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Why did you apply for the JET program?<\/b><\/p>\n
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I will spare all of you the boredom of the generic answers people usually say. Ultimately, I wanted\/needed a drastic change in my life. Since I was already studying Japanese and had friends living in Japan, JET seemed like one of the best ways for me to change environments. Also, it was a good opportunity to try out teaching as a potential career.<\/p>\n
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How did you end up in your prefecture? Was it a preference of yours?<\/b><\/p>\n
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Tochigi was not a preference of mine, but it was pretty close to the area I wanted to be in. Using just the local lines, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m only 1.5 hours from Tokyo, so I can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t really complain. As for how I ended up here\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6your guess is as good as mine.<\/p>\n
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What has been your favorite memory in your prefecture so far?<\/b><\/p>\n
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That\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s hard to say. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve made some great memories with all sorts of people. However, my weekend Bonenkai trip in Kinugawa Onsen was quite an experience. I might have seen more naked coworkers than I wanted to, but sitting in an outdoor onsen during a snowfall was really beautiful. Following that, it was pretty sweet watching my coworkers go crazy at the hotel dinner party.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n Definitely fall. Nikko and the surrounding area have beautiful scenery during the color changing season. Also, in November there is an awesome wine festival hosted at the Coco Winery in Ashikaga city. Each attendee gets a bottle of wine after paying an entrance fee, and that is pretty much a guarantee to have a good time.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n What are your \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Must Dos\u00e2\u20ac\u009d for visiting JETs?<\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Besides great nature, Nikko has the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Toshogu Shrine. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s the resting place of the Tokugawa shogunate founder, Tokugawa Ieyasu. For the mountain hikers, Mt. Nantai is also in Nikko and provides a great day hike. If you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re an onsen-maniac, then I recommend Kinugawa Onsen. Finally,if you have time, you should stop by Dale Brown\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s place. He\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a 2nd<\/sup> year JET as well, and apparently\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6well you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll just have to go there and see for yourself.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n What do you feel is unique to your prefecture, something JETs can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t find anywhere else?<\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n I apologize for being repetitive, but Nikko is the selling point of my prefecture. However, if you like shoyu-style ramen, Sanno City is famous for that stuff. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s pretty damn good. Utsunomiya is the capital of Tochigi and is known for its gyoza. From what I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m told, there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a monkey bar \u00e2\u20ac\u201c a drinking establishment with real monkeys inside \u00e2\u20ac\u201c in Utsunomiya as well. I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t think the monkeys actually serve you drinks though\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6or do they?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n![\"20141019_125505\"](\"http:\/\/www.hyogoajet.net\/hyogotimes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/20141019_125505.jpg\")
<\/a>Is there a \u00e2\u20ac\u0153best\u00e2\u20ac\u009d time to visit your prefecture?<\/b><\/p>\n