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Located midway between Tokyo and Osaka, Okazaki acts as the traveler's fulcrum. Perhaps one of the best locations for a home base in all of Japan, Okazaki's prime position as a hub of the Japanese Railways allows for smooth travelling to the most desirable destinations in Japan. Living in Okazaki makes best use of time and money in a harmonious atmosphere that enhances learning and facilitates a deeper understanding of Japanese culture.
Central both to Japan's geography and history, Okazaki is famous as the birthplace of the Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu. The Shogun was the ruler of the Samurai - Japan's elite warrior class. Tokugawa Ieyasu consolidated the power of the Samurai, moving the capital from Imperial Kyoto to Edo or present-day Tokyo and relegating the Emperor to the status of figurehead. The Tokugawa or Edo period, from 1600-1867, was an era of peace marked by a rigid social hierarchy and tremendous urban growth. A benefit to learning Japanese in the birthplace of Tokugawa is that the dialect is also the standard throughout Tokyo and most of Japan. Okazaki castle, where Tokugawa was actually born, is still open to visitors and offers a peaceful respite from daily life.
In past centuries traveler's on their way from Nagoya castle to Edo passed through Okazaki on the Tokaido road. Today, travelers from Okazaki can take the Tokaido Bullet train and reach Tokyo or Osaka in less than two hours time. Okazaki is strategically placed and transportation accessible to almost all of Japan's major cities and attractions. In just a short train ride one can be skiing the Japanese Alps of Nagano, visiting the Buddhist and Shinto temples of Kyoto, or shopping in Tokyo's Ginza district.
As a part of the Aichi Prefecture, the population surrounding Okazaki numbers greater than 7 million people. Therefore, the cultural and social attractions of a large city are all within easy reach. But with a population of around 350,000 people, Okazaki retains a manageable feel and is itself quite habitable. Jobs for foreign students are available with far less competition than in Tokyo and prices for accommodation are substantially less expensive. Culturally, there are dozens of historic temples and shrines to visit within the city of Okazaki and of course one might take an infinite amount of time to explore Okazaki castle. Living in Okazaki, one can appreciate Japan's regional diversity and experience a cultural immersion that extends the length and breadth of the country.
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