| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Trumpcard
Joined: 29 Sep 2005
Posts: 50
|
 Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2010 7:48 am Post subject: living in Niigata |
 |
|
Having lived in Osaka, Tokyo and Seoul over the past 5 years I'd like some information about Niigata. I have a job offer to work in Akiha Ward. Have no idea where that is, nor much clue about Niigata itself other than it's cold.
Is there somewhat of an expat community? Nightlife - bars, pubs? Easy to get around? Friendly locals? Things to see and do? |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
flyer
Joined: 16 May 2003
Posts: 539
Location: Sapporo Japan
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2010 8:22 am Post subject: |
|
|
I am not sure that Nigata is all that cold? certainly in the mountains it will be. But the coast should be that bad. Believe me I am in Hokkaido! I doubt whether it would be colder than Seoul???
they do get snow from the prodominate westerly winds, so expect a lot more clouds and snow.
It certainly will be very different to the places you have been to so far! (in terms of bars etc) |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
mhard1
Joined: 09 Dec 2009
Posts: 54
Location: Japan
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2010 8:34 am Post subject: |
|
|
hey
I have been to Niigata a few times, and I have a close friend living and working there. It is definitely cold in the winter times. They get a pretty decent amount of snow as well, so you should be prepared for that. For that reason it is considered one of the better places to ski in Japan, if you are into that.
As far as the bar/nightlife there is also plenty of that closer to Niigata city. It is a quite developed area, and you should be able to find plenty to do. I think you will not be bored at all if you do choose there. But just beware that it is no Osaka, Seoul, or Tokyo. It is still developing into one from what I hear.
Plenty of expat community, I can recommend some good bars. Plenty of things to see. Enjoy your time there. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Chris21
Joined: 30 Apr 2006
Posts: 366
Location: Japan
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2010 2:56 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Are you sure you're interpreting that data correctly? It appears there were plenty of days below freezing. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2010 9:48 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Well, gee, -0.3 degrees C in February. Yup, that's below freezing...by a third of one degree! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
seklarwia
Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 1546
Location: Monkey onsen, Nagano
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2010 10:03 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Glenski wrote: |
| Well, gee, -0.3 degrees C in February. Yup, that's below freezing...by a third of one degree! |
It's the average low. That means some days the lows were lower than that, some days higher. Most likely the lowest lows in Jan and Decemer hit below zero to get those average lows, too.
Sure it isn't as cold as up where you are, but anything below zero is still horribly cold for most. And lets not forget winds and chill factors which can make a measley -3 (taken from the other link you gave) seem like arctic conditions. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
flyer
Joined: 16 May 2003
Posts: 539
Location: Sapporo Japan
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2010 11:45 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| and now compare that to Shinkappu in Hokkaido that got -34 C yesterday! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Trumpcard
Joined: 29 Sep 2005
Posts: 50
|
| Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 4:38 am Post subject: |
|
|
| thanks for all the replies guys |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
mhard1
Joined: 09 Dec 2009
Posts: 54
Location: Japan
|
| Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 6:22 am Post subject: |
|
|
| flyer wrote: |
| and now compare that to Shinkappu in Hokkaido that got -34 C yesterday! |
really what does that have to do with Niigata? 
If you have some information or knowledge about that area that is what Trump was asking about.
On a side note, I am going to a dance party in Niigata tonight. Trump let me know when you are down to arrive in the area and maybe we can meet up! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
|
| Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 8:45 am Post subject: |
|
|
| seklarwia wrote: |
| It's the average low. That means some days the lows were lower than that, some days higher. Most likely the lowest lows in Jan and Decemer hit below zero to get those average lows, too. |
Further looking into the Wikipedia link (something I highly recommend), I found the source of their data.
-0.3 degrees was the average of the lowest temps. Take the link (item for in the references, then click on February)
http://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/nml_sfc_d.php?prec_no=54&prec_ch=%90V%8A%83%8C%A7&block_no=47604&block_ch=%90V%8A%83&year=&month=2&day=&view=
and you'll see from 1971 to 2000, it ranged from -0.8 to +0.4 degrees during the coldest month. that's still darned close to the freezing point, not anything approaching Shinkappu or even Sapporo.
If anyone thinks the freezing point of water is "horribly cold", I won't argue with their perceptions. I don't think one should say that "most" people feel that way, though. Yes, wind chill factor certainly plays a role (as does humidity), but the wind speeds are only about 8 miles/hr (see the same chart and convert from metric). Not very strong, and it will bring down the temp of exposed skin to +21 to +25 degrees F at most, but that's why there are winter clothes. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Apsara
Joined: 20 Sep 2005
Posts: 2142
Location: Tokyo, Japan
|
| Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 10:11 am Post subject: |
|
|
It's all relative, isn't it? If someone thinks that 0 deg C is horribly cold, then for that person, it is. I grew up in a place (Auckland, NZ) where people think that 12 deg C is freezing cold and 26 is sweltering.
flyer, you're a Kiwi I believe? Unless you're from the deep south somewhere I bet you thought 0 deg was pretty chilly before you moved to Hokkaido.
People like Glenski who grew up in a northern US state and then moved to Hokkaido are tougher than the rest of us and no doubt think Niigata is bordering on subtropical, but for many people it qualifies as pretty damn cold. No point in arguing otherwise.
I'm heading for Hokkaido next week, so I'll get to find out for myself what "really cold" is!  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
seklarwia
Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 1546
Location: Monkey onsen, Nagano
|
| Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 12:12 pm Post subject: |
|
|
An average is only an average and doesn't really count for much with regards to temperature. 9,10 and 11 have an average of 10, but so does 5, 10 and 15 or even 1,2 and 27 (freak extreme weather does occasionally happen). I find it quite hard to believe that the weather could be almost exactly the same on the same day for 29 years straight. So it stands to reason that in 29 years, there were some colder years and some warmer. I mean your lovely table there has an average low of -.6 on Sunday, but the weather forecast is suggesting temps of -5 in Niigata come Sunday evening.
Another reason I wouldn't read too much those figures is due to how uncanningly linear the rate of temp improvement is. And in a whole month there is never more than a fraction of a degree difference from one day to the next... unless Niigata is constantly cloudy or constantly sunny for the entire month, that simply isn't possible which would again suggest that those averages don't really reflect the weather fully at all. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
|
| Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 1:36 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Believe the data or not. I can't help you beyond that except to agree with what Apsara has just written. It was pretty much what I meant anyway. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
