So, I finally finished my Oxford Seminars certification and the possibility of going to Japan. While not certain is becoming more real. My question or advice is for people that are currently teaching or taught there, what do you think is a hidden gem in regards to prefectures/cities?
I was thinking of applying to teach at the larger/typical cities like Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Sapporo. But a part of me is curious about rural Japan but I’ve heard that it can be hard to adjust and feel welcomed by the locals. Anyone have any advice or suggestions or maybe lesser known cities that are middle ground?
I’d really appreciate any advice, help or suggestions. Thank you in advance!!
Edit: this post is “old” but felt compelled to share I got a job offer today and I said yes. I don’t know what city I’ll be going to yet but I’m sooo excited that I’m going to Japan. Thanks everyone for the recommendations once I know placement I’ll reference this post. 🙂
20 comments
I would apply to jet if you really want to jump into the embedded in a small rural community thing. Matsuyama is really pretty.
I really enjoyed Aichi. Centrally located, good connections and enough going on in Nagoya that there’s stuff to do while not being overwhelmed with tourists and city grossness. People say it’s boring, but boring can be nice for a peaceful life.
Thanks to living in bum fuck Fukui I learned Japanese! If you can stand 2 years with no foreign friends you’ll get really good really fast. No one is going to be speaking English out there.
Places I’ve considered living are quite random but I’ve liked them for different reasons: Shimantogawa City, Sendai, Miyazaki, Matsue, Takayama and Morioka.
I think a better question to ask yourself is what are you after when you’re not working?
SHIMANE! It is where I’m taking my family next year. Lived there in the 90’s and it was beautiful and had so much to offer. I rode my bike all over that place. The people were as you would expect kind and generous.
Ahhh all of these places look amazing! I like going on walks everyday and I try to go on hikes every other weekend. I also love riding my bike and taking photos. I’ve lived in cities my whole life so the rural aspect and nature intrigues me but I feel like if I go to rural I might be too shocked.
Nishinomiya is absolutely amazing and houses some of the top suburbs in Japan but people barely know about it..!
Wakayama in the Tanabe/Shirahama area.
I mean… finding well-paying work might be difficult. If it were remotely possible, I’d be there again now.
Other people have said Aichi around Nagoya and that would be my choice as well.
But honestly, you are probably going to be happier in Tokyo or Osaka. They have more things to do, more people to meet and are a lot easier to get by in without a high level of Japanese.
I’d recommend starting in Tokyo if possible and if you end up over here for more than a year maybe go somewhere that is more rural in your second year once you have adjusted to living in Japan.
In my experience, the happiest people I’ve met in Japan (local and foreign) are the ones who find ways to enjoy life wherever they find themselves. You sound young, honestly go on JET, get placed in the middle of nowhere, take full advantage of what’s available. There’s really not so much variation between the countryside of different prefectures except for the weather. Everywhere has festivals, rice paddies, mountains, is never really a *long* way from the coast, likes drinking.
The cities will always be there, and if one day you move to one from the inaka, you get mad street cred.
Hakodate is pretty awesome.
I would not recommend Nagoya because it’s boring
I’ve lived in two prefectures in Kyushu and loved them both.
Parts of Nara-ken are really rural with lots of nature, hiking, camping etc. Even Nara city itself is on the smaller, quieter (when the hordes of tourists aren’t around) side and easy to get out into the countryside from. It’s also super quick and easy to get to Osaka, Kyoto and even Nagoya. So you get the best of both worlds.
Okayama and Gifu are nice.
Okinawa is amazing.
Shimoda might be nice if you like surfing
Nagano is good if you love outdoor
sports and can tolerate the winter.
Mie has a lot of nature
Nara has a lot of 24hr businesses and is convenient if you have wheels.
I really loved living in Toyama city. Small enough that it was easy to get to know a lot of people and not swarmed with a revolving door of foreigners. Not a ton of shops, but quality > quantity.
Just teach wherever you want. The middle of Tokyo and the middle of Shimane can both be enjoyable if you’re open to all of the experiences available to you.
Matsumoto! I’ve since moved to Kyoto, and still find myself missing it at times.
Fukuoka is such a charm, however the air quality is shit thanks to neighbour China.
And for the love of everything that is sacred, don’t ever accept any positions around Nagano shi: all universal deities forgot that this place exists.
Yokosuka is a gold mine due to the large American presence there; LOOOOTS of Japanese want to talk to them so you could start something there.
Also the ocean view is gorgeous.