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| ■Electricity |
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[Using electricity]
The electric current is 100 volts / 60 Hz in western Japan and it is 100 volts / 50 Hz in eastern Japan. In Hyogo it is 100 volts / 60 Hz. Note that there may be some electrical appliances which cannot be used due to this frequency difference. If you use many electrical appliances at the same time, you may use more amps than is stated in your contract, resulting in the circuit breaker switching off. If this happens, reduce the number of electrical appliances in use and switch on the circuit by flipping up the switch on the breaker. If you want to change the amp volume in your contract, contact your electrical supply company. It will install a new increased amp circuit breaker. However, your electricity bill will also increase. You may also contact an electrical maintenance company. |
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[How to pay an electricity bill]
The amount on the bill should be paid by the stated due date at a bank, post office, or convenience store. It is possible to have the bill automatically deducted from your account at a bank or post office. |
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| ■Gas |
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[Using gas]
There are 2 types of gas used in the home, toshi gas and propane gas. The type will vary depending on the district. It is very dangerous to use gas appliances unsuited to the type of gas you use. Using gas improperly is extremely dangerous. so, be very careful. |
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[How to pay a gas bill]
The amount on the bill should be paid by the stated due date at a bank, post office, or convenience store. It is possible to have the bill automatically deducted from your account at a bank or post office. |
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| ■Water |
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[Using water]
When you want to start to use water, contact your local water supply board. If you have any water-related troubles (the water supply stops or you find water leaking from the pipes), contact your local water supply board. |
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[How to pay a water bill]
The amount on the bill should be paid by the stated due date at a bank, post office, or convenience store. It is possible to have the bill automatically deducted from your account at a bank or post office. |
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| ■Garbage / Recycling |
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| A city office collects garbage from households. How the garbage is separated and put out for collection differs from district to district. Ask a neighbor or your city office for details of garbage collection (the place, day, and time). Put your garbage out on the assigned day in the assigned manner. |
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[How to separate garbage]
Some districts separate burnable garbage and non-combustible garbage, while some do not. According to the type of garbage, some districts make a distinction between garbage boxes or collection days. Concerning the separation of garbage, please ask your neighbors or your municipality. |
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[How to dispose of bulky garbage or large item garbage]
Electric applications (apart from air conditioners, televisions, refrigerators, freezers and washing machines), and furniture are collected in various manners according to the area where you live. While in some districts the collection day is fixed, there are other places where a designated day of collection is communicated beforehand.
In some districts, it is necessary to pay some collection fees beforehand.
Therefore, please ask your municipality. |
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[Unneeded air-conditioners, televisions, refrigerators and washing-machines]
Air conditioners, televisions, refrigerators, and washing machines can not be collected. If you do not need them anymore, ask the store where you bought them or the store where you bought a replacement to take them back when purchasing a new one. |
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[The collection of items which can be recycled]
Items such as old newspapers, magazines, empty cans, bottles, etc, which can be recycled are collected separately from regular garbage in some districts. The kinds of items which can be recycled and the methods of collection vary from district to district. For information on how to put out such items for collection, ask a neighbor or your city, ward, town or village office. |
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| ■Car |
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| If you intend to drive a car in Japan, you need to pay special attention to the following matters: |
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You need a Japanese driver's license or an international one. International driver's license is valid for one year. After one year, you must exchange your international driver's license for a Japanese one, or take the test for a Japanese driving license. |
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You will be punished if you drive without a license. |
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Automobile insurance includes Compulsory Automobile Liability Insurance (Jidosha Songai Baisho Sekinin Hoken) which you are required to have by law, and optional insurance. |
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| ■Bicycle |
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| You should not take bicycles discarded at the station. Such bicycles may have an owner or they may be stolen by someone and set down after use. Taking such discarded bicycles may result in trouble such as a police hearing. Theft-prevention Registration (Bohan Toroku) of bicycles is compulsory. When you purchase a bicycle, check with the store, and register the bicycle. If you cannot register at a bicycle shop, please go to the police station by yourself and enroll in Theft-prevention Registration. This registration will help you find your bicycle easily in case you lose it. |
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| ■Traffic regulation |
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In Japan, pedestrians walk on the right and cars drive on the left.
You must always walk on the sidewalk and use the crosswalk when you cross the road. When you use the crosswalk with the light, obey the signals, and make sure that no cars are coming from your right side and left side. |
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| *** Traffic rule *** |
Green light
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Pedestrians and drivers can walk and go straight ahead. Also you can turn to the right and left.
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| Yellow light |
Pedestrians cannot start across the road. If pedestrians are crossing a road, they have to finish crossing or back-track. |
| Red light |
Pedestrians cannot cross a road. Drivers must bring the car to a halt on the stop line in front of the crosswalk. |
| Blinking yellow light |
Pedestrians and drivers can go straight ahead with caution. |
| Blinking red light |
Pedestrians can go straight ahead with caution. Also drivers can go straight ahead after stopping on the stop line. |
| Green light of human image |
Pedestrians can go straight ahead. |
| Blinking green light of human image |
Pedestrians cannot start across the road. If pedestrians are crossing a road, they have to finish crossing or back-track. |
| Red light of human image |
Pedestrians cannot cross a road. |
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| ■Postal services |
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[Post office]
Japanese postal services are generally provided by post offices. Besides post offices, post cards and stamps can be purchased at shops displaying the post office symbol " ".
Post offices are located in every city, ward, town, and village in Japan, including sparsely populated areas. In Japan, a 7-digit postal code is used. When sending mail within Japan use the postal code in order to have the mail delivered quickly and accurately to the addressee. |
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[International mail]
When sending letters or parcels abroad |
EMS (Kokusai Speed Bin)
[International Priority Mail]
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For documents and items which need to receive priority treatment and arrive speedily and accurately the EMS is available to over 120 countries and regions.
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| Kokubin[AIRMAIL] |
To send mail by airplane use Kokubin. |
Economy Koku (SAL) Bin
[Economy Air] |
Economy Koku (SAL) Bin is cheaper than airmail, but faster than surface mail. |
| Funabin [Surface Mail] |
To send mail by ship (surface mail) use Funabin. |
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| * For information on size and weight limits, etc., inquire at a post office. |
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| ■Telephone |
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[Getting a new telephone line connected to your residence]
To get a new telephone line connected to your residence, you must apply to NTT or other telephone service providers. When applying, proof of your name and address is necessary (passport, certificate of alien registration, driver's license, etc.) A fee is charged for making the connection. When applying, the date of the connection will be decided. The applicant (someone) must be at home on that day. For details on NTT service, telephone 116. |
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| [Information guide numbers (no prefix)] |
113
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In case the line is faulty
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115
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In case you send a telegram
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| 114 |
In case the number you call is always busy |
116 |
In case move or for other general enquiries about telephone service |
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[How to pay a telephone bill]
Pay the bill from the telephone company as instructed before the due-date at the nearest telephone company sales office, bank, post office, or convenience store. Paying the bill by bank or post office transfer is also a convenient method. To apply to pay by bank or post office transfer, bring a telephone bill, your bankbook, the seal used at the bank or post office to your bank, post office, or Telephone Company and make the application. |
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[How to make an international telephone call]
International telephone calls can be made directly from private and some public telephones. Depending on the telephone company you use, the charges as well as the countries / districts you can call may vary. Depending on the telephone, a simple procedure may be required before making the call. For details, enquire at the telephone company you are using. To make an international telephone call from a public telephone, use the green or grey telephones that have a gold colored panel on the front and have [International & Domestic] displayed on them. Coins and telephone cards can be used to make international telephone calls. |
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[How to apply for mobile phone service]
At present, mobile phones can be used in most areas. Since there are a number of mobile telephone companies such as NTTdocomo, au, or softbank, enquiries should be made directly to the company of your choice. |
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| ■Bank, Cash transfer |
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[Opening a bank account]
Personal identification such as a passport, driver's license, Certificate of Alien Registration, etc. is required when opening a bank account. There are several different kinds of savings accounts;
Futsu (Sogo) Yokin - Ordinary (General) Savings,
Teiki Yokin - Fixed-Term Deposits,
Toza Furikae Yokin - Checking (Savings),
Tsumitate Yokin - Cumulative deposits.
If you open a bank account you can obtain a bankcard (cash card). With a bankcard and a registered PIN (Personal Identity Number), you can withdraw cash, deposit cash, make a bank transfer, check your account balance, etc. at an ATM (Automatic Teller Machine). |
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[ATM (Automatic Teller Machine)]
If you have a bank account, register a PIN, and have a bank (cash) card, you can make a deposit, a withdrawal, or transfer money with this card. Operating the ATM is fairly simple. ATMs usually have a Japanese instruction screen (panel), but some have English language instructions.
The waiting time at ATMs is comparatively shorter than that for the counter service. If you do not know how to use an ATM, ask a bank guide in the lobby or at the counter to help you. Recently, ATMs have also been placed in convenience stores. |
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[Overseas remittances at banks]
If you receive money from an international banking establishment, you must notify following information:
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the payee's bank name, branch name, and address |
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the payee's name, branch code, and account number |
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The beneficiary's address, and phone number (necessary to notice the receipt of payment) |
To receipt a remittance from overseas, commission will be charged. The payee will have to pay charges at his / her bank. Cost 2,500 yen or more. For details regarding charges, and length of time required, enquire at the bank. |
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| [Overseas remittances at a post office] |
International Money Orders
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Postal transfer account or bank account
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| When the remittance is wired, a post office sends an exchange certificate to the payee. With the exchange certificate, the payee can get cashed at a post office.。 |
If you have a postal saving account, overseas remittance will be deposited into your accounts.
Depending on an amount of money, commission may be charged. |
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| ■Cooling-off system for signed Contracts |
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If for some reason you signed a contract with a visiting salesperson, but later realize that you want to terminate the contract, a cooling-off system can be applied. By using this system, in principle, a contract can be terminated unconditionally within 8 days of signing it. If you sign a contract under duress, etc., it may be possible for it to be terminated even after the cooling-off period has expired under the Consumer Contract Law (shohisha keiyaku ho).
For details, enquire at National Consumer Affairs Center (Hyogokenritsu Seikatsu kagaku Sogo Center) |
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National Consumer Affairs Center (Hyogokenritsu Seikatsu kagaku Sogo Center)
TEL: 078-303-0999 |
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