#LIVING IN JAPAN AS A FOREIGNER ZIP#
Perhaps, it is this time-capsule nature of the inaka that often lies less than an hour by train from major cities that people look for when they give up the metro buzz and zip back to that far and ancient time when bamboo and wood proverbially framed the Japanese’ lives daily instead of the ubiquitous masonry and steel in many towns and cities. The green landscapes, spacious roads, and pollution-free environment can soothe the visitor’s frayed nerves and provide a memorable place for reinvigorating one’s soul and mind in a timeless dream-like world.Īlthough the things we have described may not suit many people’s idea of a tour jump or a much-needed adventure, the inaka does appeal to those who want to savor cultural immersion away from the city.
While Tokyo and the crowded cities may offer a vibrant milieu for modern Japanese culture and life, the inaka serves a more slow-paced and refreshing emotional, if not spiritual, experience for foreigners. It may be easier to make friends than in the city! This all comes from the hospitable nature of most Asian people who not only show extreme courtesy and politeness to strangers, especially to foreigners coming to live in their corner of inaka but to also seek to establish friendships and express keen interest in visitors’ lives. People are warmer and friendlier, although they may impose on your privacy without an announcement. Doing what people do there, like planting veggies or raising animals, might be a good option otherwise, learn to paint or make potteries as a hobby or craft. Unless you work at home using your computer to do online business or have a job in the city where you commute regularly, living in the inaka full-time can be a bit challenging as there may not be much going on, except the occasional feasts, burials and local festivals. You may wake up with milk, fruits, veggies and other gifts at your doorsteps. While it may make you feel quite flattered or perhaps uncomfortable at times, it does have its perks.
You will be constantly observed and talked about by your neighbors – and that does not refer to the immediate people living around you but also to many others who live down the road and, perhaps, their relatives in other prefectures.
#LIVING IN JAPAN AS A FOREIGNER PLUS#
But the plus side is that it offers the opportunity to learn Japanese faster, as you will literally be forced to speak, listen and understand to communicate. What to do? Well, other than learning the language itself, the only other option is to hire an interpreter, which is rather out of the question for most people. Most inaka residents do not speak English, although they may sometimes get the meaning of what you say at times. So what makes inaka unique? Here are some examples and common reactions to such traits:Īs a foreigner, you may feel lost and lonely. The word generally applies to any area of the 47 prefectures in Japan that offers visitors serene living in a rural setting. While it can refer to any place similar to one’s own rural or provincial setting, inaka has other rustic features and quaint, if not surprising, offerings to foreigners who decide to visit Japan and reside there. Inaka means countryside, or anything that is outside of Tokyo and other big cities in Japan. Referred to as inaka, rural Japan offers many wonders that may give a lasting experience for a foreigner. Until this day, many people still prefer to live a peaceful life in the countryside. The complete experience of the cultural and natural wonders in Japan is not limited to the country’s megacities.
0 kommentar(er)
