[MMM]

Makes sense. I agree, being separated from other foreigners allows for a more real experience. Your Japanese will improve by leaps and bounds.

When I was a JET I was in a fairly central location, but knew JETS that travelled great distances to meet several times a week. They'd have parties every weekend, spending the night at one person's house or another. I attended some of the big events, but would sometimes go weeks speaking almost no English, or rather, to another foreigner. Now I use Japanese in my career.

I wasn't aware that students could get work-permits, so you know more about that than I.