Everyday matters 
How do I rent a house or a room?
[1] The floor plan of residences in Japan are indicated by the letters
nLDK. n for the number of rooms, L for living room, D for dining room
and K for kitchen. (For example, 1K means one room & a kitchen; 1DK:
one room & a dining kitchen; 1LDK: one room, a living room & a
dining kitchen).
[2] Room size is expressed according to the number of tatami mats(jo),
for example4.5 jo, where 1 mat measures 1.8m x 0.9m(5'10" x 2'11").
[3] Initial Deposit (Tetsuke-kin)
This is paid to the real estate agent to guarantee the completion of
the formal contract for the property you want to rent before the official
contract is entered into. This payment holds the property for you and
no one else can rent it. This deposit will be appropriated to a part
of the first month's rent after the contract is finalized. If, for
some reason, you decide not to rent the property, the deposit will
not be returned. The deposit usually equates to one month's rent.
[4] Formal Contract
The formal rental contract is concluded by completing a contract form
and by paying key money (rei-kin), a refundable deposit (shiki-kin),
commission to the real estate agent, and the rent for the month computed
on a day-by-day basis. The rei-kin is paid to the landlord upon conclusion
of the formal rental contract; unlike the shiki- kin, it is not refunded.
The shiki-kin is paid to the landlord as security for the payment of
rent. It is refunded to the tenant upon withdrawal from the rented
house or apartment. However, if the tenant's rent falls into arrears,
or if the tenant is held responsible for any act resulting in damage
to the rented house or apartment, the shiki-kin will be refunded with
the amount in arrears or damage compensation deducted. A commission
of one month's rent is usually paid to a real estate agent for helping
to arrange a rental contract.
How do I dispose of garbage and refuse ?
Ordinary domestic waste is collected and disposed of by local municipal
bodies. They usually designate collection dates and points where residents
are asked to bring their domestic waste. Waste is classified into burnable,
non-burnable, resources and large items. Some municipal bodies may
also designate the type of waste bag to be used.
Classification of waste and recycling policies vary from municipality
to municipality, so please ask your landlord, neighbors, or a municipal
officer for the local garbage disposal rule. In general, burnable rubbish
includes kitchen waste, paper goods and small plastic items. Non-burnable
rubbish includes aerosol cans(please puncture before putting them out),
glass and other small metal items. Resources usually include aluminum
cans, steel cans, paper cartons, card boxes, newspaper, magazines and
books.
Large items, such as furniture, televisions, etc., will not be collected
with household garbage. You must make an appointment with the city, town
or village office (See contacts) to have such items removed.
Basic Rules on Taking Out Garbage
(1) Take out garbage on the scheduled day only.
(2) Take garbage to the designated area.
(3) Separate recyclable garbage and take it out on the appropriate recycling
collection day.
Electricity, gas and water
[1] Electricity
When you move into a house or an apartment and wish to start using electricity,
please turn on the ampere breaker and circuit breaker switch. If the
power remains off, call a service station of the Tohoku Electricity
Power Company Ltd.
In Japan, electric circuits in the eastern part of the country use different
cycles than those of the western part. In Fukushima, the current is 50
hertz and 100 volts. Before using appliances, check that they can be
used with the local current. Using appliances which do not match the
current and voltage may cause damage to both the appliances and the circuits,
and it is also dangerous.
If you overload a circuit with too many appliances, the safety breaker
switch will automatically cut off the electricity. If this happens, shut
off or remove some of the appliances, then turn the breaker switch to
its original position to restore the flow of electricity.
[2]Gas
In Fukushima Prefecture, generally, 2 types of gas are used: natural
gas and LP (liquefied petroleum, propane). Please confirm which type
is being used in your unit.
Notify the nearest branch of a gas company when you wish to have the
gas connected. Have the service man switch on the gas and check that
your appliances are correctly adjusted for the type of gas supplied.
Safety rules
Be sure to turn on an exhaust fan or open a window when using any gas
appliances. Be sure to turn off the gas valve after use.
If there are any problems, turn off the main valve immediately. Do not
light any matches or use an open flame.
Use appliances which conform to safety standards. Using appliances which
do not match the gas type may cause accidents, such as fire or carbon
monoxide poisoning.
[3] Water
When you move into a new residence, notify the local Waterworks Bureau.
In the case of underground leakage or burst pipes, turn off the main
water shut-off valve (inside the meter box) first, and then call the
local Waterworks Bureau, or an authorized plumber. In Fukushima Prefecture,
water pipes sometimes freeze in winter. Turn off the main shut-off
valve and draw water off to avoid frozen pipes on extra cold nights
or during long absences. If the pipe freezes, wrap the faucet with
a towel and pour hot water on it. It should soon start to flow; however,
if it does not, call the local Waterworks Bureau or an authorized plumber.
Telephone services
Telephone numbers are divided into parts, e.g. 024-521-1111, which consists
of the area code, the exchange code and subscriber number. You don't
need to dial the area code if it is the same as your town.
[1] Installing a new telephone
Due to deregulation and innovative technology, the telecommunications
market in Japan is drastically changing. Therefore, it is advisable
to ask the advice of someone before installing a new telephone.
First, a telephone subscription right must be bought. This costs \72,800
plus tax if purchased direct from NTT, but can be as cheap as some \40,000
if bought through a real estate agent or electric appliance store, where
old subscriptions are resold. The price of this subscription is gradually
decreasing.
To have a new telephone installed, go to the NTT branch office nearest
you. You have to submit your foreign resident's registration card or
your driver's license to establish your identity and to confirm your
address. If special installation work is needed, it is billed later along
with your regular telephone bill. Installation is done by reservation
and someone must be at home when the serviceman comes.
Telephone charges consist of the basic monthly charge, a call charge
corresponding to the number of times you have called and total calling
time, and value-added charges such as for the use of a touch-tone phone.
As for local calls, for instance, \10 is the basic rate for a 3 minute
day&night time call (8:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m.), and a 4 minute late night
call (11:00 p.m.- 8:00 a.m.).
[2] Domestic Long Distance Calls
For domestic long distance calls from home phones, companies offer moderate
rates and a wide range of services. You simply dial an access number
to access the chosen company's service, followed by the number you
wish to reach. There is no monthly basic charge, and for some companies
you need not even register in advance.
You can obtain details at the following URLs.
NTT Communications http://www.ntt.com/index-e.html
DDI (0077) http://www.ddi.co.jp/index-e.html
JT (0088) http://service.japan-telecom.co.jp/english/index.html
KDD http://www.kdd.co.jp/indexe.html
[3] International Calls
There are two ways to make international calls: (1) Direct dialing of
international telephone numbers (International Subscriber Dialing Calls)
(2) Calls made through operators (Operator-Assisted Calls).
For rates and services in detail please refer to the websites of the
following Japanese toll companies.
KDD (001) http://www.kdd.co.jp/indexe.html
JT (0041) http://service.japan-telecom.co.jp/english/index.html
IDC (0061) http://www.idc.co.jp/english/
For direct dialing, dial the access number + country code + area code
+ subscriber number.
Access numbers: KDD=001; ITJ=0041; IDC=0061
Example of a telephone call through KDD to the number 123-4567 in New
York City, USA.
001+1(212)123-4567
KDD's access number + code for USA + area code for New York City + subscriber
number.
For operator-assisted calls, dial 0051.
The following types of calls are also available: Direct calls, person-to-person
calls, collect calls, credit card calls.
For information concerning international calls:
KDD (Kokusai Denshin Denwa/international phone company) Tel. 0057 (Toll
free)
JT (Japan Telecom) Tel. 0088-41 (Toll free)
IDC (Kokusai Digital Tsushin/International Digital Communication) Tel.
0120-03-0061 (Toll free)
[4] "Callback" International Call
International callback systems are designed to provide less expensive
U.S. international rates to countries outside the United States.
<HOW TO USE>
1) Dial a pre-assigned U.S. number through KDD or ITJ, etc., which never
answers. (Here you are calling a callback computer.)
2) Let it ring once and hang up.
3) The computer immediately calls you back with a dial tone.
4) Pick up the phone and dial the desired number, as if you are calling
from the U.S. starting from 011?{the necessary country code.
Service qualities, rates and options vary from one company to another.
Please refer to the companies' websites for more information. Here are
a couple of URLs.
World Link http://www.mmjp.or.jp/worldlink.ir/
Americom http://www.americom.com/
[5] Mobile Phones (Keitai)
There are three main mobile phone companies in Japan
SOFT BANK: www.softbank.co.jp/en/index.html
NTT DOCOMO: www.nttdocomo.co.jp/english
AU: www.au.kddi.com/english/
Coverage from all carriers is excellent in all cities, but Docomo is
known for their better coverage in rural areas. Monthly plans vary in
prices, but generally your keitai bill should be something in the 3000
to 4000 yen range per month.
Prepaid phones are available if you feel you wont be using your phone
much, but the quality of the phones is pretty low. Recharge cards are
available at most convenience stores.
You must bring your alien registeration card as well as a hanko if you
wish to purchase a mobile phone in Japan.
[6] Public Telephones
Public telephones are conveniently located throughout the city. There
are several types of public phones; some accept only coins (\10 and
\100 coins) and others accept both coins and telephone cards. There
are also public telephones exclusively equipped for telephone cards.
Telephone cards are available at convenience stores, and vending
machines are often found right by the public phones in stations, supermarkets
or department stores.
<HOW TOUSE>
1) Lift the receiver and place the appropriate coin (10 yen or 100 yen)
into the slot, or, if the telephone is equipped for card use, place
a telephone card into the slot.
2) When a beeping sound is heard, dial the number you wish to reach.
The cost of a call is calculated according to its length with the charge
commencing at the point when the call has been received. If a beeping
sound is heard during the conversation, this is a signal that your time
is about to run out. If you want to continue the conversation, quickly
place additional coins in the slot. Calls within the same area code are
10 yen for a minute and half. Calls outside the area code are calculated
according to the distance between the caller and receiver, and the length
of the call.
Many public phones can be used for international calls and some are
equipped for data communications through ISDN. Instructions are usually
found on displays and placards installed on telephones or inside telephone
booths.
[7] Internet-based International Telephone Service
Internet phone services enable you make international calls at a low
cost. Your call is first connected to a normal phone company and transmitted
to the Internet, then connected back to another phone company, finally
reaching the receiver. It is less expensive, however line quality largely
depends on the bandwidth and throughput. The service can be provided
on a telephone to telephone and a computer to computer basis or between
a computer and a telephone. To find out more about this service, please
refer to the WWW.
[8] International Telegrams
Call 03-3344-5151(KDD), or go to an NTT or KDD office. E-4. Telephone
services
Internet service
There are three main providers of internet favoured in Fukushima - NTT
FLETS, PLALA, and Yahoo BB.
Depending on where you live, you may not have access to all of the services.
The best way to getting an internet connection is to either go directly
to an electronics store with a Japanese speaker, or visit: www.bbapply.com
to receive english support.
Postal service
Most neighborhood post offices are open Monday through Friday from 9:00
to 17:00. However, some of the larger offices are open on Saturdays and
Sundays.
Domestic Mail
a. Letters
Those letters falling within the size measurement of 14 - 23.5 cm x 9
- 12cm x 1cm in thickness, and not exceeding 50g are treated as being
regular mail or standard size mail. Those which exceed the above dimensions
will be handled under a separate system. Minimum postage rate is 90 yen.
b. Post cards
Official postcards are sold at the post office. Postage (41 yen) is already
attached. When you require a reply from the receiver, please use a
return post card (oufukuhgaki).
c. Small parcels
For items other than letters or written documents, postage for regular
packages will be determined by their weight and point of destination.
Publications of any kind may be sent as printed matter at a lower cost.
International Mail
a. Regular mail
The maximum weight of regular mail is 2 kg. Postage charges are determined
by the weight of the letter and the country of destination.
b. Aerograms (airmail letter sheets)
Special, internationally recognized aerograms can be purchased for 80
yen at your local post office. These are airmail letter sheets. They
require neither envelopes nor stamps.
c. Post cards
Post cards which can be sent world-wide can be purchased for 70 yen each
at your local post office. Various other post cards are available,
but charges are calculated according to the size and shape standards
of domestic mail.
d. Small packets
These depend upon the country of destination. In general, packages under
2 kg are handled as small packets, are parcels under 20 kg in weight
are handled as regular packages. (Some countries limit the above weight
to 10 kg; check with your local post office.)
Types of delivery service
1. Airmail (In general, items sent airmail will reach their receiver
within 4 to 8 days).
2. Surface mail (sea mail) (In general, items will reach their point
of destination within 20 to 80 days. The cost is roughly one third that
of airmail.
3. SAL (Delivery time for SAL packages is between 2 and 3 weeks. This
service is less expensive than airmail, and faster than sea mail.
4. International business mail (If the destination point is a major city,
delivery can be made within one to two days. In order to utilize such
a service, visit the main post office to obtain a special "business
mail number" ("EMS").
Banking service
Opening an account
Savings accounts and banking services in Japan are provided by both banks
(ginkou) and post office (yubinkyoku).
To open an account with any bank or post office, in general, it is necessary
to complete a "New Savings Account Application" (yokin shinki
moshikomi-sho) and provide identification, in the form of either your
passport or alien registration card. For daily transactions, Japanese
banks usually require a name seal (inkan) for identification, but foreign
residents are allowed to use a written signature in lieu of a name seal.
Remittance Abroad
1) Postal money transfer (kokusai yubin kawase)
Yen can be exchanged for foreign currency in the form of a cashier's
check at the local post office. The check can be made out to anyone but
yourself. You must show a form of ID (driver's license, Alien Registration
Card or passport) at the office. The charges are follows:
Amount Commission
up to 100,000 yen 1,000 yen
100,001 - 200,000 yen 1,500 yen
200,001 - 500,000 yen 2,000 yen
500,001 - 1,000,000 yen 2,500 yen
1,000,001 - 1,500,000 yen 3,000 yen
1,500,000 - 2,000,000 yen 3,500 yen
Five hundred yen is added to the commission for every 500,000 over 2,000,000
yen.
When sending money to the United States, the commission is 500 yen less
than the above mentioned price and you can mail the check yourself. However,
the post office can send the check to the destination country by airmail
for you. It will generally take 10-14 days, but can take up to six weeks
to reach some countries. Denshin or express transfer is available at
a higher cost.
This method cannot be used to send money to New Zealand, Ireland, Argentina,
Iran, Iraq, Singapore, Russia and other countries. For more information,
please contact your local post office.
2)Remittance abroad through banks
Remittance Abroad is handled at authorized foreign exchange banks. (Such
banks are able to cash traveler's checks as well.)
There are three different methods of sending money overseas: remittance
check, telegraphic transfer and mail transfer. Money can be sent abroad
using any of these methods by completing an overseas remittance request
form, which is available at banks.
1) Telegraphic transfer (denshin sokin):
remittance charge 2,000 yen, telegraph rate 2,000 yen, correspondence
charge 3,000 yen, takes about 2 to 6 days
2) Mail transfer (futsu sokin):
remittance charge 2,000 yen, correspondence charge 1,500 yen, takes several
days more than telegraphic transfer.
3) Remittance check (sokin kogitte):
remittance charge 2,000 yen, correspondence charge 1,500 yen. You must
send it yourself.
Charges may vary from bank to bank.
Tax system in Japan
All persons residing in Japan, regardless of nationality, are obliged
to pay tax, the main ones being personal income taxes, which is levied
by the central government, and resident's tax, which is levied by local
wards or municipalities.
Personal income tax
Personal income tax is levied on income obtained between January 1 and
December 31. In principle, a taxpayer must declare his/her total income
over the year in a final tax return and pay the necessary taxation.
A final tax return must be filed at the local tax office during the
period between February 16 and March 15 of the following year.
Most salaried workers are not required to submit a final return. The
personal income tax is deducted from their salaries under a withholding
tax system. However, salaried workers with an annual salary of more than
15 yen million or with additional income amounting to more than 200,000
yen a year must submit a final tax return.
In the case of foreigners, taxable income differs according to whether
(1) they are permanent residents (who have resided in Japan continuously
for five or more years), (2) nonpermanent residents (who have resided
in Japan for fewer than five years and do not intend to become permanent
residents as defined above), and (3) nonresidents (who have been in Japan
for less than one year).
Resident's Tax
Resident's taxes paid by people living in Fukushima Prefecture consists
of Fukushima Prefecture resident's tax and municipal resident's tax.
Resident's taxes are levied by the municipal office in the district
where the taxpayer is living as of January 1st. Taxes are calculated
on the basis of the previous year's earnings and notification is sent
by the municipal office. Persons with questions about resident's taxes
are advised to contact their local municipal office (See G-1). Queries
about final returns should be directed to the local tax office.
Automobile Tax
Those who own an automobile in Fukushima Prefecture must pay a yearly
automobile tax as of April 1st. (If you buy an automobile on an installment
plan, you are subject to the Automobile Tax of the prefecture where
the automobile is registered). If you newly register your car, throw
away your car, transfer ownership or move from Fukushima Prefecture,
please notify the tax authority and complete the specified procedures
applying to your case as soon as possible. If the procedure is not
completed, you will still receive tax notices as the taxation office
will not be aware of the fact you are no longer in possession of the
automobile. The amount of tax payable will be calculated on a monthly
basis. For further information, please contact the Fukushima Prefecture
Automobile Taxation Office. Tel. 024-521-7732
Educational system in Japan
Japan operates a 6-3-3-4 educational system: six years of elementary
school from the age of six, three years of junior high school from the
age of 12, three years of senior high school from the age of 15, and
four years of university from the age of 18. Compulsory education consists
of six years of elementary school and three years of junior high school.
Most children attend nursery school or kindergarten before entering elementary
school.
Public school years are divided into three terms. The first term is
from April to July. The second term in from August to December. The third
term is from January to March. The terms are separated by summer, winter
and spring vacations. The school year stars in April
[1] Elementary schools and junior high schools
Since elementary and junior high school education is compulsory, Japanese
residents whose children reach elementary school age are notified to
enroll their children in school. Children of foreign residents are
not required to enroll in Japanese schools; however, they can if they
wish to do so. To enroll your children in the public school system,
contact your local city, town or village's board of education (Kyoiku
iinkai). For private institutions, applications are usually made directly
to the school.
[2] Senior high schools
Those who have graduated from a Japanese junior high school or those
who have received 9 years of compulsory education abroad are eligible
for enrollment. However, all classes and examinations are held in Japanese
and schools with special consideration for non-Japanese speakers are
rare.
[3] Universities
If you fall under one of the following categories, you are eligible to
enroll in a Japanese university.
That you have graduated from a Japanese high school
That you have graduated from a high school abroad
That you have passed a special examination for college entrance eligibility
(commonly called Kentei for non-high school graduates)
Those who have graduated from an international school and have obtained
the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB)
Exceptions for foreigners at the time of the entrance examination are
very rare.
Nursery schools and kindergartens
[1] Nursery schools
Nursery schools are welfare facilities set up to provide care for infants
and children whose parents work during the day or are unable to take
care of them due to illness or other reasons. They generally accept
infants and children up to school age. Nursery schools are usually
open from morning till evening. Parents are responsible for dropping
their children off and picking them up at the school.
[2] Kindergartens
Kindergartens are educational facilities for children from the age of
3 years up to school age. Children usually attend classes for 4 hours
a day. Many Kindergartens provide school buses and parents can choose
a one-, two-or three-year program. There are many private kindergartens,
which provide different curriculums. For enrollment or information
on public kindergartens, contact the city, town or village office.
For enrollment in private nursery schools or kindergartens, apply directly
to the nursery school or the kindergarten of your choice.
