#kawanehoncho

[dummy-kanji]

Senzu Station por guen-k Por Flickr: 千頭駅

[work-and-life-in-shizuoka]

INTERVIEW_18

JU YEONGJUN

Countries & Regions / South Korea

1. JOB DESCRIPTION

I have lived in Shizuoka Prefecture for 10 years. When I moved to Japan, I only knew a few Japanese words. So I found my first job as a construction worker through Hello Work, the Japanese employment security office. After that, I worked for a town development organization for 6 years with a local connection. Since then, I have been running my own private business, including supporting tourism to South Korea inbound and outbound, and marketing for online shopping.

2. CHARMS OF SHIZUOKA

Shizuoka Prefecture has both mountains and the sea, and offers a variety of foods such   as vegetables, meat, and seafood, but in my case, rice is the best. The prefecture is also famous for Japanese green tea, and Kawanehoncho town, where I live, is especially famous for its tea, so I always miss Shizuoka green tea when I visit other prefectures.

Kawanehoncho Town has a stunningly wonderful nature where recently lots of travelers from other prefectures come.  One of my favorite destination is Oku-oi Kojo Station (a station on a dam lake).  There is nothing but mountains, the lake, red railway bridges and hikers.  By facing the great nature, you are sure to forget unpleasant things, escape from your busy life, and rediscover yourself. The rich nature and the many hot springs also heal me. Each area in Shizuoka Prefecture has a variety of hot springs. Since Shizuoka is located between Tokyo and Osaka, it is easy to travel by Shinkansen (bullet trains) or expressways. It takes about one hour from Shizuoka Station to Tokyo and two hours to Osaka by Shinkansen.

3. LIVING ENVIRONMENT IN SHIZUOKA : HOUSING

I came to Japan after marrying a Japanese woman, so I had no trouble finding a house. However, most of the immigrants from abroad that I know live in dormitories or apartments provided by their companies, so it is best to consult with the company instead of trying to find one on your own. If you are a foreign national, it would be difficult to sign a contract, so I recommend that you ask the company or agency for assistance.  It happens not only in Shizuoka but all over Japan. I hope you find a good assistance when you start your life in Japan!!

Sometimes, I dare say, local regions like Shizuoka is difficult to find information about jobs and daily lives. However, with the recent increase in information for foreigners, such as this article, and real information of experiences of foreign residents, such as blogs and SNS, if you continue your efforts to find information, your efforts will be rewarded and all will be well!

4. LIVING ENVIRONMENT IN SHIZUOKA : NO INCONVENIENCE?

I live in a countryside, so a car is essential. Compared to other countries, driving schools in Japan are quite expensive and you will be required to study hard to learn Japanese traffic rules for safety drive.  My advice is that if you are young and do not have a driver's license, it is one of the ways to get it in your home country and practice driving before coming to Japan to get your license. Not to mention, please drive safely in Japan. Incidentally, some companies may provide transportation or a dormitory near the office. In that case, there is no need to rush to get it.

As for shopping, I am glad that QR payment Apps such as PayPay have been increased and made it more convenient. For foreigners, it is difficult to open a bank account or credit card and before those technologies became popular, I had to ask my wife whenever I wanted to buy something online.  We can buy anything online, so even if living in the countryside, I don't have much trouble with shopping.

5. MESSAGES

It depends on what kind of lifestyle you desire, but in genrral, Shizuoka is the most livable region in Japan. Though Kawanehoncho, where I live, is in the countryside, I honestly say that I have found my life here and am fully content with my wife and a child. Life here is not so inconvenient in terms of work, shopping, schools, doctors, etc., but is always embraced by beautiful nature, the ocean with fresh seafood, and needless to say, Mt.Fuji!　My dream for the future is to make my business bigger and to revitalize this area so that it is crowded with many tourists!

[farmstayjapan]

While waiting for the trolley train at Shin Kanaya station, an order of cafe latte will bring you a cute surprise. The trolley train (Abt System Trains) itself goes over the river you get a full sight of Nagashima dam. Getting off at Sessokyo Onsen station will give you a nice hike over 8 bridges. What a lovely way to spend a day! #Kawanehoncho, Shizuoka prefecture #suspensionbridge #Japancountryside #shizuoka #sessokyo #新金谷 https://www.instagram.com/p/B2TPjnSnn1M/?igshid=gg7z8l4k48cx

[co4no]

#千頭駅 前の #ジャンボ串焼き in March 2022 #ジャンボ串焼 #豚ねぎま #大井川鉄道 #大井川鐡道 #ローカル線 #静岡県 #静岡 #榛原郡 #川根本町 #kawanehoncho #co4noゆるキャンΔ聖地巡礼記録 #聖地巡礼 #ゆるキャン聖地巡礼 #ゆるキャンΔ聖地巡礼 #ゆるキャン #ゆるキャンΔ #yurucamp #laidbackcamp #laidback_camp (at 千頭駅) https://www.instagram.com/p/CeFGwJPBVS-/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[sazanami-ayame]

【大井川ダム鉄旅】長島ダムの非常用洪水吐のゲートをアップで。 2017.6.5 EOS M5 + EF-M18-150mm F3.5-6.3 IS STM

[pix4japan]

Unmanned Remote Train Station in Shizuoka Mountains of Japan

Location: Lake Sesso, Kawanehoncho Town, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan Timestamp: 9:42, 9:43, and 9:45 on August 23, 2023 Elevation: 495.7 m

Most visitors reach Okuoi-Kojo Station by train, but since I traveled with my dog, we drove to the nearby Okuoi-Koji Station Parking Lot. From the parking lot, we followed the signs and trail uphill and then descended on the other side. We crossed the Okuoi Rainbow Railway Bridge using the pedestrian walkway alongside the tracks.

The defining characteristic of Okuoi-Kojo Station lies in its enduring simplicity. The station has remained largely unchanged for the past 33 years, offering visitors a nostalgic journey back in time, away from the glitz and glamor of Tokyo's modern train stations.

① Captured amidst the rain, my faithful border collie takes a well-deserved break. (And yes, I made sure to thoroughly wipe down the bench after her rest!)

② A rain puddle reflects the station signboard: “Okuoi-Kojo Station.” “Okuoi” is the name of the narrow river valley that was submerged to create Sesso Lake, while “kojo” means “above the lake.”

③ Standing at the platform's end, facing northeast, we have a view of the railway as it disappears into a tunnel. Along the right side of the tracks is the narrow pedestrian path that guides us to the opposite side of the lake and back to the parking lot.

For additional Google Maps links and a wealth of helpful references to enhance your understanding of this location, I encourage you to explore the Pix4Japan blog (https://www.pix4japan.com/blog/20230823-lake-sesso). There, you'll discover a comprehensive guide, complete with all the essential details for accessing this destination, along with source references to enrich your knowledge further.

Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 ① 28 mm ISO 400 for 1/125 sec. at ƒ/11 ② 31 mm ISO 400 for 1/125 sec. at ƒ/9.0 ③ 28 mm ISO 400 for 1/125 sec. at ƒ/9.0

[co4no]

#千頭駅 in March 2022 #大井川鉄道 #大井川鐡道 #ローカル線 #静岡県 #静岡 #榛原郡 #川根本町 #kawanehoncho #co4noゆるキャンΔ聖地巡礼記録 #聖地巡礼 #ゆるキャン聖地巡礼 #ゆるキャンΔ聖地巡礼 #ゆるキャン #ゆるキャンΔ #yurucamp #laidbackcamp #laidback_camp (千頭駅) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cd1uSx0BxoA/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[co4no]

#千頭駅 in March 2022 #大井川鉄道 #大井川鐡道 #ローカル線 #静岡県 #静岡 #榛原郡 #川根本町 #kawanehoncho #co4noゆるキャンΔ聖地巡礼記録 #聖地巡礼 #ゆるキャン聖地巡礼 #ゆるキャンΔ聖地巡礼 #ゆるキャン #ゆるキャンΔ #yurucamp #laidbackcamp #laidback_camp (千頭駅) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cd1t-5TBmtN/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[co4no]

車窓からの #長島ダム in March 2022 #接岨湖 #大井川鉄道 #大井川鐡道 #井川線 #ローカル線 #静岡県 #静岡 #榛原郡 #川根本町 #kawanehoncho #co4noゆるキャンΔ聖地巡礼記録 #聖地巡礼 #ゆるキャン聖地巡礼 #ゆるキャンΔ聖地巡礼 #ゆるキャン #ゆるキャンΔ #yurucamp #laidbackcamp #laidback_camp (at 長島ダム) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cdke_ScJWaf/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[co4no]

車窓からの #長島ダム と 近所の #アプトいちしろキャンプ場 in March 2022 #接岨湖 #大井川鉄道 #大井川鐡道 #井川線 #ローカル線 #静岡県 #静岡 #榛原郡 #川根本町 #kawanehoncho #co4noゆるキャンΔ聖地巡礼記録 #聖地巡礼 #ゆるキャン聖地巡礼 #ゆるキャンΔ聖地巡礼 #ゆるキャン #ゆるキャンΔ #yurucamp #laidbackcamp #laidback_camp (at 長島ダム) https://www.instagram.com/p/CdjtwfJheTS/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[co4no]

#千頭駅 （せんずえき） SLがちょうど来てた 訪問日：2020(令和2)年10月22日 #大井川鉄道 #大井川鐵道 #大井川鐡道 #静岡県 #川根本町 #川根本 #kawanehon #kawanehoncho #co4noゆるキャンΔ聖地巡礼記録 #聖地巡礼 #ゆるキャン聖地巡礼 #ゆるキャンΔ聖地巡礼 #ゆるキャン #ゆるキャンΔ #yurucamp #laidbackcamp #laidback_camp https://www.instagram.com/p/CI4M46HlPCw/?igshid=o0c73i9rasgb

[co4no]

#千頭駅 からほど近い #cafeうえまる ゆるキャン△にも掲載された 噂の #ダムカレー のお店 意外と食券制だった 食券機の裏に 見覚えのあるステッカーが… 火曜日と水曜日は定休日なので注意 訪問日：2020(令和2)年10月22日 #うえまる #長島ダムカレー #静岡県 #川根本町 #川根本 #kawanehon #kawanehoncho #co4noゆるキャンΔ聖地巡礼記録 #聖地巡礼 #ゆるキャン聖地巡礼 #ゆるキャンΔ聖地巡礼 #ゆるキャン #ゆるキャンΔ #yurucamp #laidbackcamp #laidback_camp (cafe うえまる 千頭駅前店) https://www.instagram.com/p/CIwu8KXl-QK/?igshid=ylzt2nn5qja1

[co4no]

#アプトいちしろキャンプ場 管理人は不在のようだ… 訪問日：2020(令和2)年10月22日 #静岡県 #川根本町 #川根本 #kawanehon #kawanehoncho #co4noゆるキャンΔ聖地巡礼記録 #聖地巡礼 #ゆるキャン聖地巡礼 #ゆるキャンΔ聖地巡礼 #ゆるキャン #ゆるキャンΔ #yurucamp #laidbackcamp #laidback_camp (アプトいちしろキャンプ場) https://www.instagram.com/p/CIrdWmDlDsV/?igshid=kca30j1euvpg

[co4no]

#アプトいちしろ駅 からキャンプ場へ通ずる #ミステリートンネル ミステリー満載だった… 中は真っ暗 足元は砂利 スマホのライトは気休めにしかならなかった… （駅で懐中電灯を貸し出しているらしい） 訪問日：2020(令和2)年10月22日 #静岡県 #川根本町 #川根本 #kawanehon #kawanehoncho #co4noゆるキャンΔ聖地巡礼記録 #聖地巡礼 #ゆるキャン聖地巡礼 #ゆるキャンΔ聖地巡礼 #ゆるキャン #ゆるキャンΔ #yurucamp #laidbackcamp #laidback_camp (ミステリートンネル) https://www.instagram.com/p/CInI0N-Fc0o/?igshid=fnypmbvro75f

[co4no]

#アプトいちしろ駅 にほど近い #市代吊橋 かつては鉄道橋だったという… 訪問日：2020(令和2)年10月22日 #吊橋 #吊り橋 #suspensionbridge #静岡県 #川根本町 #川根本 #kawanehon #kawanehoncho #co4noゆるキャンΔ聖地巡礼記録 #聖地巡礼 #ゆるキャン聖地巡礼 #ゆるキャンΔ聖地巡礼 #ゆるキャン #ゆるキャンΔ #yurucamp #laidbackcamp #laidback_camp (アプトいちしろ駅) https://www.instagram.com/p/CInIJNCFEe4/?igshid=ejx3m4ld4f4g

[co4no]

#長島ダム駅 から #アプトいちしろ駅 へ 車窓から #長島ダム が一望 訪問日：2020(令和2)年10月22日 #大井川鉄道 #大井川鐵道 #大井川鐡道 #静岡県 #川根本町 #川根本 #kawanehon #kawanehoncho #co4noゆるキャンΔ聖地巡礼記録 #聖地巡礼 #ゆるキャン聖地巡礼 #ゆるキャンΔ聖地巡礼 #ゆるキャン #ゆるキャンΔ #yurucamp #laidbackcamp #laidback_camp (長島ダム駅) https://www.instagram.com/p/CInGIv1lCxS/?igshid=n5ajeexaketa