A Guide to Life in New Residents’ Reference Booklet ENGLISH December 2019 Picture of Kurobe 1 Table of Contents Welcome to Kurobe!...........................................................6 I. Emergencies Emergency Phone Numbers...............................................8 • List of Police Stations & Kōbans................................9 • List of Fire Stations..................................................11 Natural Disasters..............................................................12 • Useful Words for Natural Disasters..........................13 • Disaster Preparation................................................14 Evacuation Centers..........................................................18 • List of Major Evacuation Centers.............................20 • Useful Words for Evacuations..................................22 Emergency Bags..............................................................23 II. All About Kurobe What is Kurobe City?........................................................27 Our Mayor.........................................................................29 Wōtarō: Our Mascot.........................................................30 Kurobe’s Magazine...........................................................31 Kurobe City’s Sister & Friendship Cities...........................32 Kurobe’s Climate..............................................................34 3 Picture of Kurobe 1 Table of Contents III. City Hall Procedures About City Hall..................................................................39 • List of Divisions........................................................40 Most Visited Divisions.......................................................42 Notification Procedures for Foreign Residents.................43 Documents & Processing Fees........................................46 Pregnancy Healthcare......................................................49 Dog Ownership Regulations.............................................56 IV. Transportation Public Transportation........................................................61 • Buses.......................................................................61 • Ainokaze Toyama Railway.......................................61 • Toyama Chihō Railway............................................62 The Hokuriku Shinkansen.................................................63 • Parking.....................................................................64 • Routes......................................................................65 • Luggage...................................................................66 Bike Sharing (“Choi Nori Kurobe”)....................................67 4 Picture of Kurobe 1 Table of Contents V. Life in Kurobe Shopping..........................................................................72 Post Offices......................................................................76 Hospitals and Clinics........................................................78 Garbage and Recycling....................................................89 • Burnable Garbage....................................................93 • Non-Burnable Garbage............................................94 • Direct Disposal of Garbage......................................97 • Disposal of Other Items.........................................101 • Recycling...............................................................104 • List of Recycling Centers.................................107 References Complete List of Evacuation Centers.............................109 5 Welcome to Kurobe! Welcome to Kurobe: a City of Nature’s Symphony, Culture, and Exchange! Kurobe is blessed with a wide variety of nature, from the secluded forests and valleys of Kurobe Gorge to the hot springs of Unazuki Onsen. Kurobe has been shaped by its stunning mountains, rivers, and oceans, meaning there is a vast beauty here for you to explore. From hiking to river canyoning, Kurobe has it all! Kurobe is perhaps best known for having some of the clearest and purest water in Japan (“Meisui“), which provides the city with the means to grow top-quality rice and produce delicious beer and Meisui pork. Kurobe is also home to many agricultural and fishing industries, as well as the international manufacturer YKK. Enjoy your new life here and take in everything Kurobe has to offer! 6 Emergencies Picture of Kurobe 1 Emergencies Emergency Numbers For the police: CALL 110 For an ambulance or a fire department: CALL 119 ➢ Calls to 110 and 119 are free (no money or phone cards necessary if using a public phone). ➢ In cases of crimes or car accidents, please contact the police. ➢ If you need to report a crime in-person, please visit the nearest police station or kōban (police box) listed on the next page. ➢ The police are also helpful for assisting lost persons, managing lost and found items, and providing directions. 8 Picture of Kurobe 1 Emergencies Police Stations & Kōbans 黒部警察署 Kurobe Police Department 1524-1 Mikkaichi, Kurobe City, Toyama 938-0031 TEL: 0765-54-0110 • 生地警察官駐在所 Ikuji Police Substation 904-2 Iizawa, Kurobe City, Toyama 938-0004 TEL: 0765-56-8059 • 三日市交番 Mikkaichi Kōban 3134-2 Mikkaichi, Kurobe City, Toyama 938-0031 TEL: 0765-52-1037 • 石田警察官駐在所 Ishida Police Substation 62 Shōkōjishin, Kurobe City, Toyama 938-0054 TEL: 0765-52-1344 • 大布施警察官駐在所 Ōfuse Police Substation 325-1 Kanaya, Kurobe City, Toyama 938-0022 TEL: 0765-52-0411 • 田家警察官駐在所 Taie Police Substation 568-1 Taieshin, Kurobe City, Toyama 938-0045 TEL: 0765-52-2001 9 Picture of Kurobe 1 Emergencies Police Stations & Kōbans • 東布施警察官駐在所 Higashifuse Police Substation 901-5 Shakado, Kurobe City, Toyama 938-0823 TEL: 0765-58-1110 • 村椿警察官駐在所 Muratsubaki Police Substation 2634-6 Yoshida, Kurobe City, Toyama 938-0005 TEL: 0765-57-1423 • 若栗警察官駐在所 Wakaguri Police Substation 1257-2 Wakaguri, Kurobe City, Toyama 938-0802 TEL: 0765-52-1965 • 宇奈月温泉駐在所 Unazuki Onsen Police Substation 330-18 Unazukionsen, Kurobe City, Toyama 938-0282 TEL: 0765-62-1223 • 愛本警察官駐在所 Aimoto Police Substation 2091-1 Unazukimachi Aimotoshin, Kurobe City, Toyama 938- 0178 TEL: 0765-65-0435 • 東山警察官駐在所 Higashiyama Police Substation 196-5 Unazukimachi Urayama, Kurobe City, Toyama 938- 0862 TEL: 0765-65-0045 10 Emergencies Fire Stations 新川地域消防本部／黒部消防署 Niikawa Regional Fire Department Headquarters/Kurobe Fire Department 761-1 Ueki, Kurobe City, Toyama 938-0014 TEL: 0765-54-0119 • 宇奈月消防署 Unazuki Fire Department 3353 Unazukionsen, Kurobe City, Toyama 938-0282 TEL: 0765-65-2940 Kurobe Fire Department 11 Picture of Kurobe 1 Emergencies Natural Disasters Common Disasters in Japan Earthquakes Earthquakes are natural phenomena that cause the ground to shake and can occur without warning. Earthquakes are particularly dangerous as they can cause subsequent issues such as: • tsunamis (large ocean waves) that rush toward the land • landslides around mountainous regions, which may cause buildings and roads to collapse • suspension of electricity, gas, or water • loss of network connectivity for mobile phones Tsunamis A tsunami is an extremely fast, large, and dangerous wave that may arise after an earthquake occurs near or under the ocean. • If you spend time in costal areas, find a safe place to escape to and an escape route in the event of a tsunami. • If you feel an earthquake, head immediately to higher ground. Do not attempt to drive your car. • Tsunamis may strike land multiple times. It is extremely dangerous to be near the coast even after the first wave recedes. 12 Picture of Kurobe 1 Emergencies Natural Disasters Useful Words for Natural Disasters Japanese Hiragana Romanization English 災害 さいがい saigai disaster 火事 かじ kaji fire 洪水 こうずい kōzui flood 地震 じしん jishin earthquake 台風 たいふう taifū typhoon 津波 つなみ tsunami tsunami 崖崩れ がけくずれ gakekuzure landslide After Effects Japanese Hiragana Romanization English earthquake しんど shindo 震度 magnitude Meaning: size of an earthquake よしん yoshin aftershock 余震 Meaning: small earthquake after a large earthquake ていでん teiden power outage 停電 Meaning: electricity is cut off だんすい dansui water outage 断水 Meaning: running water has been cut off 13 Picture of Kurobe 1 Emergencies Disaster Preparation Preparing Your Home It is also important to prepare your home for natural disasters and their aftermath. Earthquake Preparation ⑤ ① ② ④ ③ ① Dressers, ② TVs, Monitors ④ Refrigerators Bookcases Use adhesive matts or Insert safety straps through Secure dressers, strips to hold TVs and the mounting loops on wardrobes, and monitors in place. refrigerators and bind to bookcases to the wall ③ China Cabinets wall mounts to secure. with metal brackets. For cabinets with double ⑤ Lighting Use brackets to doors that open, install a Use chains and brackets reinforce the joints of bracket to prevent the doors to secure light fixtures to furniture that can from opening, and affix multiple spots. For separate into multiple safety film to glass windows fluorescent lights, tape pieces. to prevent shattering. both ends of lightbulbs with heat-resistant tape. 14 Emergencies Disaster Preparation Preparing Your Home (cont.) Stockpiling After a natural disaster, water and power outages may occur, so it is important to stockpile items in your home in case of emergencies. • drinking water (3 liters per person, per day; enough for 7 days) • food stores (enough for 7-10 days) • portable gas butane stove and gas cartridges • disposable hot packs • portable toilet or disposable toilet bags • broom and dustpan • sandals • shovel, crowbar, jack, ax • water tank • items that