Job Discussion Forums

[Cassie]

Few questions about cities/towns in Japan that are potentially worth moving to.
I am interviewing with NOVA and have no idea what to put for location preference. With certainty, I can say I do not want to live in Tokyo. So here are a few questions about smaller cities/towns:

1. In a small town, will there typically be a group of foreigns also residing there? As I am flying solo, it does not sound appealing to be without any potential of meeting new people.

2. Is transportation to/from small towns more difficult? i.e. There may not be trains, only buses, or something comparable to that ( I understand time to reach destinations may be longer)

3. Does there exist a better chance to save money in a smaller town? If so, is it outweighed by the possible isolation/lonliness experienced in said small town?

Thanks for the feedback. I feel losts of pressure to pick just the right place when I know there is no such thing!!!!

[articulate_ink]

I'm just getting started with this whole thing, myself. I've been hearing good things about Hiroshima, Matsuyama, and Fukuoka. All three have good mass transit, they're reasonably large but not expensive sprawling monsters like Tokyo, and they seem to have pleasant weather. I'd suggest reading through a guidebook to give yourself an idea what various cities have to offer, where they're located, what the transit and transportation links look like, etc. I've got a copy of LET'S GO - JAPAN on my coffee table for that very reason. Hope this helps.

[Glenski]

Look at this previous thread for some answers.
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=8947

1. Whether there are other foreigners in any city/town in Japan depends on the size of the city/town, its remoteness, and its connection (if any) to the JET programme. Japan has a foreign population of 1%, or about 1.25 million. Native English speaking foreigners are not in the majority. They are outnumbered by Koreans, Chinese, and Brazilians. Moreover, even if you have JET ALTs in your area, your work hours are going to be such that you won't really have time to see each other unless you go to the bars after your shift finishes at 9pm.

As for the appeal of "meeting new people", may I politely ask what is wrong with meeting Japanese (who number 99% of the population)?

2. Transportation may or may not be more difficult. Certainly in the tinier towns, you won't have the benefit of English/Japanese bilingual signs/maps. The schedules will likely be more sparse than in a bigger city where public transportation needs to truck more people more often. But, the service itself will be just as good in quality. Of course, if you find yourself in a snowy area, there is a chance that winter weather may foul up even the best of Japanese schedules. It has happened to me, even in a suburb of Sapporo.

3. This is a simple yes. Your rent will be less, your chances of finding huge shopping malls at which to spend your money are lower, and food prices will be generally cheaper. However, if you insist on traveling to the bigger cities with the shopping malls, movie theaters, and other amenities, or if you just want to sightsee, you will spend money.

Isolation and loneliness are indeed strong possibilities, even in the big cities. Yo will always be a gaijin = foreigner = outsider. Life is what you make of it. This is not meant to sound flippant, but if you already foreseen problems living in a smaller town here, do your best to get a bigger city as your base, but prepare for the "worst". I put worst in quotation marks because living in smaller cities/towns affords you the greater opportunities (as listed in the other thread) to meet locals, learn Japanese, and get to know the real Japan. Depends on what you really want to get out of your experience here.

[Cassie]

Thanks both of you for the feedback. I definately do need to do a bit more research and Let's Go has helped me out in the past!

As far as meeting foreigners/isolation/etc, I am fully prepared and realistic about what I may face (I think I am, at least). However, even the strongest person may need some kind of connection, no matter how remote, to something familiar (i.e. a person that you can occasionally share a beer and some stories with).

Anywho, thanks again for responding. This is my first posting and I can see how this forum can be very helpful to many who wish to teach abroad.

Cheers

[shmooj]

First posting... congratulations.

Two suggestions...

1. Run a search (use the button at the top of the page under the ABOMINABLY IRRITATING ADVERTISING BANNER to do this) for "where to go" or "locations" or something like that.

2. Buy a big map of Japan. Pin it on the wall. Throw a dart. Life is what you make it.

[nihontone]

I've lived in Kobe for nearly 5 years. I grew up in town of 600 in south eastern Australia, so Kobe is the biggest place I've lived in. Overall all it's a great place for me (nowhere is perfect of course). Lots of good restaurants (both Japanese and foreign), some good bars and the public transport is pretty good. Getting around in Kobe is pretty easy because it's long and thin (being between the Rokko mountains and the sea. The people are generally ok. There are a lot of foreigners here - not just Westerners but Indians, Chinese, Koreans, Brazillians.

It's also close to Osaka (20 mins by train), Himeji (45mins) Kyoto (50 mins), Nara (90 mins) so there is a lot to do and see. Also, Kansai International Airport is kind of close (65 mins by bus). Kobe has everything you need and most things you want. Anything you can't get can usually be found in Osaka.

Hope this helps.

Nihontone