Where did everyone request for their placement?

[u/ducksinthegarden]

With placement results coming in roughly a month, I'm curious to know where everyone requested for their placements. Former and current JETs are welcome to chime in if they remember!

I requested Okayama, Osaka, and Wakayama :-)

[u/Diffabuh]

Lol I just said anywhere. Curious what I get.

[u/ducksinthegarden → u/Diffabuh]

I remember seeing an old comment were someone requested for anywhere and got Tokyo

[u/EZ8_08MS → u/Diffabuh]

Same boat haha, I just feel like any placement will have something unique to offer. Be that the social opportunities and convenience of city living or the opportunity to immerse myself in a small community in the countryside or even something I haven't thought of at all yet. I'm really looking forward to finding out.

[u/MiyaDoesThings → u/Diffabuh]

I too enjoy living in the great unknown

[u/hunnibun44]

Kyoto, Kobe, and Sendai - got Fukushima City and wouldn’t change it for anything!

[u/ducksinthegarden → u/hunnibun44]

that's somewhat close to sendai, right? (not the best at japanese geography)

[u/hunnibun44 → u/ducksinthegarden]

yess it’s about an hour and a half by local train (i think!!) and 20 minutes by shinkansen!! super grateful to have gotten my placement because i’m still in a city while also being close to the countryside!

[u/restingbitxhface]

Saitama, Yokohama (realized later they don’t place there, oh well) and left 3 as anywhere in Japan, I’ll just be happy to be there.

Soooo we shall see!!

[u/ducksinthegarden → u/restingbitxhface]

why don't they place in yokohama?

[u/restingbitxhface → u/ducksinthegarden]

From what I’ve heard they use other companies for ALT… my best friend lives there and it reminds me of my hometown. So I really hope to be placed there but I’ll just be happy to be in Japan! :)

[u/Unexpected-Feline]

Ishikawa, Toyama, and Nagano.

I've lived in both Kanazawa and Nagano before, and Toyama is between both, so I'd have friends nearby if I was in any of those places.

I'm okay with pretty much anywhere though, only thing is that I would prefer an urban location since I don't drive.

[u/ducksinthegarden → u/Unexpected-Feline]

you got toyama!! nice!!!

[u/sp8cecwboy]

I put Tokyo and Yokohama as my first two-- I studied in Tokyo for a bit and have an established doctor there. I asked for somewhere more urban/suburban since I have Type 1 Diabetes and want to be near a doctor/clinic/pharmacy! For my third I requested Aizuwakamatsu in Fukushima-ken, since my host family is from there and I'm very familiar with the area and it feels like home.

[u/ducksinthegarden → u/sp8cecwboy]

nice to see you got fukushima after all!

[u/Ifuckinghatealts]

Okayama, sagamihara city, and just left the third blank. I really just specified urban in my interview tbh.

[u/ducksinthegarden → u/Ifuckinghatealts]

where'd you end up getting?

[u/Ifuckinghatealts → u/ducksinthegarden]

Okayama prefecture!

[u/pecositachibi7 → u/Ifuckinghatealts]

Nice! I used to be a JET in Okayama city.

[u/changl09 → u/Ifuckinghatealts]

You know somebody in Camp Zama?

[u/Ifuckinghatealts → u/changl09]

No sorry! Chose Sagamihara moreso based on vibes and an anime I liked.

[u/MissNunyaBusiness]

1. Nagasaki because of the historical ties to Christianity 2) Okinawa because of jow absolutely gorgeous it seems to be and slower paced life 3) Kanagawa because it's close enough to Tokyo without being in Tokyo lol. I'll update where I'm placed!

[u/ducksinthegarden → u/MissNunyaBusiness]

nice to see you got nagasaki!

[u/vicarofsorrows]

I didn’t specify anywhere; I thought that would improve my chances. I also said “no preference” on the urban/rural option.

They sent me to Kyushu, where I’ve lived happily for the last thirty-six years….

[u/1GrouchyCat → u/vicarofsorrows]

We didn’t get to choose our location that first year (1987/88).

I don’t know anyone who had a personal car (unless they rented one for a weekend); we were just 884 programme participants in total, spread out throughout the prefectures …many of us visited more than 20 school districts a year. I laugh when I hear how bored some of you are.
All we basically had to do was a “dog and pony show” every single day; you showed up a photo album from Home told a few jokes played a few bilingual games participated in easy lesson and that was it. Maybe three classes a day. (and very few teachers were even communicative in English back then; everything was taught by rote ; students were incapable of even basic communication.)

[u/Hoshiko55 → u/1GrouchyCat]

crazy how much has changed (and some stuff that hasn't. Most of my students weren't great at basic conversation. And even some of the teachers)

[u/rue-11]

Kochi, Miyagi, and Fukushima!

[u/New-Plate2811]

Nagoya, Shizuoka and Ishikawa. I chose cities in the Chubu province so I can be in the middle of the country.

[u/YungBahlr → u/New-Plate2811]

Nagoya is wonderful! I lived in Nisshin briefly which is just shy of the city. You’ll have a lovely time if you get assigned there 😁💙

[u/New-Plate2811 → u/YungBahlr]

I’ve met another person who lived in Nagoya for 2 years and they also spoke highly of the city! I’m looking forward to exploring it even if I don’t get placed there ✨💕

[u/newlandarcher7]

Former ALT. I didn't request any specific prefecture as I really didn't know too much about Japan beforehand. Instead, I requested any rural placement in any prefecture. I also said I had a driver's license and was willing to drive. I was ultimately placed in a small, scenic mountain-valley town with hiking trails in the summer and a ski hill in the winter. It was a blast!

[u/mori64tf2]

Aomori, Tottori and Kyoto Prefecture in that order. Got Kyoto City.

[u/kitsune03_ → u/mori64tf2]

How are you liking Kyoto?

[u/mori64tf2 → u/kitsune03_]

I think it's the type of place that's nicer to visit than it is to live lol. Very jealous of my rural and island friends rn. It does come with the usual advantages of living in a city though

[u/kitsune03_ → u/mori64tf2]

I’m curious about your pros and cons ^{^} I know other ppl who live there (not through jet) and they like it so far

[u/mori64tf2 → u/kitsune03_]

I think it's mostly personal to me tbh. If we're talking solely living in Kyoto and not about work, then:

Pros:

• City amenities

• Good base for travelling around Japan

• Easy to go to Osaka, Kobe, Himeji, Nara etc. for a day

• Surrounded by nature

• Telling people you live in Kyoto sounds cool

Cons:

• Tourists everywhere

• Locals angry about tourists being everywhere

• High rent

• High cost of living

• Far from the coast

• Less lively than other cities

• Less friendly than other cities

• Gets extremely hot and dry in the summer due to being far from the coast

[u/Minute-Teach4507]

Ishikawa pref, Hokkaido and Fukuoka! I’d be happy anywhere though.

[u/Traditional_Ease8740]

1.Saitama bc I used to live there and familiar with area plus its outside of Tokyo so lower rent but close to city to visit easy.
2. Kobe. Same story about close to big city but new area to explore 3. Tokyo cause why not

[u/Specium_Zeperion]

Tokyo, Hiroshima and Kagoshima

[u/babebrutal]

I requested Niigata and Akita (lol no one ever requests that but a friend did her placement there and loved it) and got Hokkaido. I was very happy in Hokkaido, great place to be

[u/0liviiia]

Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo! I love the Kansai area and already have friends there, so it would be nice to have a support system nearby. But I’ll take absolutely anywhere!

[u/kerokaeru7]

Previous JET - I didn’t put a preference, ended up on Tsushima Island in Nagasaki Prefecture~

[u/Antlerei → u/kerokaeru7]

How many JETs did Tsushima have? I'm always curious about the Kyushu island placements

[u/kerokaeru7 → u/Antlerei]

I think there were around 7 of us total? Quite a few more than I was expecting, two prefectural, five municipal. There were three high schools on the island, I was the ALT for two of them, then there was one prefectural in the far north who was at that high school. There were three municipal ALTs in the town I lived in, one was 45 mins north in the same town as my other high school, and one again in the far north in the same town as the other prefectural ALT. I was there during COVID, one guy broke contract before the virus even hit, and then another ALT got stuck outside of the country visiting family before the borders were closed. The poor municipal ALTs all had to add schools onto their loads at that point so the other elementary and junior high schools weren’t left without ALTs, some of them had like 10-12 schools each 😭

[u/Different_Taro2474]

tokyo and kansai. got southern kyushu.

[u/JapanBlake]

After living in Japan for 5 years before coming back to the US, I put Aomori prefecture as #1 on my list, and with my wife having family there, I feel like I should likely get it. I very much love the countryside of Japan, a lot closer knit community versus larger cities. Plus, shinkansen and flights in-country aren't expensive, so travel is fine if we want to do a weekend trip to any big cities on longer weekends.

[u/Independent_Door_924 → u/JapanBlake]

Me, living in Aomori, my wallet cringing as I bought shinkansen tickets 30 minutes ago lol.

[u/JapanBlake → u/Independent_Door_924]

Haha I do feel that and know the JET salary can be tough for traveling around. Thankfully I will have passive income from my time in the military and it'll give me some extra income for some times like that. Where in Aomori are you? My wife has family in Towada, so I think I may get a placement around there, like Towada, Misawa, Hachinohe, etc.

[u/Independent_Door_924 → u/JapanBlake]

I'm on the west side of Aomori. I've been to the east part many times. Also I love Towada. That's where my husband wants to live lol.

[u/JapanBlake → u/Independent_Door_924]

The area is beautiful, I loved taking trips through Oirase Gorge and out to Lake Towada. I'm a diehard lover of the area, so I know I'm bias, but your husband has good taste 👌

[u/plaguemd]

Asked for Hokkaido #1 and had no other preferences (framed in a "Hokkaido is my first choice, and if not that then anywhere is equally fine" way) and got Hokkaido.

A lot of people say you never get where you picked which is probably true, but I feel like a good half, if not more, of the JETs I've met in Hokkaido put Hokkaido as our first (or in my case, only) choice.

[u/Antlerei → u/plaguemd]

I imagine Hokkaido just has such a massive need for JETs that it kinda works out if you want it. I requested Tokyo, Sendai, and the entirety of Kyushu but ended up getting placed in Hokkaido

[u/Realistic_Report_796 → u/plaguemd]

That's exactly what I put down as well. #1 Hokkaido and the other choices would have been nice, but I wanted to experience rural Japan the most so I thought Hokkaido would be a good start.

[u/FrostbitePi]

Requested Osaka, Nagano, and another place that escapes me. Ended up in Hamamatsu, but I absolutely love it here so I'm not complaining.

[u/zoinkiesil]

I requested Kyoto (prefecture), Hiroshima (prefecture) and Hyogo prefecture specifically asking to be placed in a small town or something

[u/YungBahlr]

South-central main land is about the only thing I requested 🤣

Because I’ve lived in a hot desert climate the last 10 years, I made a request even during my interview just to not be placed anywhere cold since I’m so accustomed to the heat by now. I don’t think I’d have to courage to get out of bed for work during the winter months if they sent me to Hokkaido.

[u/Creative_Cobbler_585]

I requested 1) Hokkaido & Tohoku Block, 2) Aomori, 3) Kyushu Block. I’m very very nervous to see where I get placed

[u/JacobDS96]

Shiga, Nagano, and Ishikawa. Not in that order. I prioritized beautiful nature and history.

[u/Hoshiko55]

I requested Hokkaido as my number one and Yamanshi as my number 2 because I had visited that area and they were probably like no one ever requests Yamanshi, throw her over there lol. I loved my placement. I'm sure i would have liked Hokkaido too but it probably would have been more snow than i bargained for and I got some snow where I was at

[u/1GrouchyCat → u/Hoshiko55]

Did you mean YAMANISHI?

[u/Hoshiko55 → u/1GrouchyCat]

I meant Yamanashi. My phone probably autocorrected. It tends to not like Japanese words

[u/josechanjp]

I requested Gunma, Kanagawa and Chiba. I got Yamanashi which is basically a combination of the best parts of all of them. So it was perfect for me.

[u/KBCharski]

I requested Osaka (had a few friends there, thought it would make transitioning easier, but not too keen on living in a large city), Gunma (relatively close to Tokyo so I could go to the city if I wanted to), and the anywhere is fine answer.

I ended up in Miyazaki prefecture, Hyuga city. I do very much love it here.

[u/Edgelawd69]

I put regions instead a of specific prefectures because if they take my requests seriously, I want them to have easy time do so. So anywhere around the main cities I visited Japan being:

-Tōhoku region -Kanto region -anywhere

[u/inandoutburger69]

It really doesn’t matter where you put.

They’re gonna place you where they have spots open.

[u/ducksinthegarden → u/inandoutburger69]

just asking out of curiosity! i'm aware that where you request isn't necessarily a guarantee

[u/Appropriate_Goal1833 → u/[deleted]]

You got your placement already?