Question #29. Will I need a car to teach ESL in Japan?

It depends on where you live. If you live in one of the big cities, Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, a better question might be why would you want a car?

Seriously…high speed parking lots, car parking the cost of an apartment rent.

The larger the city, the more often the trains run. Japan's public transportation is second to none in the world. You can go almost anywhere in Japan by train.

Add to that buses and you can go anywhere.

The smaller the city, the less frequently the trains run, but the more buses you have.

Small cities…think 100,000 or less, and the ESL instructor may lean to wanting/needing a car. Trains run more infreqently and teaching assignments can pop up in more isolated places.

If I were asked to teach ESL in Japan and was wondering about buying a car…I would first ask the size of the city…then decide.

I lived in Sanjo, population 80,000. I had a car.

I had friends who lived in Niigata city, population 460,000. They didn't have a car.