I live in the UK and this will be my first trip to Tokyo/Japan. Actually it's the furthest I've ever been. I love the Japanese culture and I am a huge fan of the toys, games, gadgets and obscure stuff. I am also a Goth, so clubbing suggestions welcome. Also this is a fact finding trip as both my husband and I intend to apply to teach English in Japan and stay there for a year. Can anyone suggest offices I should go to and/or schools to check out. I would like to put my mind at ease during my 10 day holiday as to the possibility of living and working in Japan. Any general advice is welcome! (oh and does anyone know how far away Japan is from the UK?)
2007-01-31 20:33:58 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Travel ➔ Asia Pacific ➔ Japan
Hi Ethyl,
You and your husband will love it here in Tokyo.
You'll find this useful:
http://www.jgoth.com/
The big language schools -- GABA, Nova, Aeon, etc. -- are pretty crap places to work, but might be useful as starter jobs as they train and pay you while you're looking for something better.
Make sure you get hired locally, in Japan. If one of the big conversation schools brings you over to Japan, they basically own you, and you don't want that.
I know it all seems so difficult from over there, but it really is so simple once you're here. I recommend not wasting time and money on a fact-finding mission -- just come over and get on with it.
It's really not as difficult as you currently imagine.
There's a pretty interesting goth scene here, too, with some crossover with the goth-loli crowd, though fairly minimal. The site I linked to above should get you started.
Good luck.
2007-02-02 01:01:17 · answer #1 · answered by shagdeluxe 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Definitely go to Harajuku on Sunday mornings, you'll see some amazing styles there! I also recommend Shibuya for shopping and entertainment. I haven't lived there for quite a while, so I can't really recommend clubs as they change a lot. There are definitely goth-style clubs in Tokyo, check out the Roppongi district.
Personally, I did the JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching) programme, and I really enjoyed it. However, if you are hoping to live around Tokyo, I don't know if there are many positions in that area through JET (I lived in Yokohama City). The JET application process is a bit time consuming, so that might not be what you're looking for. Places like NOVA and AEON are probably your best bet. Also check out your prospects in Yokohama, it's only 30 minutes away from Tokyo by train, but it might be a bit cheaper to live there compared to living right in Tokyo.
Also, take a day trip and visit Kamakura, to see some awesome shrines and a huge buddah statue!
2007-02-01 12:24:29 · answer #2 · answered by G.C. 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because of the relatively warm winter, you might be here when the cherry blossom season is. Then you should definitely save few hours at the weekend to enjoy pick nick in one of the huge parks like Yoyogi or Shinjuku and have some beer in a lovely atmoesphere with Japanese people. Great opportunity to make local friends, as people are really relaxed.
2007-02-01 21:39:31 · answer #3 · answered by memento27 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are into Goth, make sure that you go to Harajuku on a sunday and take a look at their goth shops, and walk further down to the Meiji-jingu shrine to take a look at all the cosplayers as well as visiting the shrine.
For gadgets, you must definitely go to Akihabara, they have so many gadgets there, but walk around 1st and compare prices.
For games, do you mean video games like PS2, PS3, PSP or Xbox???
If so, it can be found at every place especially Akihabara. Normally, i juz go to a 2nd hand shop named: Tsutaya to get what i want. They have 2nd hand games for sale, and it's so much cheaper than the 1st hand ones, and the quality is the same as 1st hand ones too.
If you wanna go clubbing, i would suggest clubs or pubs at Roppongi.
For shopping, do go to Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ginza as well as Ikebukuro, there are many shopping centres with famous brands and local brands.
For further details, check out the website below.
2007-02-01 10:54:14 · answer #4 · answered by Wyn 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Couldnt tell you how far it is away sorry..
however if your a goth then the shopping is amazing! especially in tokyo... look for something called "gothic lolita" you might like it..
they also do a kind of cyber-gothic style if your into clubbing
2007-01-31 23:34:30 · answer #5 · answered by Carpe Diem 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Read the Monday Japan Times classifieds to find a job, or go to gaijinpot.com.
2007-01-31 20:44:31 · answer #6 · answered by michinoku2001 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There are quite a few sites that offer jobs in Japan.
I would recommend Akihabara. It is a place of electronic devices. as well as anime, seems to be one of the most popular places in Japan right now.
2007-01-31 22:37:55 · answer #7 · answered by Mickey22_jp 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You MUST get a tamagotchi in ToysRUs in Ikebukurro! Go to a temple! Go to Higashi Kurume church KBF! At least go to Hokkaido! Or Kyosei!
2007-01-31 23:05:13 · answer #8 · answered by M&MS 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
eat a lot of good food. Japan's supposed to have like the best pastries or something.
2007-02-01 11:42:36 · answer #9 · answered by sweetz 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋