My Time in Matsumoto (Guest's Blog)
>> Sign guestbook <<The guestbook has 348 messages
138
2009/4/24
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RE Help Moving to Matsumoto |
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Elizabeth Kelsey
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Milton, I would love to chat! Just email me! I am on Skype as well! I was contacted by Jim George ( who has been very kind) and we are now looking to move withing May. I'm working out getting a guarantor, but I know some companies do it, so we'll see. We are probably coming out on the working holiday visa until we get a sponsor. We're really winging it, but we have some savings, so it should help! I look forward to chatting with you, and appreciate your help ( and anyone else's!) Cheers again, Elizabeth 
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137
2009/4/20
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Looking for Someone from Matsumoto |
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Monica
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Hi, My name´s Monica and I´m from Mar del Plata, Argentina. In January 1993 I´ve been to London and met Koji Nakamoto. We were classmates at Stanton School of English. I´d like to get in touch with him. Does anybody know who he is or/and how to contact him? Thanks in advance, Mónica
Note of webmaster:
Are you talking about a comedian by that name???
Do you have any more details? We are a little bigger than a village here, 250,000 people.  A Club, an interest a sport or such. A post code, a phone number, a school name. I take it he came from Matsumoto? Milton
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136
2009/4/17
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RELOCATING TO MATSUMOTO |
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Elizabeth Kelsey
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Milton, Thank you so much for your insight! I really appreciate you taking the time to help me!:) Interac was not an option, as the position offered was incredibly demanding, esp for someone with kids; since he was new, the job they offered was from about 9 to 7, five days a week, and I need help with our little one at home! Luckily, we are moving with savings, so we will have enough cash, and if we can tutor privately, then that would be a perfect supplement. The issue is with regards to renewing our visa at the end of the working holiday visa, and I think that would require us finding an employer to then get a work visa. Any thoughts? We sadly don't speak Japanese too well, but that will only be a temporary problem, save the kanji, which I'm sure will be a permanent issue! :) Do you happen to know of any realestate/apartment rental websites for the area that are in English? Yeah, we have a lot to do and it seems like a challenge, but I miss living in Asia so much and will not have my daughter raised here! i would love to keep in touch with you:) My email is: elizabethashleykelsey@hotmail.com If you hear about any private schools looking for someone, or any such opportunities, I would really appreciate it! I def owe you some good sashimi! Elizabeth 
Note of webmaster:
I'd best talk to you on a phone, (They say a Picture is worth a thousand words.. and ten words spoken are worth a hundred typed.
I prefer to speak to you than type endlessly soooo....) I will e-mail you for your phone number. Would you like me to remove your e-mail from the Guest Blog or would you like to leave it there for others help? Let me know. I will e-mail you to get your phone number and please don't worry about the cost... it is dirt cheap to the US and Canada on Skype...and I am happy to cop that. Remember I can always hang up if I don't like you! (Most people don't take me up on this....to their loss I think).Hear from you soon....... for some more effective conversation... Milton
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135
2009/4/16
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DESPERATELY TRYING TO RELOCATE TO MATSUMOTO |
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Elizabeth kelsey
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SOMEONE HELP! My husband and I are having problems relocating to Japan, and are in need of help! I am a Brit, and he is Canadian American ( both pasports). We have been hosting and teaching ESL to Japanese exchange students for five years, and my husband loves teaching so much that he wants to continue to do so in Japan, but ideally either privately or for a company that allows him to work part time 9 we have a one year old that needs our attention!). Matsumoto ( as well as Nagano and Gunma) is so beautiful and serene, and would allow us to totally immerse ourselves into the japanese culture and environment. We will be moving permanently, but have no contacts in Matsumoto. He has been accepted at Interac, but turned it down because the hours were horrific. He has a BA, and is finishing the TEFL. If anyone is interested in helping us relocate to your beautiful city, please help us find a school for him to teach at, or provide info on how he can teach privately ( we are both able to get the Working Holiday visa, but if he can work at a private school, that would work as well and he would welcome it). We also need help finding housing. Any help is very much appreciated! :)
Note of webmaster:
I would have thought the Interac job may have been a good option for a year. Then you would have your feet on the ground and could have staked out other employment.
I teach English here and am aware of 2 important factors at the moment. 1 That the population of Kids is dropping as these Japanese only work and don't reproduce. Economic Doom Looms from this. Classes at Schools Kindergartens and English Schools around here are shrinking quite significantly. 2 The government has upped the focus on English in Schools. So Good news and Bad News. Most folk get tired of the school work though it is stable and all, but it is a reliable starter. I am not aware of anybody particularly hiring now and can only really reccommend the standard channels; Gaijinpot, the Web and other easily found Job sites. I will see if I can find you a list of schools phone numbers. For teaching Private....That would be very hard to start all of a sudden with out a Major marketing drive. If I had to leave my Job and start private now and immediately rely on the income I would likely go back to my home land. I couldn't probably get a customer base quickly enough to avoid financial disaster. (Though I may give it a wee try.) You really want 250,000 yen a month to live tidily and I don't think a family could live without major stress even very humbly for less than 180,000 a month. Interac provide accomodation if I remember right and about 270,000 Yen. Not too bad unless you have experience that helps you to hit the ground running. Have you lived here before? Do you speak a bit of Japanese? If So I guess you are only asking for contacts, But otherwise I would take the slightly undesirable solid path if you don't have a nice financial cushion to fall back on. Find a Job at an English school or in the public system and I recommend a smaller successful school rather than the big Chains where treatment can be dissappointing. Then Build up yur contacts and perhaps a few classes on the side to go independent if you want. Perhaps if one of you are working full time the other can part time lay the gorund work for an income that will allow you to do your own thing. Sorry to be a bit dark but it may be the sure path..and if you have confidence or experience that supeceeds the need to be too cautious about financial security, I am sure you will follow that. Housing shouldn't be a big bother。For 2-3 rooms potentially in New Units you will need between 50,000 and 100,000 Yen a month Bills are about 30,000 a month Food for our family of three is about 40,000 yen a month (Though I am famous for getting half price food at the end of the day). The rest relates to Transport and your tastes in Setting up and leisure I guess. Tax for you will be not much But the Health insurance and stuff can take 30-50,000 yen a month if you play the game. You can avoid much of this But I wouldn't do so if you are here for the long term. There is Private Medical health insurance that teh government does not recognise. They will demand a back payment fo two years premiums if you want in later but havn't been on the scheme. You can get past reciepts reimbursed at such a time but that counts for not much. Would you like to contact me? Talking can be easier. Reply if you would like me to call you. Kind Regards Milton
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134
2009/4/16
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gday milton |
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jai heward
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thanks for getting back to me! i found the kabi kira! turns out we had o vacate our house and have it professionally cleaned. the mould was toooooo much!!! i only have access to a phone here in the hotel. i use my email on my ketai denwa all the time. if you dont mind its the easiest way to stay in touch. my wife is an aussie too, as is my boisterous son. we would love to come to a bbq, i mean... what aussie doesnt? and there is soooo much red meat in matsumoto!!! YAY carnivores! how come phone numbers here only have 6 numbers? (: anyway if i can work out how to dial out of he hotel i'll shoot u a call. we are in kagetsu hotel near the castle till saturday, and then tokoyo inn (i think) untll wednesday. HOPEFULLY we can have our house cleaned by then. Jai
Note of webmaster:
I have sent you an e-mail...Perhaps we can meet?
Milton
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133
2009/4/13
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hello again |
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jai heward
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gday again guys, as i said last year, i am now in matsumoto. you may not remember but i have a house in yamagata-mura. i would very much like to come to the family breakfast (secret mens business!!. is there any family events for the ladies? im staying in matsumoto for 3 nights while we clean our house. turns out it was a little unlivable right now (: there is ice all around it on the ground. also wouldnt mind sme help trying to determine what products are called in japan, like mould removers (: heheh thanks! Jai
Note of webmaster:
Hi There Jai
Yeah we have an initiation ceremony that will require a few drops of your Blood. And no way can women come. ...  Ok Seriously. I have discussed this recently and every one seems relaxed about the Women thing. It happens that we may be doing a family Barbeque soon at Lovely Joyama Park and maybe this coming Sunday 19th. Infact re women, I take my daughter and another guy does too, the main problem about Japanese women is getting them out of Bed beofer 9.00 on Sunday morning  I think you should call me and chat on 393436. Then I can keep you informed. If you want to fix mould the name for mould in Japanese is "ka bee" according to my phonetic script kabi more correctly. Go to a supermarket and say "furo no kabi supurai wa doko" and they should point you to some nice red spray bottles of mould remover. It costs a few hundred Yen and is ammonia based. Any Super market or hardware store should have it. Is that helpful? Milton
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132
2009/4/10
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Men's breakfast |
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Steve
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Hey, I was just wondering if the men's breakfeast is happening this sunday. And, if you could provide the direction to it that would be great as well.
Note of webmaster:
Hi there Stephen.
I believe so,... that is I will be going. It is at Gusto Motomachi. That is the Gusto Restaurant by Luna English School and across the road from Mos Burger. Leaving from Matsumoto Castle's north side on the road between the Jinja(shrine) and the castle and heading towards the hills to the east, after crossing the river and arriving at the next set of traffic lights turn left. You will immediately go past Seiyu, Watahan and Tsutaya stores. Head north along that road until you came to the 2nd set of traffic lights on that road, where you will see a Circle K convenience store and Gusto just across the lights. Go on into Gusto and look for a bunch of Gaijin(foreigners). I will try to be there early. If you want to get clearer instructions or talk to me first call 393436 and I can meet you or something. See you on Sunday 8:30 Milton
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131
2009/4/7
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Cheap Parking |
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Julian
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Hey! Does anyone know where and what the best parking deal is in matsumoto?
Note of webmaster:
Howdy
Frustrated about parking in Matsumoto? Yes Matsumoto parking rates are not the best. 300 yen an hour is about the going rate. Nagano City is cheaper. But a bit of local knowledge is that the Espa department store has a free car park for the first hour. If you take your car park ticket with you and have bought something there over 1000 yen in general and 2000 yen on the 7th floor you can get the ticket stamped and get extended time for free. If you don't get the ticket stamped at an individual store take it to the bottom floor at reception and show them all your recipts and they will stamp your ticket. The Espa 100 yen store is not a part of that scheme though The Car park people have a pretty decent attitude also and are not tight. If you are a few minutes overtime they generally ignore it. The Railway station give 30 minutes of free parking also. I am not aware of what is a good deal for longer periods of time. A day or so for example. Happy Parking Milton Hi, there are two parking lots of 600 yen/max 12 hours. One is along the one-way street in front of the Castle (one block west of the Castle), and the other is a little east of Nakamachi street before Espa department storeJusco Katakura Mall[/url]. You can park at Jusco Katakura freely Mall if you buy anything. You can also park at City Office's parking freely at night or on the weekend. - Andy
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130
2009/4/5
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no busy bars |
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mman
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Hi and thanks for the great site. After going out in matsumoto city both friday and saturday, i am convinced that there are no bars with more than about 4 or 5 people inside. I went to almost 20 places searching for something with some signs of life but came out empty handed. Am I correct or are there at least some bars with 20+ people on a weekend night? I am not looking for anything like a big city but something that is somewhat busy
Note of webmaster:
Hi, mman
I asked our project members, but, no one knows such popular bars in Matsumoto. Old Rock (an Irish style pub, not a bar) is popular, but, I don't know there are 20+ people on a weekend night. - Andy
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129
2009/4/4
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2009 Cherry Blossom Season |
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Jan
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Hi Andy, How is the cherry blossom season going? Do you still thing coming to Matsumoto on April 11th is still better than April 18th? As always, thank you very much for your kind reply! Jan
Note of webmaster:
Umm..
It has been still cold (the temperature is 10-0 degrees centigrade). The manager of Matsumoto castle says cherries might start blooming 5th or 6th, but today is 5th and cherries does not bloom yet. April 18th might be better, but I can't promise you... - Andy (April 5th) Yesterday(April 6th), the Matsumoto City Office officially announced, "cherries have started blooming today". It is getting warm these few days, so, I estimate April 11th might be a little earlier than "full bloom" and April 18th might be a little late than "full bloom" (in that case, you can see full bloom cherries in a hill like Joyama Park). You can check cherries on the north road of Matsumoto Castle by our new live camera page. - Andy (April 7th) Since the above note, it has been very warm and cherries in the Castle blooms 30-50%. I think it will be full bloom on 11th. - Andy (April 9th)
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