Moving to Okinawa

10 comments

1. On PC I had to update some mods and once I updated the incompatible mods it seems ok.

2. Considering a similar move. The cons we’ve come up with so far:
   * Need a car – very limited transportation outside of Naha
   * Groceries – limited ‘foreign’ foods, stores and availability, unless you get friends that can get you on base
   * Lack of intl flights – would need to fly back to Honshu to get a flight out (unless HK or Taipei are convenient)

3. We considered it and did some recon and found the real estate market completely dead for rentals at the time. Ended up settling in Kyushu as a great compromise of convenience and access but still getting friendly locals, mild winters and beachy vibes. It feels like a different country to the Kanto side of Japan.

4. Those famously harsh winters of Nagoya.

5. Haven’t spent much time in Nagoya but the vibe isn’t great. I’d try Kyoto first it’s very nice.

6. You could always go in the opposite direction and move to Hokkaido. At least the homes are actually built for the winters.

7. Moved here from Tokyo! It’s a nice place to live, certainly more run down than Tokyo, but not in any way that really effects quality of life. There’s MUCH less to do here, but since you have kids, things like going to the zoo, beach and park are more likely to be your thing than concerts or amusement parks, and we do have those. Job wise, find one before you come and make sure you think you’ll like it. They’re really tough to come by unless you’re fluent in Japanese and can do a “Regular” job. If not, you’ll likely be stuck with the one you get, if you manage to find one at all. It is very, very humid. Like “Walking two minues to the store soaks your clothes” humid for months on end. If you want to do things and go places, you need a car for sure. The beaches are lovely, though only some of them are any good for swimming in the sea. many have no/very very small swimming areas full of people playing, so you can’t really SWIM swim.

   I like it here, life is kind of chill, but I’m kind of a homebody. Is it better than Tokyo…Mmm…No, I guess. I miss music shows and having options of places to go and things to see. There’re plenty of things on the mainland that they don’t have here, and besides lovely weather and some beaches that, in the end, I don’t live anywhere near and so can’t frequently visit, it doesn’t have…Sooooo much going for it. I appreciate its people and culture, and really feel for the island and its tragic history and continuing treatment. I can’t say locals are any more or less friendly than mainland, but with less to do, I’ve met far less outside of work situations. I like my current job, which is fortunate, but I do wish I had some options. I’m pretty locked into this one unless I move.

   Edit: Read you had a scooter. I did too for a while and it was terrifying, especially in the frequent heavy rains. It’s still totally possible to drive – I did for multiple hours a day for about a year, but it’s so unpleasent and scary, I’d say use the bus over a scooter if you can.

8. Okinawa resident here. Been living in Tokyo for a while but moved to Okinawa last year because I can work remotely.
   Pros: Okinawa is good for chilling and locals are very friendly to foreigners. It’s warm all the year round, with beautiful beach and fresh air. Lower rent.

   Cons: Aircraft noise (almost everyday) because of military bases. Must to prepare enough food in advance during typhoon season. Everything is more expensive than mainland for the shipping cost.

   My advice is you can travel to Okinawa for few weeks before making decisions.

9. There’s a lot of Japanese companies with on base contracts that are very lucrative. As someone stated before, the rental market is a bit tough here. We manged to find a 3LDK for 75,000 per month, but it’s an older place. One outlet per room and we have to pay for UQ-Mobile home internet because the building only had phone lines. That being said, I can only compare it to living in Sapporo for a year, but being in Japan for five, so here’s my pros and cons.

   Pro’s:
   Okinawans are often very friendly, easy going people.
   Beautiful beaches and anything ocean related.
   Most activities are available to foreigners in English because of the large millitary population and that it is a tourist location for many non-Americans as well.

   Con’s:
   My apartment is also cheap because two Ospreys just flew over less than a couple hundred feet from me.
   There are a lot of Americans, and Okinawan culture is a bit different from the rest of Japan, so it is a bit of a different experience from the rest of Japan.
   You have to drive everywhere and traffic is terrible during rush hour and holidays. (be prepared to call you boss if there’s an accident, even if you’re normally a half hour early to work)
   After a few years the ease of travel means you run out of novel things to do. (this was the exact explanation my okinawan friend gave me for why Okinawans drink so much)

10. What’s wrong with the locals in Nagoya? Seemed pretty friendly whenever i visit. Guess it’s different If you live there