiba, and have easy access to Tokyo at the same time.

[Apsara]

Even in the same area rents can vary widely with distance from the station and age of the building. As above Tochigi and Fukushima being very rural would have the cheapest rents of the prefectures you mentioned, followed by Saitama. Both Tochigi and Fukushima are quite picturesque in some areas and would be great if you like hiking.

I have lived in both Saitama and Kanagawa, and far and away preferred Kanagawa. There is very little to recommend Saitama other than the proximity of parts of it to Tokyo. It is flat, dusty, land-locked and featureless, and the climate is more extreme in both directions than even Tokyo, although only by a few degrees. Kanagawa on the other hand has a milder climate and is near the sea and mountains, Yokohama is a good sized city so you have culture and nightlife, and Kamakura and Hakone are great places to visit.

I gladly paid a higher rent in Kanagawa to have a more enjoyable life, but this was just my experience. For all I know there are people who live in Saitama and love it.

[ripslyme]

[poohbear]

i lived in saitama and man was it boring, mind you that's after living in the heart of tokyo for 2 years. i guess it depends on where u live now? if you're living in a rural place now then it might not be all that bad for you.

[Sweetsee]

We love living in southern Saitama near the Tokyo border! More bang for your buck and loads of tennis courts.
Enjoy,
s

[Mothy]

Yeah I'm living in Saitama near Tokyo too, and it isn't so bad. I bet there are better places though... There is an unbelievable amount of dust, and it gets in my drafty old apatment so easy too. I constantly am having to wipe the dust off my keyboard. But I really like it here.

After rereading the OP again I noticed that it's about price of the place not livability. So I'll edit my post. I think Saitama is reasonably priced but not cheap. If you go further away from Tokyo the housing probably gets cheaper though.

[Sweetsee]

You got that right, Mothy, the wind has really been kicking it up. I thought I was going to get blown off the court the other day.
By the way, I'd like to announce the birth of our son last night. He was born here in our place at seven-oh-seven.

[Mothy]

Yeah, what is the deal with there being so much wind recently? Oh well. That's weather I guess.
Congratulations on the baby. Your first?

[Sweetsee]

Thanks, Mothy. Our third believe it or not.
Could be the big spring wind. Nice to see.
Enjoy,
s

[gaijinalways]

Congrats on another human!

[Sweetsee]

Thanks, mate! Someone has got to do it.

[bule_boy69]

hey.... can someone explain this to me?

Why all the talk about what area is cheaper to rent in..better etc?

If you apply to Westgate ...do u get any choice where you go anyway?

That was the main thing that put me off applying...

Would be good to hear otherwise

Thanks

[Sweetsee]

Westgate are two month jobs, aren't they? You have to live somewhere.

[fat_chris]