Awrite
One thing is for certain! You should experience Japan. No regrets!
This is just my own experience, so I hope that a few others will post some views.
I know your feeling about being out in the sticks but i've been staying in Miyagi for about 9 months now and it's all good fun.
I lived in Tokyo for 4 months a few years back. Miyagi is just as interesting, if not more. It really depends what your looking for. If you want to club every other night, see the big lights, fast paced stuff then your looking for a post near Sendai. (But I have no idea how Interac assign posts) If you go to a city though, you wont get help renting a car. I am in Kuriharashi (very north countryside), so I need a car to get to school and around and about. The car is very useful because I can take in more of the sights.
The nightlife in the country isn't so great. Places are hard to find and close early. You need to ask the local teachers. But I like the country and if I want the city experience, I travel towards a small city or the biggest, Sendai!
If I had the choice, I would choose the country. The country is so much more beuatiful. And I've been told by other teachers that the students are more laid back. But i think it just depends on the place,school and students. They have all characters.
The last post said that the Interac folk don't plan much compared to JET. It's true that JET are far more orientated, but they've been out here longer. I can't speak for the Interac social life in other prefectures but the Miyagi Interac crew are second to none. We all get together on facebook to make a plans for doing a variety of stuff in Miyagi. Traditional and drinkies. We are also in contact with the Miyagi JETS, so there's always someone to meet up with. If you come to Miyagi, you will meet us at some sort of meeting and you'll be welcomed in with open arms. We're really friendly.
As for Miyagi. There's tonnes of stuff to do! Amazing festivals and sound people. I'm not going to go into the sales speech because it will sound fake. But Miyagi is a beautiful place to explore. And I've only touched on the northern prefectures. There's lots to see if your willing to look. Don't expect culture to jump into your lap. But sometimes it does.
My advice is give it a go. Chances are that your coming in August, so every January Interac ask people if they want to move. Some of my friends went to other places like Yokohama and Yamagata. It just depends on your own thoughts of the place and what you want.
so, if you don't like where you are, then ask to move.
What else can I think of? If your in the city, or in a Leo Palace apartment then it will be small. But Tokyo is tiny! If your out in the sticks, you get a much much bigger place for the same money. Also, if your out in the sticks you get a location allowance (~90quid) (I think city folk get lower - not sure). So the sticks has it's advantages.
Just come out and try it. Unless you have an amazing CV or teachers work experience, or can speak a few languages then you've not got much to haggle with. And if you ask for a new location, then the next place might not be better.
What have you got to lose? Nothing ventured nothing gained......
What are your thoughts?????
Here are some sites about Miyagi. Google can't find them so easily. Enjoy!
Guides
http://www.miyagitheme.jp/http://travel.japan-tohoku.com/enarea.htmhttp://www.japan-guide.com/list/e1102.htmlhttp://www.northern-tohoku.gr.jp/english/index.htmhttp://www.att-japan.net/modules/tinyd0/rewrite/tc_54.htmlMiyagi
http://www.pref.miyagi.jp/kankou/EN/index.htm-------Sendai
http://www.sentabi.jp/1000/10000000.html http://www.introductiontojapan.com/sights/mapsearch_output.p...-------Sendai
http://miyagi-kankou.or.jp/tourist_infomation/english/index.... (PDF)
-------Sendai Zoo
http://www.city.sendai.jp/kensetsu/yagiyama/english/index.ht...-------Sendai City Centre
http://www.city.sendai.jp/kikaku/kokusai/english/asobu.html-------Matsushima
http://www.town.matsushima.miyagi.jp/english/sightseeing/sig...Yamagata
http://www.yamagatakanko.com/english/http://www.ana.co.jp/eng/guides/anasjapan/index_sm.html?...I'd like to hear your thoughts, so I can give more detailed advice. Please think about it.
One thing is for certain! You should experience Japan. No regrets!