Daily Life in Japan
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Daily Life in Japan
1. During an Emergency
Dial 110 or 119 (Free emergency phone numbers)
You may be connected to an interpreter at this time.
You should, at the very least, say these following things.
"Gaikoku-jin desu." (I am a foreigner)
"(The language you speak) ga wakari masu." (I understand __________)
"Namae wa (Your name) desu." (My name is ________.)
"Koko wa (Your address/ current location) desu." (I am at ___________)
(1) If you are involved in a traffic accident or a crime, dial
110
.Once you phone 110, the police will come.
(2) If you get injured or you suddenly feel unwell, dial
119
.Once you phone 119, the ambulance will come.
(3) If there is a fire, dial
119
.Once you phone 119, the fire truck will come.
2. Garbage disposal
Japan promotes the 3R Policies in order to create a sustainable society that balances both the environment and economy.
Reduce(リデュース) | ・・・Reducing the amount of waste |
---|---|
Reuse(リユース) | ・・・Reusing used items |
Recycle(リサイクル) | ・・・Using recyclable resources to make new products |
Waste is sorted and disposed of in categories.
- ① Burnable waste (Raw garbage from the kitchen, paper, etc.)
- ② Non-burnable waste (Metal objects, broken glass bottles, etc.)
- ③ Recyclable waste (Glass bottles, cardboard, newspapers, PET bottles, etc.)
- ④ Oversized garbage (Table, bicycle, etc.) *A fee might be involved
- ⑤ House appliances (Refrigerator, washing machine, etc.) *A fee might be involved
Garbage is collected in a designated place and on a designated date.
The garbage disposal rules are different depending on where you live. You can ask your neighbours or the municipal office for information.
It is prohibited to take garbage from the garbage collection sites and to dispose garbage in places other than the garbage collection sites.
3. Bank
When you are opening a bank account, you need your Residence Card or My Number Card as well as your hanko (seal).
You can create a bankbook and a cash card.
When you are returning back to your home country or when you no longer need to use your bank account, you have to close down your account at the bank.
It is prohibited to sell your bankbook or cash card to someone else.
4. Driver's license/ Traffic Rules/ Riding a bicycle
(1) Driver's license
In order to get your driver's license, you have to complete the necessary procedures at Fukushima Prefecture's driver's license center.
There is a driver's license center in Fukushima City and in Koriyama.
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Fukushima Prefectural Police "Driver's license center access" (In Japanese)
http://www.police.pref.fukushima.jp/04.menkyo/-8other/menkyoaccess/m_9.html① Getting a driver's license in Japan
In order to get your driver's license, you have to take a driving exam and a written exam on traffic rules.
You will get a driver's license once you pass the exam.
There are many people who go to a school (a driving school) before taking the exam.② Those who have a driver's license from their own country
You can transfer your driver's license to a Japanese license.
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Metropolitan Police Department "Foreign Driver’s Licenses and International Driving Permits"
https://www.keishicho.metro.tokyo.jp/multilingual/english/traffic_safety/drivers_licenses/index.html
(2) Traffic Rules
There are Japanese traffic rules that you must follow.
-
Metropolitan Police Department "Traffic Rules"
https://www.keishicho.metro.tokyo.jp/multilingual/english/traffic_safety/traffic_rules/index.html
(3) Riding a bicycle
In Japan, people ride bicycles on the left side of the road.
It is prohibited to ride a bicycle if you are intoxicated, if you have two people on the bicycle, and lastly, if you are using an umbrella or a smartphone.
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Metropolitan Police Department "Safety Guidelines for Cyclists" (Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese
https://www.keishicho.metro.tokyo.jp/multilingual/other/portuguese/index.files/SafetyGuidelinesforCyclists.pdf
5. Taxes
Those who are registered residents in Japan must pay various taxes.
The main taxes are the following:
(1) Resident Tax
Those who have domicile in Japan as of January 1 and are working will pay this tax.
A notification from the municipality will be sent and you must pay the tax accordingly.
The company you work at might deduct the tax from your salary or you might have to pay on your own.
(2) Income Tax
People who work must pay the tax once a month.
The company you work at might deduct the tax from your salary or you might have to pay on your own.
(3) Automobile Tax
People who own a car must pay the tax once a year.
A notification from the prefecture or municipality will be sent and you must pay the tax accordingly.
(4) Consumption Tax
When you purchase goods and services, you pay the tax together with the payment each time.
You also have to pay other various taxes.
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National Tax Agency
https://www.nta.go.jp/english/index.htm
6.Renting an Apartment
There are two ways to rent an apartment.
When the municipal office rents out public housing, usually the rent is determined based on your income.
It is usually cheaper than from a private company.
For public housing, you can find information on the municipal office's PR paper or website.
When a private company rents an apartment, you can look for a house through a real estate agency.
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Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism "Apartment Search Guidebook"
https://www.mlit.go.jp/common/001317844.pdf
If you have any concerns or questions, please feel free to ask us.
Fukushima International Association's Help Desk for Foreign Residents
https://www.worldvillage.org/life/en/consultation/consultation.htmlPlease take a look here as well.
Ministry of Justice「A DAILY LIFE SUPPORT PORTAL FOR FOREIGN NATIONALS」