Useful Information for Everyday Living in Minato City We have gathered together useful information to ensure that foreign residents are able to live, work, and study safely and with peace of mind. We would like you to enjoy living in Minato City, so please do not hesitate to contact the numbers and the locations provided in case you run into any problems. Contents 1 Living in Japan 1-1 2 Procedures and Services at City Hall 2-1 3 Daily Life 3-1 4 Preparing for Disasters and What to Do During Disasters 4-1 5 Sickness and its Prevention 5-1 6 Raising Children 6-1 7 Education for Children 7-1 8 Working 8-1 ９ Consultations 9-1 For Inquiries on “Useful Information for Everyday Living in Minato City” Global Community Planning Subsection, Community Promotion Section 03-3578-2046,2524 (Counter 304, 3/F Minato City Hall) Information on Minato City Please also read No.2 [Procedures and Services at City Hall]. Website http://www.city.minato.tokyo.jp (Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean) Contents-1 Minato Call (City Information Service) Information on Minato City’s administrative services, facilities, 03-5472-3710 events, and other details Operating Hours: 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. every day, year round (Japanese, English) *Inquiries may also be made on the Minato City Website Minato City Hall (Main Office) 1-5-25 Shibakoen 03-3578-2111 A 10-minute walk from the north exit ofJRHamamatsucho Station. A five-minute walk from exit A2 of Onarimon Station on the Mita subway line. A five-minute walk from exit A6 of Daimon Station on the Asakusa and Oedo subway lines. Shiba Regional City Office Minato City Hall Main Office 1F/2F, 1-5-25 Shibakoen 03-3578-3111 Azabu Regional City Office 5-16-45 Roppongi 03-3583-4151 A seven-minute walk from exit 3 of Roppongi Station on the Hibiya and Oedo subway lines. A 10-minute walk fromexit 7 of Azabujuban Station on the Oedo and Namboku subway lines. Akasaka Regional City Office 4-18-13 Akasaka 03-5413-7011 An eight-minute walk from exit A of Akasaka-mitsuke Station on the Ginza and Marunouchi subway lines. A 10-minute walk from exit 4 of Aoyama-itchome Station on the Ginza, Hanzomon, and Oedo subway lines. Takanawa Regional City Office 1-16-25 Takanawa 03-5421-7611 A one-minute walk from exit 1 of Shirokane-Takanawa Station on the Namboku and Mita subway lines. Shibaura-konan Regional City Office 1-16-1 Shibaura 03-3456-4151 A five-minute walk from Shibaura Exit of JR Tamachi Station. A six-minute walk from exit A6 of Mita Station on the mita and asakusa subway lines. Shibaura-konan Regional City Office Daiba Annex 1-5-1 Daiba 03-5500-2351 (Counter Services Subsection, Residents Support Section) A one-minute walk from Odaiba Kaihin Park Station on the Tokyo Waterfront New transit Yurikamome. Contents-2 Counter Operating Hours Monday to Friday (except national holidays and between December 29 and January 3) 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Certain counters are open until 7:00 p.m. on Wednesdays. Please contact the Regional City Office respectively for the details available after 5:00 p.m..) Services of Global Community Planning Subsection The Global Community Planning Subsection is involved in a wide range of matters pertaining to Minato City’ s internationalization and multicultural coexistence. The activities include the following. We hope you will make full use of the services. We also welcome inquiries related to other services and any questions you may have at all times. Consultation Services for Foreign Residents Consultations and information on administrative services are available in the City Hall and by telephone. (Japanese and English) Counter operating hours is the same as others excluding noon to 1:00 p.m. 03-3578-2046,2524 Minato Information Board The Global Community Planning Subsection’ s Facebook page. The page provides details on events and other useful information on Minato City. Information will also be provided during disasters. (English and Easy Japanese) https://m.facebook.com/city.minato.mib/ MIM Minato Information Mail (MIM) is distributed twice monthly by e-mail, and contains details on events and other information on Minato City. To join the mailing list, sign up on the Global Community Planning page on the Minato City website. (English, Korean, Chinese and Easy Japanese) Points to take note of with regard to the content in Useful Information for Everyday Living in Minato City *The aforementioned facilities and inquiry counter are closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays unless otherwise stated. *All inquiries are only accepted in Japanese unless otherwise stated. *All information provided is subject to modification. Contents-3 1 Living in Japan Provides information on the items to note when moving, as well as details on concluding contracts essential for daily life, such as electricity, gas, and water. Also contains the necessary procedures for bank accounts and cellphones. Obtaining a Residence Card If you are intending to reside in Japan for three or more months, you will be issued a Residence Card by the Immigration Bureau when you enter Japan from overseas. Please keep this card on your person at all times. Searching for a Place to Live Visit real estate companies in the area where you wish to live to discuss property types, rents, and other conditions, and then rent a property. Renting a property may involve complex procedures, so it is recommended that somebody who speaks and understands Japanese accompany you. Moving Home When moving out of the home where you reside, discuss terminating your housing contract with the real estate company concerned one month prior to the move. If you have large items to move, please look for a moving company who will transport these items. Concluding Contracts for Electricity, Gas, and Water Utilities When moving out of your home, discontinue the electricity, gas, and water supply, and then conclude new utility contracts for your new address. Please contact the electricity, gas, and water companies by telephone or other means ahead of time. 1-1 Search for details on the Internet or ask your friends. In addition to electricity, gas, and water, it is also necessary to change the address on all your other contracts (credit cards, bank accounts, etc.). Opening a Bank Account When opening a bank account for the first time, consult with a bank near your home, your workplace or the school you attend. You can also go to a post office to open a Japan Post bank account. The Shinsei Bank and the Seven Bank provide consultations in English, however, other banks may not be able to do the same, so it is recommended that somebody who speaks and understands Japanese accompany you after you have found out the requirements for opening a bank account. ATMs operated by banks are available in convenience stores, large commercial buildings, and similar facilities. Some overseas credit cards may not be accepted. You cannot withdraw cash in Japanese yen using credit cards or other bank cards issued overseas. Obtaining a Cellphone Please check the necessary procedures for obtaining a cellphone from your desired cellphone provider’ s website. Cellphones may also be obtained at large electrical appliance stores and cellphone outlets. Residence Registration Please register your residence at the Ward Office or City Hall for the area where you live within 14 days of moving into that address. This procedure is called residence registration. Please read No. 2 [Procedures and Services at City Hall] for more details. Points to Note When Living in an Apartment Residents of apartments in Japan are required to observe certain manners, such as keeping the place clean and refraining from making loud noises, and rules for disposing of trash. Discuss this with the real estate company or with your Japanese friends. 1-2 Procedures and 2 Services at City Hall Provides information on the procedures that can be carried out at the City Hall. Certain procedures must be carried out when changing your address, when getting married, and when giving birth. City Hall and Regional City Offices In addition to the City Hall, Minato City operates five Regional City Offices (Shiba, Azabu, Akasaka, Takanawa, and Shibaura-konan) and the Daiba Annex. You can go to the Regional Office or Annex near your home for various procedures and services. The addresses and telephone numbers of the Regional City Offices can be found on the page containing the table of contents. Residence Registration People who stay in Japan for three or more months and live in Minato City have to register their residence at a Regional City Office or the Annex. Unless they are registered as residents, they cannot receive the various services or certificates the city provides. When Visiting the Minato City Hall What to Bring (Regional City Office) Residence Cards, My Number Cards or My When moving from other locations Number Notification Cards of all members of the within Japan (procedures must be family; and Certificate of Change of Address completed within 14 days) issued by the previous ward or city of residence When moving from overseas Passport and Residence Card of all members of the (within 14 days) family; marriage certificate; and birth certificate When moving from other locations Residence Card and Health Insurance Card of all in Minato City (within 14 days) members of the family (if you have NHI) 2-1 Passport; Residence Card; and Certificate of Upon marriage Eligibility for Marriage Upon pregnancy Passport and Residence Card Birth Certificate from the hospital where the childbirth Upon childbirth (within 14 days) took place; Maternal and Child Health Handbook, Health Insurance Card; and Residence Card Death Certificate signed by a doctor; Residence Upon a family member’ s death Card, pension book, and National Health (within 7 days) Insurance card (if s/he had NHI) of the deceased When moving from Minato City to Residence Card, National Health Insurance card (if another location (from two you have NHI) weeks prior to the move) Resident Tax People registered as residents of Minato City on January 1 will receive a payment slip in June of that year as a demand for payment of annual Resident Tax to the city.