Where 2 live n Japan

Hey everyone!
I am considering going back to Japan to live for a while. I just got back from living and studying in Tokyo for the past year. I love speaking and learning Japanese, but Tokyo really wasn't the place for me. I am a huge outdoors person, I snowboard and backpack often. Basically anything that is physical and outdoors Im all about it! So being in Tokyo was like being held captive by concrete for a whole year! Plus, the people were not exactly all too friendly. I have never been around so many people and felt so alone! Its like NYC for me, I would love to visit, but not live.
Can anyone give me some advice on where might be a good place I should look into living. I have been researching Hokkaido, and Kyushul. Im not a big city girl, but I also dont enjoy living in a completely rural area (which I have done in NY).
So if anyone has any tips for me, I would really appreciate it!

Onegaishimasu!

Tarah

Kochi City in Kochi Prefecture, Shikoku. It has a lot going for it. It is a very livable big city. I'm like you, I don't like big cities, so I don't say this lightly. Go 20 minutes out of town (easy to do as it is a "small" big city and you are in the moutains, at the beach, or on the rivers. No snow to speak of, so your winter sports itch will need to be scratched elsewere. However, Kochi has some of the best surfing in Japan. Kochi City has a nightlife to keep you happy, an airport, ferry terminal, train line and overnight buses to Osaka and other points. The only drawback is it is a little out in the boonies, making transportation a little pricey. However, the living is easy and the prices lower than in similar cities on Honshu or parts of Kyushu. However, unlike other places in Japan, Kochi City, and Kochi in general, is not a case of nature fighting to survive in a concrete jungle, but more mankind trying to keep nature out of the cities. Also, and this is important to me. It is not flat. Look past the buildings (of which there are not many) and you have mountains, or the sea. I can't stand cities where the skyline is just an unbroken line of rooftops. Good luck

Mandylion,
Thanks for the advice! I will definitely check out Kochi, and although Im not a surfer now, I could easily see myself becoming one if I was living near the sea!!! Sounds absolutely fabulous! If any other places you have been to pop into mind please do share!!!

Thanks a lot, from one nature lover to another!

Tarah

For snowboarding and backpacking I think Nagano would be hard to beat.

Definitely! I did go snowboarding in that area once while I was in Japan. However, do you know anything about that area's atmosphere as far as towns go? I figure I can always drive, take the train or bus to good snowboarding spots, but its hard to find a low key, but not totally rural town in Japan.