Placements

[DoubleParka]

I got placed in Niigata-ken Gosen-shi. I don't know anything about that prefecture and the official website isn't much help. Anyone know anything?

Hi there! I'm a current Niigata JET, so welcome! I am placed much further south in Joetsu city but I've done a fair amount of travelling around the prefecture. Unfortunately Gosen is one of the few places I haven't been!

Niigata is a gorgeous prefecture. We have the best of both worlds, from gorgeous beaches in the summer to amazing ski resorts in the winter. The snow can be a bit of an adjustment process, but it doesn't actually get all that cold comparatively. Probably the lowest temperature you'll see all winter is -5 celsius. The summers are very hot and humid (I personally prefer winter). And the scenery in our prefecture is just gorgeous! Niigata city has anything you could want in a city and is pretty easily accessible from any part of the prefecture.

Feel free to ask me any questions you might have on here, or PM. And if you're interested, here's the facebook group:

http://www.facebook.com/groups/218670241496698/

Thanks so much! The group is closed though so I can't join lol XD I'm from CT and spend a lot of my time in Mass so I'm totally used to snow and cold >< I'm excited to get there and be prepared for probably a lot of question's in your inbox haha

[sloth]

I got placed in Niigata-ken Gosen-shi. I don't know anything about that prefecture and the official website isn't much help. Anyone know anything?

Hi there! I'm a current Niigata JET, so welcome! I am placed much further south in Joetsu city but I've done a fair amount of travelling around the prefecture. Unfortunately Gosen is one of the few places I haven't been!

Niigata is a gorgeous prefecture. We have the best of both worlds, from gorgeous beaches in the summer to amazing ski resorts in the winter. The snow can be a bit of an adjustment process, but it doesn't actually get all that cold comparatively. Probably the lowest temperature you'll see all winter is -5 celsius. The summers are very hot and humid (I personally prefer winter). And the scenery in our prefecture is just gorgeous! Niigata city has anything you could want in a city and is pretty easily accessible from any part of the prefecture.

Feel free to ask me any questions you might have on here, or PM. And if you're interested, here's the facebook group:

http://www.facebook.com/groups/218670241496698/

Thanks so much! The group is closed though so I can't join lol XD I'm from CT and spend a lot of my time in Mass so I'm totally used to snow and cold >< I'm excited to get there and be prepared for probably a lot of question's in your inbox haha

You just have to request to join. It is up by how many members they have in the group.

[lenamarie0485]

I was at work when I finally got the e-mail; I saw Kagoshima-ken, looked it up on the map included in the e-mail and was like, "Sweet, I'll be in southwestern Japan. Didn't really request Kagoshima, but I'll take it." Little did I realize that the map would not help at all...

When I got home, I decided to look more information about the specific placement (Kikai-cho) by first giving it a Google Map search...



and saw all the water was I was like HOLY F*** and was in shock when I had to zoom out five times to finally realize where I was really placed...

oh myyy god, I'm gonna be living on a tropical island

Honestly, I was willing to go anywhere and didn't have that strong of a personal preference. I had requested an urban placement in Sendai-shi, Osaka-fu, and Fukuoka-ken. I knew there was that slight possibility that I would be placed on some random island, but I never thought it would happen to me. I am still in shock. As a city boy from Boston, I don't think I'm prepared at all for island life, but I've never been more excited about JET in my life! I really like cities a lot, but if I had to live somewhere remote and rural, I probably would've preferred an island anyway. However, never in my life have I ever been so aware that I can't swim, so I'm definitely gonna have to learn so I can pick up hobbies like surfing!

wow! you might as well be in Okinawa that far away. you are going to have the best adventure ever!

[miami_coordinator]

Just got my placement as well! I'm going to Aomori! Let the intense researching begin ^_^

I was an Aomori JET. I loved it


There are challenges to being in such a rural area, but I came to have such love for both Aomori and Tohoku in general. Prepare to have the best time of your life in the Blue Forest!

[happytofu]

I was an Aomori JET. I loved it

More evidence Aomori is the best placement. They picked MC!

[miami_coordinator]

I was at work when I finally got the e-mail; I saw Kagoshima-ken, looked it up on the map included in the e-mail and was like, "Sweet, I'll be in southwestern Japan. Didn't really request Kagoshima, but I'll take it." Little did I realize that the map would not help at all...

When I got home, I decided to look more information about the specific placement (Kikai-cho) by first giving it a Google Map search...



and saw all the water was I was like HOLY F*** and was in shock when I had to zoom out five times to finally realize where I was really placed...

oh myyy god, I'm gonna be living on a tropical island

Honestly, I was willing to go anywhere and didn't have that strong of a personal preference. I had requested an urban placement in Sendai-shi, Osaka-fu, and Fukuoka-ken. I knew there was that slight possibility that I would be placed on some random island, but I never thought it would happen to me. I am still in shock. As a city boy from Boston, I don't think I'm prepared at all for island life, but I've never been more excited about JET in my life! I really like cities a lot, but if I had to live somewhere remote and rural, I probably would've preferred an island anyway. However, never in my life have I ever been so aware that I can't swim, so I'm definitely gonna have to learn so I can pick up hobbies like surfing!

I sent a JET to a small island off the coast of Kagoshima a few years ago. He called me up to talk it over, because he was pretty nervous about it. Then he started researching it. Then he started hearing what a paradise he was going to. Then he actually went and continues to have the time of his life. His mother called me twice in his first year just to let me know how much the people in his island loved him and what a great time he was having.

Island living for a foreigner can be difficult, but it could also be really rewarding. My recommendation is to make everyone want to come visit you (trust me, the Hokkaido and Tohoku people will be begging for a tropical island getaway in January). And remember, whatever doesn't kill you gives you stories for the rest of your life .

[miami_coordinator]

I was an Aomori JET. I loved it

More evidence Aomori is the best placement. They picked MC!

Absolutely! Incidentally, I went through the NYC consulate too.

[ssb]

Finally got it. I'm going to Yatsushiro-shi in Kumamoto.

[HikariKaitou]

Chicago consulate interviewee here, just got my placement in Tanabe-shi in Wakayama-ken. It was my third choice but I'm a Wisconsin girl and totally worried about how I'll handle the heat (and the mutant bugs I've heard live there ;^;)... But I'm glad to know where I'm going and it's only a 15 minute train ride from Osaka, according to Hyperdia! Anyone here know this area that can give me the scoop?

[readyaimzfire]

Another Chicago rep, headed to Hiroshima-ken!!!

Freakishly excited, even though I have more of a wait ahead of me as to where I'll actually be living. Who cares?!

[xayr]

I've gotten placed in Fukuoka, and from what I've gathered, my lack of indication of a specific city means I'm prefectural. Though not anywhere near my preferences, I've been to Kyushu and have heard a lot of good things about the region, so I am extremely excited. I can't wait to hear more information and am conducting as much research as I can!

[Kbryder]

Chicago here, heading to Isumi-shi in Chiba. Anyone else near me??

...let the surf lessons begin! lol

[douglassie13]

Nara here I come! Just have one question....who's coming with me?! Looks like I'll be prefect ALT (Nara-ken, Nara-ken). It was my fist pick - SO EXCITED!

[smstack]

SF got placements!

[kemek]

I've gotten placed in Fukuoka, and from what I've gathered, my lack of indication of a specific city means I'm prefectural. Though not anywhere near my preferences, I've been to Kyushu and have heard a lot of good things about the region, so I am extremely excited. I can't wait to hear more information and am conducting as much research as I can!

Kyushu tends to get ignored in favor of Honshu but there's so much to do there. It's why I requested to go back there as a JET. You'll love it!