Chiba is a big place. Do you know where? Chiba is much like Kanagawa, a sub-prefecture of Tokyo (hope I don't offend too many people with that comment). Areas like Makuhari are new and attract businesses while more established areas like Ichikawa, Chiba, Soga and Funabashi are simiilar to Tokyo and very cosmopolitan. Western Chiba is mostly a suburb of Tokyo the same way southern Saitama and eastern Kanagawa prefectures are.

46nikole,

Are you really coming to Japan?

>>> I have been to Tokyo a couple of times and loved it! Wondering if Chiba is similiar or if anyone can suggest good websites to learn more about it. <<<

46nikole, which school in Chiba are you thinking of? Are you avoiding Tokyo because it’s expensive to live there?

Thank you for your replies!

I am planning on attending Josai University, but also have the opportunity to attend Kansai Gadia in Osaka at the Nakamiya Campus. I need to make a decision as to where to go, but I don't have any experience in either area. Any more thoughts? And yes I will definatley be going to Japan.

edokko,

The only reason I am avoiding Tokyo is becasue my school does not offer an exchange with any universities there. I only have three choices and have narrowed it down to the above two. I wish I could do an exchange to Tokyo but well it isn't as option at this point. Thank you for your post, 46nikole.

Your university is on the Chiba seaside, pretty far from Tokyo. You can probably see the area as you land approaching Narita Airport on a clear day. Yes, Chiba is similar but this area is quite remote and you're not going to see the hustle and bustle you see in Tokyo. It's basically a seaside area so no highrises, not much in the way of public transportation and convenience.

Route246,

Thank you for your comments, they are very helpful! Do you have any thoughts on Kansai Gadia in Osaka? Thanks again, 46nikole

46nikole,

1. Josai International University is in Togane City. It is near the Pacific coast of Chiba Peninsula. East side.

jiu.ac.jp/englishsite/aboutjiu/access.html

2. Kansai Gaidai is in Hirakata City. Hirakata City is between Kyoto and Osaka by Keihan Line.

kansaigaidai.ac.jp/asp/…05.html

kansaigaidai.ac.jp/asp/00_sub_contents/maps_…

3. As far as the location is concerned, Kansai Gaidai is near city area. You should calculate residence fee, food fee, entertainment fee, travel fee, textbooks and so on. Also faculty and programs are important. I cannot tell you which is better. If you do not expect much from 'campus', I would choose city-side.

46nikole:

Since I'm a stranger myself to any area in Chiba Prefecture except the NIshi- Funabashi area, I might be a bit partial to Kansai Gaidai. No that I hate Chiba, of course.

According to the site mentioned by nomono, Kansai Gaidai Nakamiya Camous is a 15-minute walk from "Gotenyama," the name of the nearest railroad station to that university. The railroad company is "Keihan Railway,." which runs from Osaka to Kyoto.

Gotenyama is in Osaka Prefecture; yet, it almost borders on Kyoto Prefecture. It is a well-known residential area. I hate classification, but it may perhaps be safe to say Gotenyama is a four-star stype.

New residential areas around Tokyo/Osaka have always been developed along railroad lines and people in Osaka/Tokyo can respectively picure what thay are like given the names of railroad stations. In my guess, Keihan (Osaka) is like Keio (Tokyo).

If you stay somewhere along Keihan, your weekends will probably mean going out either to Osaka or Kyoto. In either case, after about 30 minutes' train ride, you'll be in the dead center of a really big city.

I don' t know what you intend to major at, but if it's the Japanese language, the situation here might be a bit different than in Chiba.

Even if you like the idea of having a practical experience to communicate with people in the standard Japanese language, you might have a hard time trying to translate the dialect they speak into it.

But that's quite another problem. Maybe it's not worth bothering with for the time being.

Seems like I'm beckoning you to come to Osaka/Kyoto, but the decision is all up to you, of course.

Shot:

Thanks for your message, I have thought quite a bit about the whole dialect situation from Chiba to Osaka. And have wondered if it is a large concern, my Japaneses instructor at the moment doesn't seem to think so although she is from the area, so she carries quite a bias.

I do plan to major in Japanese and that was one of the many reasons I chose Josia over Kansai. Though I also chose it due to the international student population. For me, it is important that I do not cheat and always speak english. I am under the assumption that at Kansai the international population is largely english speaking.

But through all of this I still want to live somewhere that I really enjoy. I really like the city and the things that a city has to offer, I guess it is my decision ultimatley. But the insight you have provided is very helpful! Thank you for taking the time, I think though Josai seems a better choice with the whole dialect thing, I sway towards Kansia and that area. It seems to be more my sort of thing. thanks again,