Tokushima is part of Shikoku island so it will probably be very rural. The weather will be mild no doubt, particularly during the winter which can only be a good thing.
-
-
Crazy thoughts eh, it is a bit surreal when you sit and reflect on it, so exciting though. Aeon are still sorting mine, waiting for positions to open. But means I can save more cash before I go. Tokushima sounds very rural, I'm sure someone I know comes from there. If I find out who I'll ask about it for you. Your Japanese will sky rocket being in Tokushima I'm sure.Originally posted by dave heats View PostComment
-
Tokushima just happens to be our home town in Japan!
Tokushima is a bit rural so don?t expect Akiba, maid cafes and the like but it?s not hillbilly city either!
It?s warmer than Tokyo (they have palm trees in the bus station), the wife?s over there now and it?s currently high 20?s. I?m going over in August and it will be mid 30?s.
There?s lot?s of things to see ? 88 Temples on Japan?s most important pilgrimage, great scenery with rope bridges across valleys & white water rafting. Beaches with barbecues all set up and ready to use. Rare green sea turtles visit to lay their eggs on some of the beaches in summer.
There?s loads of stuff I could write but it may be easier if you ask with any specific questions you have.
Congrats on the placement
Comment
-
Originally posted by Ampanman View PostTokushima just happens to be our home town in Japan!
Tokushima is a bit rural so don?t expect Akiba, maid cafes and the like but it?s not hillbilly city either!
It?s warmer than Tokyo (they have palm trees in the bus station), the wife?s over there now and it?s currently high 20?s. I?m going over in August and it will be mid 30?s.
There?s lot?s of things to see ? 88 Temples on Japan?s most important pilgrimage, great scenery with rope bridges across valleys & white water rafting. Beaches with barbecues all set up and ready to use. Rare green sea turtles visit to lay their eggs on some of the beaches in summer.
There?s loads of stuff I could write but it may be easier if you ask with any specific questions you have.
Congrats on the placement
No way!!!
Fantastic stuff
After spending all last night online reading about the island, it sounds like it could be perfect!
Ive got a couple of questions already, so sorry in advance for pestering you Ampanman!
Firstly, you mentioned its hotter than Tokyo, but because of its location in Japan, is it less humid than Tokyo too? Or is the humidity still an issue there too?
Secondly,ive read that the island has both an amazing surf scene, and also the second highest mountain in Japan that you can ski/snowboard on in the winter. Sounds perfect to me! Just wondering how nice the beaches and slopes are if youve been!
Also, how long does it take to get to Osaka? Ive read that on a bus its around 2 and a half hours, but is there a train route than one could take to get there any quicker?
To be honest mate my head is bursting with questions right now, many of which i may be able to answer with more research! Im just too excited! Any more info atall on the place would be much appreciated!!
JU! mate, i suppose being rural is a definite plus on the Japanese language progression front too. All in all, its not too far from Osaka, and sounds like heaven so far, so im delighted! Any idea when Aeon might be sending you out, or will they let you know nearer the time?Comment
-
I enquire again a few days ago and got a reply straight away. I got an e-mail a few days ago which was very positive it said there is a few peeps in the same position as me, waiting for placement position openings in big cities Osaka/Tokyo etc. In the next few weeks/month there is usually more positions opening but heaps may open unexpectedly. But because I have asked to be in Tokyo this is where a lot of people ask to go so it makes it harder for them to find a position quickly.Originally posted by dave heats View Post
At the end of the day as well I'd rather have more money saved and be totally prepared when they find me a position. So I don't mind hanging on even if it takes til Jan 2008 because Japan will always be there. Maybe I will be able to go on holiday before then if it takes Aeon til Jan 2008. I will always have a job with HMV so saving money is not a problem.Last edited by JU!; 24-05-2007, 11:46.Comment
-
Yes way!!
Never ever thought Tokushima would figure in the Japan Trip Resource Thread ? perhaps we need to make our own as it may be hijacked for a while!
Right onto questions;
Humidity is a big problem, even at night it?s mid twenties in summertime so prepare for sweatsville.
Not been to any of the main surfing areas which are further down the coast from the beach near us ? Anan Coast, though it was October when we visited and deserted though still in the 20?s.
http://www.outdoorjapan.com/activities/surfing/activities-surfing-ag-tokushima-1.html
Not been up the mountains either apart from Mt Bizan which is in the town centre (believe me) and has a cable car to the top incase you don?t want to walk.
Yep there is only a bus service to Osaka, used to be flights too but they stopped about five years ago.
Intercity bus services in Japan are not like here though. On-time, clean and comfortable.
The journey to Osaka takes you first across the Naruto bridge which joins Shikoku to Awaji Island (where England stayed last World Cup), this is a tourist spot where you can see the worlds largest naturally occurring whirlpools.
After Awaji you then get to go across this baby, the Akaishi Kaikyo, which links to the mainland and is the worlds longest suspension bridge.
It also routes through Kobe where you can see Kobe Tower.
You are correct with the journey times, it?s about two hours.
Oh, whilst talking about travel, there are basically two ways to get to Tokushima flying from the UK either via Tokyo or Osaka.
Via Tokyo you?ll need to clear immigration and collect your luggage then get the Limousine bus service over to the domestic airport at Haneda which takes roughly one hour. Check in again and take the 1:20 flight to Tokushima. From there it?s about 20 minutes or so on the bus into the town centre, be warned though as the buses are timed to the flights and leave about 10 minutes after each arrival.
With Osaka you clear immigration, come out of arrivals and the bus services to intercity/Universal Studios etc are right outside.
We always take this option as it?s less hassle and you can sleep on the bus of course, rather than the other option of fighting your way across Tokyo and checking in again etc.
Of course you may want to spend a few days in Tokyo first when you go over, but just a heads up incase you were wondering.
There are a couple of games shops in town, one a regular type shop with the other one catering for more ?Otaku? type stuff, anime, figures and stuff, they also have a decent OST collection.
Any more questions keep-em coming.Comment
-
I really cant thank you enough for all this info mate, you wouldnt believe how much Im enjoying reading about the place!
I can honestly say Im loving what Im hearing about Tokushima, sounds like my perfect place to be based for JET. I must admit I was hoping to be sent to a big bustling metropolitan, but it seems Tokushima is going to be potentially perfect.
The weather sounds good, and the humidity I'll just have to get used to Mind you, im guessing the sea breezes help cool it somewhat? Or does it make it worse?!
Glad to hear there arent any Akiba type places, god I hate that place. A couple of games shops will more than tide me over I'm sure!
Journey times also sound ok to me! Having Kobe and Osaka/Kyoto within a couple of hours bus ride is great. Regarding the flight connections etc, when I first get there in August at least its all laid on by the government and my contracting authority, meaning all of us JETs fly into tokyo, then im guessing it will be shinkansen down to Osaka. But if I end up flying back into Japan at any point, the Osaka option definately sounds the better method, thanks for the heads up on that!
To be honest, anymore info you think might be useful would be fantastic.
A few more questions (Sorry about this ^_^ ). Firstly, Im just curious to find out if theres much in the way of shopping and entertainment in the area, like any shopping centers etc? First thing ill be buying when i get there is a guitar, so do you know if theres many music shops?
Also, are there many gaijin in the area? Im wondering if I'm gonna be one of a minority of westerners (which im strangely hoping for) or one of many!
So how much time do you usually spend over there buddy? And what do you get up to while youre there? Im hoping to join a footie team, re-start my Karate, learn to surf and generally get up to as much as possible both in and out of the school/s I end up in. In Osaka I joined up with a couple of gaijin footie teams, which was a great way to meet fellow Brits for a laugh!
Anyway, thanks so much for all this info Ampanman! Feel guilty bombarding you with all my queries but its much appreciated!Comment
-
Wife's letting me go for a week of running around Tokyo. Life is good.
Tickets bought, hotel reserved, 82 days to go
Comment
-
No probs with the questions, happy to help in any way I can.
Don?t know whether or not the sea breeze helps or not and the in-laws live right near one of the ports, the only thing I know is that it?s stuffy so yeah you just have to put up with it.
There are plenty of shops including a large SOGO (department store) in the town centre & loads and loads of places to eat, Izakaya?s (Japanese pubs) etc.
As for music shops not sure on that one but since there is a Harley dealership there I think it?s a fair assumption that you should be able to buy a guitar (not that motorbikes and musical instruments have anything in common but I think you get where I?m coming from), anyway I?m speaking to the wife on Sunday so I?ll ask her ? in fact just remembered she has a piano so yeah must be.
You are correct in the assumption that you may be in a very small minority there, we don?t see many westerners at all. The ones we do see are probably teaching at Nova or maybe even JET guys like yourself or off the ships that come into the ports (Russians). As for westerners with Japanese wives well I think I?m in a minority of one there, haven?t seen any other mixed couples at all.
I?ll ask the wife about that too but that may be one area where staff at your placement may be able to help you out with foreign community stuff.
Tokushima do have a ?real? footy team though ? Tokushima Vortis, currently propping up J League 2 and are crap. Wanted to see them last time but couldn?t make it, if there is a game on whilst I?m over there may get to go this time, they play at Naruto, the stadium looks quite nice actually but always looks empty so don?t think there will be a problem getting a ticket. A special bus is laid on from the bus station on match days.
We tend to go over every couple of years, the wife and daughter are over there now and I?m joining in August. Am mainly going to help father with the rice harvest. Staying there for five weeks.
Don?t have much in the way of digital pics of the town centre but I have a few film shots, we don?t have a scanner but I?m happy to take some digital pictures of them put some text with them and email them over to you if you like. PM me your details and I?ll get on it tonight.
Quality won?t be great but at least it will give you an idea of what the centre looks like so it?s not a huge surprise when you arrive.
Any more questions please ask.Comment
-
Wahay off in 8 hours!Comment
-
Have fun mate!
Don't look at me, I'm irrelevant.Comment
-
-
Comment
-
JAPJAC left his mark in the local (about 10 times) lol
Comment
Comment