Saga and MSA
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
While MSA has the largest number of international students from the Tokyo metropolitan area, compared to other regions, Kyushu (especially Fukuoka) has the most students. We also have a large hospital in Fukuoka with which we have a cooperative relationship. Normally, one would consider Fukuoka as the base of operations, but I came to Saga Prefecture and stayed there for about a month. I stayed in Saga City, partly because Kumanokawa Onsen, which I am very interested in, is located there, but I will announce more about this in due course on my clinic-related blog and other places.
As many of you may already know, a large portion of MSA's work involves teleworking, including online interviews. Saga Prefecture is highly recommended for those whose work primarily involves teleworking!
Teleworking Environment: There are coworking spaces throughout Saga Prefecture. This time, I mainly used MATC and FURUYU Camp. MATC (Microsoft AI & Innovation Center Saga) is located in front of Saga Station and is open until 10 pm on weekdays, so I have even gone there twice in one day. FURUYU Camp is located in the historic hot spring town of Furuyu! It has a terrace and the sound of the nearby stream makes for a pleasant environment.
Transportation access: I traveled to and from Fukuoka by express bus and JR train. Express buses depart at least every 30 minutes and the journey takes about an hour. The JR limited express train takes about 40 minutes, I believe. Also, if you drive yourself, I felt that access to anywhere is good.
Educational Environment: I believe that experiencing nature is essential for education. If you share this view, I think Saga Prefecture is blessed with a very good environment. Saga City has rice paddies, fields, mountains, and rivers.
Housing costs: I didn't have time to actually see any properties for sale or rent, but from what I could see in the real estate listings, it seemed like you could rent private housing for about the same price as public housing. I got the impression that it's still quite affordable for those who want to own a house with their own land.
Foodstuffs: I had heard from the Saga Prefectural Government's Saga Relocation Support Desk that Saga Prefecture has a lot of locally produced foodstuffs. I really felt that it was truly a case of local production for local consumption. Everything was indeed fresh and delicious! It's really important to be able to enjoy a lifestyle that everyone knows is normal but often fails to practice.
Personality: Each of us has our own personality, and we think and act differently, but we all have kindness within us. I think that many people in Saga have an ability to naturally express that kindness. Speaking from personal experience, having lived in Romania for a long time, I felt a connection to the friendliness and kindness of the Romanians, and I met many people during my stay who gave me a sense of renewed energy.
As a place to live: It's a prefecture with a population of about 800,000. I've heard it's the second least populated prefecture in Japan (please correct me if I'm wrong). Don't you think that's a sufficient size? It has medical facilities, all kinds of shops, everything you need. Is it really a happy thing to spend time in silence on a crowded train in Tokyo at 9 or 10 pm?
If you'd like to learn more about the charms of Saga, or if you're interested in trying out a relocation experience, please visit this website. Trial Relocation Subsidy | Relocation Support | Saga Smile: Saga Prefecture Relocation Information Portal Site There are various support programs available, and if your application is approved, you can receive a subsidy.
