Advantages and Disadvantages of Living in the City

One thing I felt when I lived in the 23 wards of Tokyo was,, to say the least, convenience. In particular, there are many convenience stores and supermarkets. There is a great variety of stores in particular, with many convenience stores and supermarkets. There are also many foreign staff, and in many cases, you can get assistance from a foreigner when shopping, such as at a cell phone store. The following is a summary of the advantages and disadvantages of living in big cities for foreigners.

Advantages of Living in a City

• There are many employment and part-time jobs available.
• Many workplaces are proactive in hiring foreigners.
• High level of salary.
• Many train/bus routes and numbers of trains/buses
• Close to large airports, convenient for returning home or traveling.
• Many entertainment facilities, restaurants, and retail stores. It is also more accommodating for foreigners.
• Many foreigners live in the area, so it is easy to find friends from the same country.

Disadvantages of Living in a City

• Commuting to work and school by crowded trains is more difficult than one might imagine.
• High cost of living (especially for rent, tuition, fresh food, etc.)
• The air is polluted by heavy traffic and emissions from cars.
• It is difficult to find space to grow vegetables.
• Relationships are light and there is little “mutual support” mentality.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Living in a Rural Area

I lived in Tokyo, then Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture, and now live in Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture. In  regional cities like Himeji, rent is cheaper than in Tokyo and other major cities. When I was looking for a job in Himeji several years ago, it was difficult to find a job I liked, but recently there are more work opportunities for foreigners in the local area.

Advantages of Living in Rural Areas

• The cost of living is low. Compared to large cities, rent, tuition, fresh food, etc. are especially cheaper.
• Less stress from crowds, noise, and rush hour.
• The air is clean and healthy.
• Many people grow vegetables on their own land. In some cases, even apartment residents can use small fields.
• Some areas have a strong community of foreigners from different countries.
• People are warm and supportive of each other.

Disadvantages of Living in Rural Areas

• There are few train and bus routes and frequency. In some cases, there are only one or two trains per hour outside of urban areas.
• There are areas where there are no trains or buses, and you need a car to get around. In order to obtain a driver’s license, a Japanese level of JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) N2 is required.
• There are few entertainment facilities, restaurants, retail stores, etc.

Summary

The city and the countryside each have their own advantages. Recently, there are more jobs for foreigners in rural areas, and it is also possible to study in a rural area and find a job in the city. Choose a region to live in based on your lifestyle, future goals, and the balance between income (money sent from home and working part-time) and expenses (housing costs, tuition fees, etc.).

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Let’s get to know the regions of Japan!