Why This Comparison Matters
ALT placement affects nearly every part of your experience in Japan: daily life, work expectations, finances, and social relationships. Many frustrations ALTs experience don’t come from “bad placements,” but from mismatched expectations.
This article isn’t about asking, “Which placement is better for me?” Most ALTs don’t get multiple options for placement. JET and dispatch companies will take your preferences into account, then offer the best match between what you want and what the organization needs.
So instead, we’re going to answer the much more important question of “What can I expect?” Because even a good placement can feel bad if it doesn’t line up with what you imagined going in.
What Counts as “Urban” and “Rural” for ALTs
There’s a wide spectrum between downtown Tokyo and an isolated island village with fifty residents. Most ALT placements fall somewhere in the middle (though the extremes do exist).
For clarity, this article focuses on common scenarios, not rare edge cases.
That means:
- Urban placements are major cities and their immediate suburbs
- Rural placements include small cities, towns, villages, and remote islands
It’s also important to note:
- Many “rural” placements are still within commuting distance of regional hubs
- Many “urban” placements are suburban rather than central-city locations
Work/Life Differences
Work expectations tend to differ more by placement type than people expect.
Rural placements often involve:
- Smaller schools
- Multiple schools in a rotation
- Higher visibility within each school
Because there are fewer staff members, ALTs are more noticeable. Schools may rely on you more heavily, and relationships with coworkers tend to be more personal.
Since the schools are smaller, they’re more likely to share an ALT. After all, if the school only needs you for six classes a week, you’re going to spend most of your time twiddling your thumbs. You’ll most likely teach at multiple schools throughout the week (though usually only one per day).
Urban placements often involve:
- Larger schools
- Fewer schools (sometimes just one)
- Lower individual visibility
In urban settings, schools are larger. Roles are often more clearly defined, and it’s easier to blend into the system. Some of the largest schools have more than one ALT working at them full time!
Daily Life Differences
Outside of work, daily life also shifts depending on placement.
Rural life tends to mean:
- Driving is likely required
- Lower cost of living
- Quieter routines
- Fewer immediate options for entertainment and shopping
Urban life tends to mean:
- Reliance on public transit
- Higher rent and daily expenses
- Greater anonymity
- More entertainment, services, and conveniences
There will be plenty of smaller, less obvious differences as well. Urban life tends to be noisier, dirtier, and more crowded. Rural life means getting to enjoy the changing seasons, fresh air, and open spaces. That’s no less true in Japan than in your home country!
Social Life and Community Integration
Social dynamics differ significantly between rural and urban placements.
In rural placements:
- You will be noticed
- Relationships form slowly, but often deeply
- The importance of community involvement is obvious
Being the only foreigner in town can be daunting at first. Most of the people around you will not have experience dealing with foreign people. They’re going to say things that shock and unintentionally insult you at times.
While first impressions will matter, consistency matters just as much. People in rural communities rely on each other more. Showing up, behaving predictably, and participating in community life will build a reputation and shape how you’re treated. In rural placements especially, trust is built gradually, through repeated everyday interactions.
In urban placements:
- It’s easier to find foreign friends
- It’s easier to stay anonymous
- Community ties are more optional
That said, “urban” does not mean invisible. Don’t assume that bad behavior will go unnoticed by students, parents, and coworkers just because you live in a dense area – you still stick out!
Even in cities, being part of the community still matters to those around you. While it’s easier to keep at arm’s length from your coworkers and students in the city, it’s not the right call. Participating in school life and community life will make your ALT experience much more enjoyable.
Language Learning Environment
Placement type strongly influences how you use Japanese day to day. If learning Japanese is part of your long term career plans, placement type will have a noticeable impact.
In rural placements:
- You can’t rely on English
- Immersion happens faster
- Japanese is used daily out of necessity
- Formal study resources may be limited (local classes or tutors if you’re lucky)
While some rural ALTs manage to get by with grunts and gestures for concerningly long periods of time, most find it easier to just learn the language.
In urban placements:
- English safety nets are everywhere
- Language pressure is lower
- Immersion is more optional
- Formal study resources are abundant (language schools, tutors, classes)
ALTs who, for whatever reason, have zero interest in learning Japanese will find themselves much less inconvenienced by urban living (for better or worse).
That said, your effort and discipline matter even more than your placement type. A serious Japanese studier in an urban placement will take advantages of the resources around them and go much further than a lax studier in a rural placement.
Post-ALT Career Impact
From an employer’s perspective, there is little difference between rural and urban ALT experience. Both demonstrate cross-cultural work experience, adaptability, and communication skills.
That said, rural ALTs are more likely to be called on for things like translation/interpretation support for visitors, joining international volunteer organizations in their area, and other things that look good on resumes. Why? When there aren’t as many bilingual people in the area, the foreign teacher is more likely to get tapped on the shoulder.
There will be plenty of identical opportunities for urban ALTs, but they’re going to need to actively seek those opportunities out. Having more bilingual people per square kilometer means more competition!
For post-ALT work, urban ALTs will have easier access to non-teaching opportunities in their areas. Rural ALTs typically need to relocate to pursue other careers, since most non-teaching jobs for foreign residents are concentrated in major cities.
On top of this, the highest concentration of non-teaching jobs for foreign residents will be concentrated in Tokyo. Take this into account when planning post-ALT life!
Why Recruiters Ask About Placement Preferences
Recruiters will usually ask about your placement preferences. That doesn’t mean you get an actual choice in your placement. Your actual choice when offered a placement will be “take it or leave it.”
So why ask at all?
Because recruiters aren’t evaluating your preference. They’re evaluating how you approach the question.
Flexibility is critical to ALT work. Saying “urban only” or even “rural only” signals rigidity. What recruiters want to hear is that you have preferences, but understand the realities and are prepared to adapt.
Because when you’re working in a foreign country, you’ll have a lot of adapting to do, no matter where you’re placed!
What to Read Next
Life in Rural Japan
What daily life actually looks like outside major cities.
Application Timeline
How placement decisions actually happen.
If you want guidance on evaluating placements and making realistic decisions before you apply, those topics are covered in detail in So You Want to Be an ALT.
ALT Roadmap 