Long story short, I’ve got fully remote job offer and I’m considering to move out from Tokyo. Is there anyone who did the same? I’ve visited Ishigaki several times and always enjoyed the laid back atmosphere and friendliness. From the daily life perspective I’m wondering about quality of healthcare, schools, etc.
Of course I know shipping and travel is more expensive, less entertainment, but that’s not a problem for me.
I’m considering also main island, but not sure it might be too busy for my liking.
4 comments
I imagine Ishigaki will get old. Main island it is.
Living on a small island isn’t for everyone. I think most people would not like it actually. Try it out for like 2 years before buying a house.
Quality of most things is just lower on islands due to their small population.
Even if you live super rural, if you live on one of the big 4 islands(Shikoku, Hokkaido, Kyushu, Honshu) no matter what happens you can just drive to whatever you need. Kid doesn’t like local schools? They can just commute for like 90 min to get to a better school. Kids gets cancer? Then you can drive hours every few weeks to get them to a major hospital. If they get sick on an island they have to move to the hospital and one of the parents needs to stay in an apartment near by possibly. Just want to get out of town? Just drive. Of course you can replace driving with bus/train.
Yeah, I mean, think about it long and hard.
I’ve only been to Ishigaki 3 times but 2 of those involved a typhoon, the internet and power going out, and a cup noodle / Orion beer party with the wife. It was fun for a holiday but you literally said you make your living remotely – the internet is not that great, and typhoon frequency appears to be increasing *cough*.
Not to mention that if you wanted to settle down, land prices are absolutely ridiculous.
Consider going north on the main island. Past Nago to Nakajin, or the couple small islands there (via bridges), or on up the northeast coast.
Or the small islands just west of there (Aka/Zamami), and you’d be a short-ish ferry ride from downtown Naha–twice daily, I think.