JapanForum.com  


Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools
(#1 (permalink))
Old
Newbie (Offline)
New to JF
 
Posts: 2
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Germany
Question Internship in Tomioka, Gunma - 09-28-2007, 04:35 PM

Hallo!
I just got to know that I was accepted for an internship in Japan in March 2008. It's in a town called Tomioka in Gunma.

Does anybody know this town? Is it far from Tokyo or other bigger cities? Where can I get some information about railway fares & timetables?
I want to take a "Japanese course for beginners" or sth. like that, but I doubt, that it will be enough (I don't know a word, yet). Is it possible to get along with English in everyday life?
It would be nice if I could get to know some people nearby or get some practical information about the city, life in gunma or what I should think of before departure.

Thanks for any helpful info.
Reply With Quote
(#2 (permalink))
Old
masaegu's Avatar
masaegu (Offline)
永遠の愛
 
Posts: 2,573
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Central Tokyo
10-06-2007, 08:38 AM

Tomioka, Gunma - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Gunma Prefecture HomePage

Sorry all could do is to give these links as I have never been to Tomioka myself. The train fare for Tokyo-Tomioka is 5,570 yen for one way and it's about an 80-minute ride (50 mins on Shinkansen and 30 on a local train).

In general, most Japanese don't speak more than a few words of English. And they usually read and write it much better than they speak it.

Hope your stay in Gunma will be enjoyable.

Last edited by masaegu : 10-06-2007 at 08:42 AM.
Reply With Quote
(#3 (permalink))
Old
MMM's Avatar
MMM (Offline)
JF Ossan
 
Posts: 12,200
Join Date: Jun 2007
10-06-2007, 09:02 AM

Start studying Japanese now. Most Japanese do not speak English, and the further you get from the major cities, they less they will know. You will thank yourself for every minute you spend studying Japanese conversation beginning today.
Reply With Quote
(#4 (permalink))
Old
Newbie (Offline)
New to JF
 
Posts: 2
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Germany
10-07-2007, 11:45 AM

Thanks for your advice!!!
I'm soo excited! I'll definitely take a Japanese course
Reply With Quote
(#5 (permalink))
Old
beegee1962's Avatar
beegee1962 (Offline)
New to JF
 
Posts: 1
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: In Tokyo
Send a message via Yahoo to beegee1962 Send a message via Skype™ to beegee1962
Thumbs up 10-08-2007, 07:24 PM

Yes, learn japanese fast.
I am a german, moving to Japan in a few weeks to work there. In the past years I was there up to 6 times a year for business trip, and without knowing japanese, it will be very difficult.

My company sent me to a japanese teacher in Germany, she used a book names "Japanisch im Sauseschritt", it gives you a very fast introduction so that you can understand basics soon.

It teaches Katakana and Hiragana as well, so that you can read the menues and street signs .

Have fun in Japan.
Reply With Quote
(#6 (permalink))
Old
jasonbvr's Avatar
jasonbvr (Offline)
TrixR4Kidz
 
Posts: 771
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Japan
10-08-2007, 11:43 PM

Hi, I live in Ota which is on the other side of Takasaki and Isesaki from Tomioka. Gunma is a very nice place to live and you can get to Tokyo for less than 5,000 yen. That is probably the fastest train from Takasaki to Tokyo. But honestly you will be living right next to Takasaki, why even bother with Tomioka. Honestly when you live in Gunma for about 6 months, after that you won't even want to go to Tokyo too often. Takasaki and Maebashi are pretty cool. If you want to learn Japanese, you can just make some Japanese friends that speak English. There is a English cafe at the prefectural offices in Maebashi every Thursday. That is a good place to start. I would write more, but I have to go to class.
Reply With Quote
(#7 (permalink))
Old
MMM's Avatar
MMM (Offline)
JF Ossan
 
Posts: 12,200
Join Date: Jun 2007
10-09-2007, 12:02 AM

Life gets cheaper when you start to appreciate what's close by more.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




Copyright 2003-2006 Virtual Japan.
SEO by vBSEO 3.0.0 RC6