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samurai007 (Offline)
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Join Date: Oct 2007
02-17-2011, 08:11 AM

Quote:
Originally Posted by GregX999 View Post
Hi all,

So, I'm starting to transition from "thinking about going to Japan to teach English" to "planning on going to Japan to teach English".

I'm trying to figure out what cities I should look into, but I'm having a hard time finding the information I'm looking for. There are basically two different things:

1. Practical: The pros/cons of a city when it comes to a foreigner teaching English there.

2. Personal: A) How conducive the immediate surroundings are to outdoor activities such as cycling, hiking, trail running, etc. B) How close to parks, beaches and/or other areas of nature. C) But also, still having a dense(r) urban core with many shops, restaurants, cafes, "urban things to do", etc. that would have a sizable population of people looking to learn English.

From what I know now, Tokyo wins for 1, but looses for 2. And Kyoto wins for 2, but looses for 1 (due to over-competition of English teachers). But I hardly know anything about any other cities in Japan.

Ultimately, I guess my plan would be to get a list of 3 or 4 cities to eventually visit. Does anyone know of any websites that provide any of this type of information? Or perhaps you have some experience yourself? My Google-fu is failing me in this endeavor. I have a feeling most of the info I'm looking for in number 2 is written in Japanese.

Thanks,
Greg
I would recommend either Nara City or Wakayama City. Both are good-sized, yet very close to nature, and very close to bigger cities (Osaka and Kyoto). I don't think either one is flooded with English teachers, though I don't know the current situations there.


JET Program, 1996-98, Wakayama-ken, Hashimoto-shi

Link to pictures from my time in Japan
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