From ChibaWiki
Location of Tōgane in Chiba prefecture
Togane City
Tōgane (東金市, Tōgane-shi) is a city located in Chiba, Japan.
As of 2009, the city has an estimated population of 61,599 and the density of 689 persons per km². The total area is 89.34 km².
The city was founded on April 1, 1954.
Togane is known for strawberry picking in February and March. Strawberries are grown in green houses. They are very delicious. Because there is not much industry remaining in some rural areas of Japan like Togane, it is also beginning to boast a decent antique market as old farm houses are torn down.
(from Wikipedia)
Togane is a really nice place to live. It's got a mix of urban and inaka areas. It's big enough to have everything you need, but small enough to still have a small town feel. It has a relaxed atmosphere, and the people here are very friendly. In the past, it has been a major hang out for many AJETs in the surrounding area.
The Kujukuri Beach is just 20 min. away by car, and it's only a couple hours away from Tokyo and one hour from Chiba City.
Working
JET placements
Togane has 1 high school, 4 junior high schools, and 9 elementary schools that currently utilize (A)JET.
Togane High School (東金高校) has 2 full time JET or Wisconsin ALTs.
The 4 junior highs (Togane, Nishi, Higashi, and Kita) each have a JET. These JETS also work at 2-3 elementary schools one day a week.
Transportation
Public transport within Togane is pretty limited. The train station only takes you out of town, and city buses don't go everywhere, are infrequent, and have schedules that are hard to read without a good command of Japanese.
Most places in Central Togane are easily reached by bike. But keep in mind that there are freezing temperatures in winter, constant rain in spring/early summer and fall, and crippling humidity in summer. Also, two of the junior high schools are pretty far away (one is up a steep mountain), and half of the elementary schools are way out in the rural areas (20-30 min. to reach by car). A car is super-convenient here.
By train
Togane Station is on the JR East Togane Line and is located on the JR East map for Greater Tokyo.
Trains leave every half hour. Last train in from Oami around 11:00pm and last train out to Oami around 10:30.
By bus
Aside from the local area bus lines, Togane has two highway bus lines. The Seaside Liner (シーサイドライナー) and Flower Liner (フラワーライナー) run from Naruto Station (with multiple stops in Togane and Naruto) to Tokyo Station and Chiba Station, respectively.
- Seaside Liner continues on to Hamamatsucho Station after Tokyo Station for access to Haneda Airport. It has a surfing strawberry on the side of the bus. Fare is 1,500円. You can buy a mutiple ticket book (kaisuken) from the driver for 10,000円 for 9 tickets, a savings of about 400円 per ride.
- Flower Liner has multiple stops near Chiba Station. Be careful of the "Pass" (パス) buses on the schedule as their routes have different stops. It has an orange hibiscus flower on the side of the bus. Fare is 520円.
- Bus schedules and information (Japanese)
Sightseeing
Places to visit
Lake Hakkaku (Hakkakko) is Togane's claim to fame. It's a beautiful lake, surrounded by about 1,000 cherry trees and was named by the poet Toyama Unnyo.
Once only a pond, it was widened and paved to make a semi-man made lake. In the center is a small peninsula with a small shrine and a duck marsh. Popular weekend activities include fishing and taking walks around the lake.
Surrounding it are a few points of interest. There is an impressive temple with large cedar trees. (Take the path up the hill to the left of the temple, past the giant bell for an impressive view of the city.) There are also a couple of large Japanese graveyards, some fancy restaurants, Sanoudai Park, and Togane High School.
Lake Ojagaike Togane's "other" lake. It's a bit far from central Togane, but it's bigger and has paddle boats. Part of the surrounding path is supposedly haunted.
Kita (North) Togane Make your way up the steep mountain behind Lake Hakkaku, and you'll find this pleasant countryside area. Lots of new housing developments in this area, but drive around and you'll find lots of cool things, such as:
- a huge park with amphitheater (and rude graffiti)
- delicious Italian restaurants
- Bara Koen (Rose Garden) - blooms in fall and late spring
- Togane Vineyards
- various small fishing lakes
- cedar woods and forest paths
- CARBOYWOOD
- Togane Performing Arts Center
- Togane's only nice hotel, Estollé. It has tennis courts.
- Togane Reservoir
Festivals
Sakura Matsuri
In Spring, the Sakura Matsuri is held at Lake Hakkaku, usually in early April, on the last weekend of the spring break before the start of the new scholastic year. Temporary food stalls (yatai) are set up around the lake for the preceding week. For the festival itself, everyone does hanami for the entire afternoon. Stake out your spot early. A direct line of sight toward of the tip of the lake's peninsula is recommended for a good view of the fireworks show in the evening.
Yassa Matsuri
In late August is the Yassa Matsuri. It takes place at the center of town, and everyone wears a yukata and takes part in the Yassa dance.
Shopping
Most places in Togane close early, like 8pm, and many non-essential stores close on Wednesdayｓ.
Sunpia
The big Aeon shopping mall in the center of town. Not the cheapest place for clothes. shoes, etc., but it has a good variety of restaurants and is home to Jusco supermarket. The rest of the mall closes at 8pm, but Jusco stays open until midnight.
Cosmo Video
Mom & pop video rental place, been around forever. Open 24 hrs. VHS selection is great but slowly getting weeded out, DVD selection is good, but many older titles are only on VHS. They also have manga rental and a small pachinko area. Memebership is 700 yen/year. If you return a movie within 8 hours, you get money back. 135 yen rentals on Sunday. As of July 2009, closed for good, RIP.
Wonder Goo with Tsutaya video rental inside.
Half price rental on Tuesdays; no coupon needed on alternating weeks, but the weeks in between require a ketai mail coupon.
Uniqlo
On Route 126 near Jousai University.
Beisia
Yay, we have one now! They carry a lot of foreign food items and have a Mr. Donut. Across Route 126 from Jousai University.
100 yen shops
There are three 100 yen shops. Two are the local branches of Daiso. The other is Prenty, which shares a store with Attack 5, a sporting goods shop. Prenty is great because it stays open until 10pm. (Though we mourn the recent closing of the more swanky Seria.) You can pretty much furnish your home and get materials for all your lessons with these stores.
recycle shops
Togane has several excellent second hand shops. People in Japan seem to get rid of stuff while it's still practically new, so these are great places to supplement your winter/summer wardrobes and furnish your place for cheap.
- Book Off 2 floors of used books and manga. Huge 105yen manga section. Best of all, they don't shrink wrap everything like the Tokyo branches. You will see your students here, reading stuff for free.
- Wonder Rex Try to contain your laughter. It's owned by the Wonder Goo chain. It's two floors of used goodness. 1st floor, Home Off, is clothes, bags, furniture, appliances, furniture, plates. 2nd floor, Hobby Off, is toys & models, musical instruments, electronics, junk parts, sporting goods, CD/DVD/vidya games.
- Furugiya Honjo Used clothes and jewelry. Excellent selection with really cool 80s and 90s styles that are hip again.
- Togane Kanteidan Technically almost in Naruto. Open 24 hrs. Great electronics and housewares selection. Lots of brand name clothes and goods, but those are a little on the expensive side. The non-brand name stuff is so-so and not well maintained. Next door is a great used and vintage games store that's almost as good as shopping in Akiba.
- antique shops Several of these dot Route 126 between Togane and Naruto. They have a lot of cool vintage goods and furniture at good prices....if you dare to enter the dark barn-like structures that house them.
Eating
Being a good-sized city along a major bypass (126), Togane has all the major chain fast food and family restaurants. And supermarkets have a variety of Japanese deli and bento items, made fresh daily.
Rhubarb
A 1 minute walk from Lake Hakkaku, to the left of Togane High School. This cafe and shop has delicious Nepalese-style curry and is a peaceful place to hang out. The staff is very friendly and the owner speaks English. She showcases local artists and artisans that change periodically. The shop carries handicrafts by local artists and from India, Southeast Asia, and Latin America.
8 Enough
This is Togane's other cafe. It just opened recently. The prices are a little high and your order might take a while, but the food and coffee are really good and it has a really nice atmosphere.
Choshimaru
On bypass 126, near Attack 5/Prenty ¥100 shop. A really good kaiten sushi place. A little bit pricier than the other two (Kappazushi and Sushi Ro-), but well worth it for the quality and atmosphere.
Menmaru Ramen
On bypass 126, across from WonderGoo. Their specialty is miso ramen. Try the hiyashi chuuka in summer.
Dotonbori
Next to Menmaru Ramen. Look for the big tanuki This chain offers a variety of okonomiyaki, yakisoba, and monjayaki with lots of mix-ins to choose from. Every table has its own griddle in the center for a fun cook-your-own meal.
Monja House
Same as above but family-owned and with a more traditional menu. For a small extra charge, the cook will make it for you and bring it to your table.
Priya Vikash
Excellent Indian food on the old 126, near the train station. Very good authentic curry, giant naan, and honest-to-god real mango lassi.
Yutaka
Chinese/Taiwanese food and tropical fruit juices. One of the owners speaks English. The best in Togane! On route 126, across from Alpine Sports.
Tamagoya
Across from the BOE building. They specialize in dishes made with farm fresh eggs but also serve fami resu fare. They have a generous full-course set for only ¥1000. Their pudding is the best, and the cooks are hilarious.
bakeries
There are two really good french-style bakeries. Olympic is inside Sunpia, and Lyon is next to 7-11. Walk in and grab a tray and some tongs. Lyon is closed on Thursdays. Olympic is closed whenever Sunpia is closed.
fami resu
Family restaurants. Togane has all the majors: Coco's, Denny's, Bob's Big Boy, Gusto, Jonathan's, and Syzeria ("Italian"). All of these have Drink Bar (unlimited refills). Japanese fami resu menus are different from back home, with a focus on hamburg steak and "international foods" rather than burgers and breakfast.
Current Togane JETs prefer Coco's and Syzeria because Coco's makes a decent quesadilla, and Syzeria gets the most bang for your buck.
Drinking
There are several great izakaya in Togane. These are our favorites:
Maru
Across from Sunpia, near the train station.
Fuyuki
Close to the ALT apartments. The dishes are inventive and delicious.
Sakura-zuki
Same owners as Fuyuki. The menu is almost the same, but the ambiance is totally different.
Yotta!
Specializing in seafood, it's literally right outside the SHS ALTs' door. Their variety of sour drinks is interesting and all good.
Exercising
Togane has lots of little hiking trails in the hills to the north.
The path around Lake Hakkaku is a popular walking/jogging route.
There are 2 gyms:
- Sunpia Sports Center
Located on the top floor of Sunpia. It has a pool and all the weights, machines, trainers, classes and facilities you'd expect a gym to have, but membership is pretty expensive.
- Togane Training Center
Next to the park behind the giant Mormon church in western Togane. This a small municipal gym. It has machines, weights, and showers - the basics. Membership is free. (You have to attend an orientation thing that's held on Thursday and agree to the rules written in hilarious Engrish.) After that, each session costs only 220 yen for Togane residents. You also get a discount for admission to the pool at Kujukuri Sunrise Hotel. You need to change shoes when you enter.
- Togane Arena
Kind of far from the rest of Togane.
Foreign community
Because the nearby Jousai International University is host to many foreign students and a few foreign faculty members, foreigners are not a rare sight in Togane. There is a small but growing population of immigrants as well. So for an ALT in Togane, that means that you might occasionally be stared at, but you won't be stared at as hard as in some other parts of Chiba.
The Togane Friendship Society is made up mostly of older community members who are interested in foreign language and culture. If you get to know some of them, they are really kind people who do what they can to make your time here memorable. They host several events each year including a Christmas party and a Yassa Matsuri party prior to the parade. The Togane JETs and some Jousai students are usually invited. They also provide Japanese lessons to foreigners on Friday and Saturday mornings. However, it's hard for ALTs to attend because the 1st part is held on Friday morning with the followup on Saturday.
External Links
Flickr search results for "Togane"
Official Togane website (Japanese)
Togane Tourist Information (Japanese)
Japanese Wikipedia entry (Japanese)
Togane Facebook Group (must first join "Japan Network" to join)
