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[eriatarka]

Greetings all -

Looks like the eikaiwa gods are sending me to Kawasaki City. In 2 months. There isn't a substantial amount of net-talk about this place, and what little there is sounds overwhelmingly bleak. 1.3 million people, ~30 minutes by train to downtown Tokyo, notable for its foreign population (highest percentage of Koreans and several others). This sounds nice at a glance, except that I mostly read it's a quasi-depressing residential/industrial shithole. Thoughts, comments, concerns, warnings, personal attacks? Should I be absolutely thrilled to have even gotten this close to Tokyo, my location preference? Will Roppongi-prowling J-girls not give me the time of day when I mention my apartment is in this city?

Love the blog and forum btw, I've been lurking for a little while.

[Samurai_Jerk]

I mostly read it's a quasi-depressing residential/industrial shithole.

Don't worry. That describes most of urban Japan.

[Taro Toporific]

[Greji]

[Takechanpoo]

I am reminded of steel industry when it comes to Kawasaki.
So to speak, Kawasaki is Cleveland in Japan.

[American Oyaji]

Take,
In the U.S., when you think of the steel industry, everyone thinks of Pittsburgh.

[Mulboyne]

...although if anyone thinks of steel these days, they ought to think of India.

Club Citta in Kawasaki is a pretty decent venue for bands. Most overseas acts will tend to play the centre of Tokyo but a few still make it down to Kawasaki. There's a good range of local bands playing there and quite a few all-nighters.

You might be 30 minutes from Shibuya in Tokyo but you're also only 7 minutes from Yokohama which has its own attractions so you could find yourself taking the train in the opposite direction more often than not.

[eriatarka]

Thanks for the feedback and recommendations. Club Citta sounds pretty awesome. Didn't think there would be much of a music scene in the neighborhood. Being from NYC and an avid showgoer, I could see it turning into a haunt of mine. This just may convince me to smuggle along my sweet 1978 Gretsch electric guitar. I'm sure the eikaiwa bosses meeting me at Narita would be thrilled to see that with my luggage when I show up...

I always thought Cincinnati was the burned-out steel industry city. That and Detroit. Also, I read all about the Iron Penis Lord festival before posting here. Not because I really care about phalluses other than my own - it's mentioned in Wikitravel's entry for Kawasaki. Hey, if it's a local excuse to drink a lot while weird things are going on, I'm there next April.

[Doctor Stop]

Kawasaki ranges from shiny and modern, run-down filthy industrial to suburban and even rural. Getting to Tokyo, Yokohama, or even to Kawasaki Station itself may be easy or a pain in the ass depending on where you'll be living and/or working. Do you have a train station name?

[eriatarka]

I don't know yet - they only told me Kawasaki ward, so I'm assuming their school is by that major train station. As for exactly where my LeoPalace apt will be, that remains to be seen, would be nice if it's nearby in the same ward though. I'll keep you updated...

[emperor]

I am reminded of steel industry when it comes to Kawasaki.
So to speak, Kawasaki is Cleveland in Japan.

You're thinking of steaming poop that goes on the chest