General Questions about Tochigi-ken (and more specifically ashikaga) (long-term stay)

Stets · Oct 26, 2004, 13:50

how's Ashikaga-shi,Tochigi pref.?
I notice it's really small, "about 160,000 people". Would I be the only foriegner there? While I don't wanna be a gaijin-only-snob I think it would be nice to have some other foriegners nearby for an occasional good round of emotinal support and/or jap-bashing. What's it like to live there (if any of you out there have lived there)?

Second largest city in Tochigi? What's largest? Anything interesting to see there?
Hows transportation to get around the prefecture?
how about to get OUT of the prefecture? Am I gonna be dying to get out of the prefecture???
how's the local dialect?
Hows the living expenses?
basically if anybody's lived there or someplace just like it, what should I know before-hand??

My language ability is something like, I'm able to have conversations pretty well but sounds unnatural and I'm lacking alot of vocab..

I'm looking at college there, so I'm thinking more long term rather than toursity things. most likely 1-year there and then moving to Tokyo.

Thanks for the help,
Stets

brew · Oct 26, 2004, 16:10

roma-ji de kaite imasu.

konnichi wa. anata wa sitte iru kamo siremasenga,asikaga-si no koto wo syoukai siteiru [site] desu.

Ashikaga International Association
http://www.city.ashikaga.tochigi.jp/...aia/index.html

Ashikaga City Official HP
http://www.city.ashikaga.tochigi.jp/english/index.html

budd · Oct 27, 2004, 05:39

"I think it would be nice to have some other foriegners nearby for an occasional good round of emotinal support and/or ___-bashing."
please, PLEASE, don't go

stay here with the rest of them

Mike Cash · Oct 27, 2004, 17:22

If you don't mind a died-in-the-wool *****...I live in the next city over.

Ashikaga is alright. I don't get over there very much myself, other than to drive through it every now and then. With the JET program and the presence of eikaiwa mills, you needn't worry about being the only foreigner there.

misa.j · Nov 1, 2004, 02:18

Having my aunt & uncle living in Ashikaga, I vistited there frequently growing up.

Ashikaga is a nice little city, quiet and laid back, not much going on, like a clean small town.
There is a slight accent in people's speech which I would not consider as a strong dialect.
I have seen some English speaking foreigners at a restaurant once and am sure there are more.
"Ashikaga-gakkou", Japan's oldest school, is in the middle of the city, that has a statue of 'Kou-shi(Confucius)', is a great place to visit.
Living cost is not as expensive as big cities, but expect the rooms to be small.

Enjoy your stay!

Ewok85 · Nov 1, 2004, 18:18

You have to really be out there in the middle of nowhere to be the only foreigner....

Oct 26, 2004, 13:50	#1
Stets Cowboy Join Date: May 7, 2004 Location: Eugene, Oregon Age: 23 Posts: 26	General Questions about Tochigi-ken (and more specifically ashikaga) (long-term stay) how's Ashikaga-shi,Tochigi pref.? I notice it's really small, "about 160,000 people". Would I be the only foriegner there? While I don't wanna be a gaijin-only-snob I think it would be nice to have some other foriegners nearby for an occasional good round of emotinal support and/or jap-bashing. What's it like to live there (if any of you out there have lived there)? Second largest city in Tochigi? What's largest? Anything interesting to see there? Hows transportation to get around the prefecture? how about to get OUT of the prefecture? Am I gonna be dying to get out of the prefecture??? how's the local dialect? Hows the living expenses? basically if anybody's lived there or someplace just like it, what should I know before-hand?? My language ability is something like, I'm able to have conversations pretty well but sounds unnatural and I'm lacking alot of vocab.. I'm looking at college there, so I'm thinking more long term rather than toursity things. most likely 1-year there and then moving to Tokyo. Thanks for the help, Stets

Oct 27, 2004, 05:39	#3
budd __________ Join Date: Jul 10, 2003 Posts: 1,972	"I think it would be nice to have some other foriegners nearby for an occasional good round of emotinal support and/or ___-bashing." please, PLEASE, don't go stay here with the rest of them __________________ ttp://www.tcvb.or.jp/

Oct 27, 2004, 17:22	#4
Mike Cash Delusions of Adequacy Join Date: Mar 15, 2002 Location: Japan Posts: 5,417	If you don't mind a died-in-the-wool ***...I live in the next city over. Ashikaga is alright. I don't get over there very much myself, other than to drive through it every now and then. With the JET program and the presence of eikaiwa mills, you needn't worry about being the only foreigner there. __________________ Kiva: Loans That Change Lives**

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Oct 26, 2004, 16:10	#2
brew Regular Member Join Date: Oct 21, 2004 Location: sapporo Posts: 39	roma-ji de kaite imasu. konnichi wa. anata wa sitte iru kamo siremasenga,asikaga-si no koto wo syoukai siteiru [site] desu. Ashikaga International Association http://www.city.ashikaga.tochigi.jp/...aia/index.html Ashikaga City Official HP http://www.city.ashikaga.tochigi.jp/english/index.html

Nov 1, 2004, 02:18	#5
misa.j Regular Member Join Date: May 6, 2004 Location: NYS, US Age: 37 Posts: 1,165 Blog Entries: 4	Having my aunt & uncle living in Ashikaga, I vistited there frequently growing up. Ashikaga is a nice little city, quiet and laid back, not much going on, like a clean small town. There is a slight accent in people's speech which I would not consider as a strong dialect. I have seen some English speaking foreigners at a restaurant once and am sure there are more. "Ashikaga-gakkou", Japan's oldest school, is in the middle of the city, that has a statue of 'Kou-shi(Confucius)', is a great place to visit. Living cost is not as expensive as big cities, but expect the rooms to be small. Enjoy your stay!

Nov 1, 2004, 18:18	#6
Ewok85 Cute and Furry Join Date: Nov 14, 2003 Location: Saitama/Tokyo Age: 24 Posts: 2,343	You have to really be out there in the middle of nowhere to be the only foreigner....