Hiroshima vs Tottori vs Okinawa

6 comments

1. This is a copy of your post for archive/search purposes.

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   **Hiroshima vs Tottori vs Okinawa**

   We’re still a ways off from moving. I can’t move til my pets (all seniors aged 7-12) pass but I’d like to at least learn more about the places I’m considering. I want to hear your opinions on these three locations! Pros & Cons, Serious or Silly. Share it all!

   I’ll give a few reasons why I’m considering these locations

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   * **Hiroshima** – HUGE Soccer fan. Currently I live in Orlando, I’m 20 minutes from the soccer stadium and spend my weekends from Feb-Oct at games. This is really the only social/going out activity I partake in. This is my “going out to a bar.” I’m really loving the Sanfreece, so that’s 100% the reason why I’m considering this location.
   * **Tottori** – Specifically, Uradome. This is the beauty of the area. For those familiar with the states, visually, Uradome area feels to me like Portland, OR but with better weather. Portland is absolutely BEAUTIFUL and the only reason I’ve never considered moving there is the cold and rain. Uradome feels like the beauty of Portland with the weather of Cali to me. How off am I? I also know this is one of the least populated prefectures in the country but that’s a huge appeal to me. I like that quite, small community feel. I do just fine in busy bustling cities, too, don’t get me wrong. But the appeal of a change of pace is there.
   * **Okinawa** – For the weather and more ‘island’ like vibes. Like I said, I’m in Florida, have been for 10+ years and I was born in Guam. I like the heat and warmth and I’m happiest when I have easy beach access. Doesn’t mean I go. I’m 45 minutes from the beach right now and haven’t been in 2 years, but just knowing that if I wanted to go, I could do so without making any plans helps. Also I don’t have a specific area in Okinawa I’m looking at, open to all suggestions!

   If it matters – I’ll either be getting started teaching English or by the time I move, my Japanese will be strong enough that I can be considered for jobs in my field. Marketing/Public Relations. I have a Master’s. Currently N5 but we’re studying every day.

   Have fun with this post! It doesn’t have to be too serious 🙂

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2. Personally I like Hiroshima a lot 🙂

3. Tottori is beautiful but very quiet.

   Okinawa has the holiday vibe but it is quite touristy, big English speaking + American pockets (good or bad, you decide).

   Hiroshima is more populated, but a nice balance between the two I think. Hiroshima would be my choice, but I enjoy the city. 🙂

4. I live in Okinawa and love it, Hiroshima would be nice as well, never been to Tottori, it looks beautiful but I’ve heard it’s all old people and no jobs, so I’m not sure what you’d do there.

5. It’s fun to daydream but realistically you’ll live in a place where it’s a convenient commute to your work. If you’re doing alt work it means you initially go where they send you, and if you keep doing it you move around every 4 years or so as companies don’t usually keep you for 5 (since you get additional protections when you hit the 5 year mark).
   For jobs in your field, that means basically Tokyo and maybe somewhere in kansai if you’re lucky. Assuming you’re able to get that sort of work at all.

   Good luck!

6. Please search this sub for marketing and PR. You’ll note that the vast majority of visa-sponsoring positions (ie someone who isn’t PR or spouse) in those fields require speaking Japanese at a native level. (Why? Because you’re conversing with Japanese clients, producing campaigns for Japanese consumers and need to be able to produce creative material in Japanese with the nuance and understanding of the language only a native speaker can. Think of it this way: Could someone who speaks English at an 8th grade level, which is what N2 is, write an English ad campaign with wordplay, cultural references, natural speech etc?)

   Also, while there are probably some PR/marketing gigs opening to hire a foreigner with native-level Japanese in Hiroshima, there will be far less in Okinawa and next to none in Tottori.

   Teaching English? As long as you have a bachelor’s degree, sure. Go for it. Just know if you want to move back to the U.S., your career options might be stalled.

   Also, as a Californian, no weather here is like California. None.