Hi everyone, I’m posting this on a throwaway account because I don’t want my husband to find out I’m having second thoughts about our upcoming move, and I really need some unbiased opinions.
Recently, my husband received a couple of job offers, one in Miyawaka, Fukuoka and one in Takamatsu, Kagawa. He is a recent PhD graduate. We both speak English and Japanese. I’m currently an English teacher, but I will be leaving my job to support the move. We have two young children, and I plan to take a career break for a year or two to focus on the family, provided our finances allow it.
Right now, we are leaning heavily toward the Takamatsu offer, but I want to be sure. Here is the breakdown:
Takamatsu Offer: ¥6M / year
Miyawaka Offer: ¥5.5M / year (inaka, 1 hour by train to Hakata, no relocation package)
The Takamatsu package seems better. It comes with full relocation support, we get to choose our own housing, and the company covers the initial move-in costs like Key Money (Reikin) and Deposit (Shikikin). However, the ¥6M is including 5 months of bonus so the monthly salary is effectively divided by 17. And since we will be dropping to a single income, I have some anxieties about the location and budget.
So my questions are:
- Is ¥6M a year sufficient for a family of 4 in Takamatsu?
We will have a 50% rent subsidy, which helps, but I want to know if we can live comfortably without me working for a while.
- How is the livability and convenience in Takamatsu?
We are coming from Kobe, so I’m used to big malls and easy train connections. Is Takamatsu family-friendly and accessible without a car, or will I find myself missing the city convenience?
Any other advice or "reality checks" about living in Kagawa would be greatly appreciated!
by forsakenmental