MEXT - Where to go, suggestions

[Mesh89]

Hi minna,
I'm seriously thinking of applying for a MEXT Scholarship. I'll get my bachelor degree in IT in a few months, and I'd go as a research student.

I just contacted a very good professor of mine and talked to him about this thing. He's very willing to help me, and gave me the links to the web pages of three japanese professors he knows. Of course one of the reason I asked him was because I like his field of study, so that's not a problem. The real problem is that I'm not sure about where I should go, so I figured I would ask here. I'm evaluating both the place and the university.

The first professor is from Tokyo Ochanomizu university, which is a women university, so it's out of question.
The second is from Mie university, and the third from Kyushu university. But I think, if I ask, we could still contact a professor from a different university.

I've been to Japan only once, for about 3 weeks, and I visited Tokyo, Kyoto and Kamakura. I have to say that I really loved them all, and they all have pros and cons. I only visited them so I may be wrong, but here are my impressions.

Tokyo is... well, Tokyo. Huge, exciting, full of places and things to do, a lot of choice, the heart of modern Japan. I think it's a place where everyone can find a place that suites him, and, I won't hide it, it's very tempting as a first choice. As a plus, it has the most renowned university of Japan. On the other hand, it's crowded and polluted, and while I'm young and to go into the crowd and into huge shopping centers can be nice sometimes, I'm more the quiet guy who likes quiet, "human" places with a fair share of green. Also, I can imagine it being HELL in summer.

Kyoto is a very good trade-off. While it's still a big city with many things to do and places to go, it's smaller and quieter than Tokyo. There is probably less choice than in Tokyo, but definitely more traditional culture. The temples are beautiful, and Arashiyama is probably one of the most beautiful places I've ever been to. In the end, I found it more beautiful than Tokyo, but less exciting. It also has a very good university. On the other hand, I found it more expensive (at least as a tourist) than Tokyo, and browsing the web, I'm having a very hard time finding an apartment for rent (while in Tokyo you can find A LOT of them in a matter of minutes, with decent prices).

Initially these two where my first choices. Now I'm evaluating the 2 options my professor gave me. I don't know anything about Mie, what kind of city it is, etc. It's quite close to Kyoto, Nara and Osaka, which is good, and it's close to the sea, which is good too (I love the sea, not going to the beach, just the sea).
I've never been to Kyushu, so I don't know much about Fukuoka either, and I know zero about the surrounding area. I read it's a very nice city, very livable and full of green. It's close to the sea too. The problem is the position, it looks hard to visit most of Japan from there, and it probably lacks both the variety and the energy of Tokyo, and the beauty and the historical views of Kyoto.

As a finish, I'm giving you a bit of an introduction, so you can get an idea of which places I'd be more suited to: I'm an italian guy, 22 years old. I'm quite sociable and easy to get along with, but I don't like crowded, noisy places and loud, arrogant, aggressive people. I don't dislike being alone (in my travel to Japan I was alone), and I like to take walks and explore places. While I enjoyed the most famous attractions in Tokyo, Kyoto and Kamakura, what I liked the most about Japan was it's unpredictability: just walking randomly in Tokyo or Kyoto to find a beautiful small and unknown shrine, a torii just past a huge shopping mall, a beautiful view, an interesting district, etc. is the best. You can find some real gems and the things you find by yourself are, in my opinion, most likely to leave an impression and become dear to you.
I also like much more the "Maison Ikkoku" portrayal of Japan than, say, "K-On"s one, if you know what I'm talking about.
I'm having a hard time expressing myself in English, but I hope you'll understand.

So, sorry for the lengthy post, but since here it's full of people who live/have lived in Japan or know much more about Japan than I do, I figured I'd ask for help here. If you could share opinions, suggestions, impressions of info, I'd be most grateful.

 

[thepie]

I've never heard of the first two, so I can't give you any opinion.
But in terms of academic, I'd go for Kyushu. It's a big name in Japan.

Just FYI, rental fees in Kyoto are much cheaper than Tokyo, and so is the living expense.

 

[tamachan]

I live in Kyoto city. I definitely agree wiht "thepie" that the rental fee plus the cost of living are cheaper than Tokyo.

I have no idea about the first two universities. For Kyushu university, I can say it's one of the best universities in Japan.

 

[mitch2526]

I've lived in Tokyo, and I can tell you that while Tokyo is huge, only the east side is the city, while you do have a more laid-back western side of Tokyo which is less populated, has nice mountains (like Mt. Takao and then there's the river, I forgot the name but people go there for barbecues). Tokyo is not just Shibuya, Roppongi, etc. That is why my rent was not as huge. When meetings required it, Tokyo was a 40 minute train ride for me.

On the other hand, I can say that Kyushu people are VERY NICE. Probably because throughout the course of Japanese history they were the ones who usually encountered foreigners first. They have a sense of humor that I really do get.

All I'm trying to say is, Tokyo is not as bad as it seems But go where the best school is for your field. Tokyo University's IT, and science and technology in general, is really something.

 

[Scalemx]

I study at Kyushu university (No IT though).
I think most of your assessments are correct. Personally I really love Kyushu and this was also my reason to come here to study.

-I find that Fukuoka has more influence from China and Korea than Kanto or Kansai. It is a very friendly and understandable city. The prices of living are decent and there are lots of things to do. People are friendly in Kyushu.
-Ito campus is quite countryside. Hakozaki campus is quite convenient and close to the city. Check which campus your supervisor is located in.
-I guess Kyushu university has a good level of study.

In the end, I think any place will have its merits and demerits. From what you said, as for the living, I wouldn't choose Tokyo. However, if you are really in the countryside for a long time, the maison Ikkoku type Japan also gets a little bit less exciting. It is fun, but from time to time you want to go to an event, a club, do some city shopping and so on. This means that it is probably best to have a city of decent size in the vicinity. I guess anywhere will be a wonderful experience.
If you come to Kyudai, let me know so we can have a drink, haha.

 

[Mesh89]

I live in Kyoto city. I definitely agree wiht "thepie" that the rental fee plus the cost of living are cheaper than Tokyo.
I have no idea about the first two universities. For Kyushu university, I can say it's one of the best universities in Japan.

Yes, I read it's a big name. Tokyo, Kyoto and Kyushu are all great universities, so I'd go for one of them. Kyushu university would be the easiest option among them, since my professor already knows a professor there.

I managed to find some apartments in Kyoto, and they look cheaper, but not so much tbh. Tokyo rents don't look so expensive, if you go for wards like Arakawa (I could find apartments for about 50k a month, 15-20 sqm.. is it suspicious?)

I've lived in Tokyo, and I can tell you that while Tokyo is huge, only the east side is the city, while you do have a more laid-back western side of Tokyo which is less populated, has nice mountains (like Mt. Takao and then there's the river, I forgot the name but people go there for barbecues). Tokyo is not just Shibuya, Roppongi, etc. That is why my rent was not as huge. When meetings required it, Tokyo was a 40 minute train ride for me.
On the other hand, I can say that Kyushu people are VERY NICE. Probably because throughout the course of Japanese history they were the ones who usually encountered foreigners first. They have a sense of humor that I really do get.
All I'm trying to say is, Tokyo is not as bad as it seems But go where the best school is for your field. Tokyo University's IT, and science and technology in general, is really something.

I never stated Tokyo was a bad! It's the opposite, it's one of the best cities I've ever visited and I loved it. That's why I wrote it was tempting as a first choice.
I totally agree with you, I've only been in Tokyo for about 12 days, so I've seen very little of it, but it was far far more than just Shinjuku Shibuya & Co.
What I loved the most about Tokyo was that it had everything. There were plenty of different places, each one with its own strong identity. It's so full of little unknown quarters that always manage surprise you.
I haven't been on the west side, I've only been in the special wards (I intended to visit some of the -shi, but the wards were already too much to see in just 12 days), but I can easily imagine it being wonderful places.

Oh, and 40 minutes of train don't really scare me. I work and study in Milan, and it takes me almost 2 hours everyday to get there, and 2h to come back

I study at Kyushu university (No IT though).
I think most of your assessments are correct. Personally I really love Kyushu and this was also my reason to come here to study.
-I find that Fukuoka has more influence from China and Korea than Kanto or Kansai. It is a very friendly and understandable city. The prices of living are decent and there are lots of things to do. People are friendly in Kyushu.
-Ito campus is quite countryside. Hakozaki campus is quite convenient and close to the city. Check which campus your supervisor is located in.
-I guess Kyushu university has a good level of study.
In the end, I think any place will have its merits and demerits. From what you said, as for the living, I wouldn't choose Tokyo. However, if you are really in the countryside for a long time, the maison Ikkoku type Japan also gets a little bit less exciting. It is fun, but from time to time you want to go to an event, a club, do some city shopping and so on. This means that it is probably best to have a city of decent size in the vicinity. I guess anywhere will be a wonderful experience.
If you come to Kyudai, let me know so we can have a drink, haha.

I was forgetting the people factor, I guess that's very important too... I'll have to research Fukuoka a bit more, since I've never been there, and that makes it harder to choose
Kyushu definitely has a lot of good points (from what I read, again, never been there so I may be wrong): Fukuoka ranks often as one of the most livable major cities (not only in Japan, but in the whole world!), it has a good climate, people are friendly (as you were saying), Kyudai is one of the biggest names in Japan, it would be the easiest to get in since my prof already knows a professor there, and everyone says it's very very nice.
But, tbh, Tokyo and Kyoto are... well, Tokyo and Kyoto I admit my first choice now would be Tokyo right now, for the reasons I explained in my posts, but to visit a city and to live in city are very different things, and things might not be as one expects them to; the place is going to be a main factor for having the best experience in Japan.
Also, what lets me down about Kyushu is the location, it's going to be harder to visit the rest of Japan from there than from, say, Tokyo.
Maison Ikkoku was set in Tokyo! Higashi Kurume, if I'm not mistaken.

I'll research the Kyushu and Fukuoka a bit more, since I don't really have much info on it.
Even I don't come to Kyudai, I'll still visit there, and we could still have a drink together! My treat, since you're all being so helpful

 

[thuwaljogja]

I absolutely LOVE Kyushu. Ive been there for one year as exchange student.
Just LooOoove it. Too much to tell!
I will go to TokyoTech but...if only...I wud trade it to any university in Kyushu

 

[yovitaadj]

I've never heard of the first two, so I can't give you any opinion.
But in terms of academic, I'd go for Kyushu. It's a big name in Japan.

Just FYI, rental fees in Kyoto are much cheaper than Tokyo, and so is the living expense.

I agree.
I've never been to Japan, but I read about Kyushu. From what Ive read and heard, Kyushu looks so nice and the environment are good and green.

 

[yovitaadj]

I absolutely LOVE Kyushu. Ive been there for one year as exchange student.
Just LooOoove it. Too much to tell!
I will go to TokyoTech but...if only...I wud trade it to any university in Kyushu

Really? cool! When will you go? Why dont you chose Kyushu instead of Tokyo then?