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gyunyu · Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 8

I haven't been yet but I sure hope I like it as I have just signed a year contract. Wink

Does anybody have info on this prefecture? There is very little on the internet and NOTHING in the guide books.

Please tell me it is more than a Tokyo suburb. I hope it is a lot cheaper than Tokyo at least...

angelshade · Joined: 09 Jun 2003 Posts: 6 Location: San Francisco, CA

Hi gyunyu,

I just did a quick Google search on Gunma and found their official prefecture website:

http://www.pref.gunma.jp/english/index.html

It looks like it contains a wealth of information. Check it out if you haven't already.

gyunyu · Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 8

Thanks Angleshade,

There was a lot more to that site than I had seen previously. It sounds great for outdoorsy stuff: hiking, skiing, hotsprings...hmmm....a lot like the Idaho I am leaving behind.

I just wonder if there is a unique regional character or if it is more of a bedroom community for Tokyo salarymen. There is a University there which should mean some nightlife, I suppose.

And there has to be at least one Irish pub, right? All the same, I am preparing for full emersion (and bring a load of paperbacks).

scot · Joined: 13 Jun 2003 Posts: 24

hi, i've never been there, but i have a couple friends from there. its definitely rural. lots of mountains and nature and the like. its more connected to the mountain culture region and you probably wont feel tokyo at all even though its not so far. better bring your own guiness, but sometimes irish bars pop up in unexpected locales around japan.

bshabu · Joined: 03 Apr 2003 Posts: 200 Location: Kumagaya

Hello,

I lived there for three years. What city? I lived in Takasaki. It is the 2nd largest city. You are right it is a rural Prefecture but it is Great! There are onsens and hiking. In winter, There is plenty on skiing and boarding. If you like that. If you want to know more let me know.

Brad

merc007 · Joined: 30 Sep 2003 Posts: 14

Are there any skiing places?

grimmer · Joined: 14 Oct 2003 Posts: 9

I`ve got a couple of friends who are working in Gunma as born again atheists. They reckon there`s not much to do after lights out. There`s plenty of greenery and onsens(but there are onsens in every pref.)
They said it`s the equivalent of Shepparton in Oz, or Wyoming in US. Never been there myself though...

einsenundnullen · Joined: 07 Jul 2003 Posts: 76

gyunyu · Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 8

Hello Merc,

Yes, I made it to Gunma, and I can easily say I'd rather be here than in Wyoming. The first couple of months it rained constantly but after that cleared, it turned out we were surrounded by lush mountains.

Life can be a little dull on the plane but I'd far rather be here than in Wyoming. Tokyo is only an hour or so out (depending on whether you take Shinkansen), and the people here seem completely unfazed by gaijin presence.

We do have an ice skater in our ranks who says she is bringing her blades back after Xmas so probably she has heard of a rink. It wouldn't surprise me.

All of the Kanto cities overlap so you won't be escaping urban sprall unless you're in the mountains.

As far as non-teaching work, I've heard there is fast money to be made as a gaijin minister. Or perhaps modeling if you've got the look.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan