FAQ
TOP
General Questions
What is Oita Prefecture known for?
What is there to do in Oita Prefecture?
How do I travel to/around Oita?
For Incoming JETs
I'm an incoming JET placed in Oita Prefecture! What does my placement mean?
How do I get connected with current Oita JETs?
How many JETs are in Oita?
What is the weather like?
What should I pack?
About this website
What is the purpose of this website?
Who runs this site?
What is a PA?
I came to this site looking for information about X but I can't find it! What should I do?
General Questions
Please check out our Introducing Oita page where we go over this in detail. For some photos of onsens, cities and food, check out the photo gallery!
Onsen, museums, cultural activities, festivals, shopping, and eating! We have created a map with good restaurants, shopping and sightseeing locations. We also have a calendar with upcoming events around the prefecture.
For even more information, check out Oita Prefecture's Official Sightseeing Information Site for more about what you can do in Oita Prefecture!
For even more information, check out Oita Prefecture's Official Sightseeing Information Site for more about what you can do in Oita Prefecture!
Please check out our getting around page. Pages in the regions section will also have more detailed information about specific areas.
For Incoming JETs
Welcome! Congratulations again for getting into the JET Programme!
For ALTs
If you've been placed at a prefectural level (aka, your placement will read Oita Prefecture without any particular city), you will most likely be working at a senior high school.
If you have been placed at a city level, you will likely be going to elementary/junior high schools.
You will find out more details about your location and schools later, hopefully before you get to Oita. Please keep in mind that this is not a promise, just an observation of what ALT school assignments tend to be like in Oita.
For ALTs
If you've been placed at a prefectural level (aka, your placement will read Oita Prefecture without any particular city), you will most likely be working at a senior high school.
If you have been placed at a city level, you will likely be going to elementary/junior high schools.
You will find out more details about your location and schools later, hopefully before you get to Oita. Please keep in mind that this is not a promise, just an observation of what ALT school assignments tend to be like in Oita.
Facebook
There are two Facebook groups for Oita JETs, the Oita Peeps page and the AJET Oita page. It's a good place for incoming JETs to make connections and ask any questions they have. Also remember to like the Oita Online page to keep updated about this website.
Predecessor
Your predecessor has the most insight into what your specific situation will be like, and will likely email you sometime after you get your placement. Predecessors are usually gone by the time you get to your placement though, so you may not get an opportunity to meet your predecessor. If you do though, great!
Japan Wide Groups
The JET Programme forums are still a great way to get information about living in Japan. As of March 2014, you must register to view and use the forums. There are a number of other facebook pages, such as incoming JETs (a new one each year), or specialist groups such as JET food, JET setters, Stonewall, JET Christians, JET gaming, and many more full of people happy to help you out with related issues.
There are two Facebook groups for Oita JETs, the Oita Peeps page and the AJET Oita page. It's a good place for incoming JETs to make connections and ask any questions they have. Also remember to like the Oita Online page to keep updated about this website.
Predecessor
Your predecessor has the most insight into what your specific situation will be like, and will likely email you sometime after you get your placement. Predecessors are usually gone by the time you get to your placement though, so you may not get an opportunity to meet your predecessor. If you do though, great!
Japan Wide Groups
The JET Programme forums are still a great way to get information about living in Japan. As of March 2014, you must register to view and use the forums. There are a number of other facebook pages, such as incoming JETs (a new one each year), or specialist groups such as JET food, JET setters, Stonewall, JET Christians, JET gaming, and many more full of people happy to help you out with related issues.
Around 80, give or take some. Many JETs are placed in Oita City, but there are also JETs spread out all through the prefecture. This means that there is a chance that your placement will be in a medium sized city, but also a fair chance that you will be placed in the inaka (countryside), where rice fields and epic views reign supreme.
*This was written using the timeline for incoming JETs in Group A or B, but should still be helpful for those arriving in Group C or for alternates bumped up to the short-list.
Summer
Most JET participants will arrive in late July/early August, when it is basically hot and humid all the time. While it is generally recommended to wear business formal for the first few days to give your teachers and school a good first impression, keep the weather in mind and keep it light. "Cool Biz" fashion is very acceptable during the hotter months, though less so as fall and winter sets in.
Winter
Here in Oita , winter follows you into your school and your home -- there is no escape. Central heating and insulation are myths in this area, so wear layers! The temperature rarely dips below the freezing point though and takes a while to really seep in, so consider getting your winter stuff sent later. You have a few months until you have to worry about it.
梅雨 (tsuyu)
This means rain. Lots of rain. Prepare yourself for this sometime in June/July.
Typhoon season
Usually runs from mid-August to late September. Check the Japan Meteorological Agency (English site) for updates about typhoons, tsunami warnings, earthquakes, etc.
Summer
Most JET participants will arrive in late July/early August, when it is basically hot and humid all the time. While it is generally recommended to wear business formal for the first few days to give your teachers and school a good first impression, keep the weather in mind and keep it light. "Cool Biz" fashion is very acceptable during the hotter months, though less so as fall and winter sets in.
Winter
Here in Oita , winter follows you into your school and your home -- there is no escape. Central heating and insulation are myths in this area, so wear layers! The temperature rarely dips below the freezing point though and takes a while to really seep in, so consider getting your winter stuff sent later. You have a few months until you have to worry about it.
梅雨 (tsuyu)
This means rain. Lots of rain. Prepare yourself for this sometime in June/July.
Typhoon season
Usually runs from mid-August to late September. Check the Japan Meteorological Agency (English site) for updates about typhoons, tsunami warnings, earthquakes, etc.
Check out the General Information Handbook (GIH) for more information about what you should bring.
About this website
The purpose of this website is to gather resources, information and news pertaining to JET participants in Oita Prefecture in one easily accessible place.
The ORC (Online Resources Committe) team composed of current JETs as well as PAs. If you have any questions about the website, or would like to become a contributor, please send a message through the Contact tab.
Prefectural advisors (PA) are ALTs/CIRs who work in the Board of Education or Offices of Internationalization. They are tasked with answering a variety of questions and acting as liaisons between ALTs and their contracting organizations. Prefectural Advisors, while not working in a professional counseling capacity, assist ALTs by providing advice on matters related to living and working in Japan. Prefectural advisors also work directly with their Japanese supervisors in terms of devising productive solutions to issues which may arise between ALTs and their Japanese counter-parts.
Oita JETs is still a relatively young website and we are constantly adding new content. Please suggest the topic through our contact page or our facebook group. In the meantime check out our list of other JET websites around Japan, as one of them might have what you are looking for.