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When you need something and are not certain which department to contact use the information desk near the entrance. If you do not speak any Japanese, then unless your sole purpose of visit is to obtain an Alien Registration Card (the staff at that particular desk will usually find some way of communicating with you) please have someone who does telephone for you (reception desk at 23-6495) or accompany you to City Hall, as it will make it easier with the bureaucrats.
The City Hall
(click on the picture to enlarge)
If you need a bank account, or will be in Japan for longer than 3 months, then your first visit is likely to be for alien registration (gaikokujin tourokushoumeisho). For this you need your passport, 2 passport size photographs (4.5cm X 3.5cm), and your address (best to have it written down in Japanese). If you have a child/dependent with you aged 15 or younger, they need to be registered too (no passport photo required for kids). If your dependent is aged 16 or older, then they will need to register in person (with photo).
As it will take up to several weeks for your card to be ready, if you need an alien registration card immediately (for example to open a bank account), then ask for a substitute document called a "touroku genpyou kisai jikou shoumeisho". The Alien Registration is free, the charge for the substitute document (in 2004) costs 200 yen. Once the card is obtained foreigners are required to carry it at all times (dependents and others under the age of 16 are required to register, but are not required to carry the card).
If you are staying in Okazaki for a while, then your first visit to the folks at Alien Registration is unfortunately unlikely to be your last. You will need to return and report to the City Hall every time any minute detail on your card changes - for example if you change your address, nationality, name, occupation and/or place of employment, visa category (i.e. a change in visa status), period of stay (i.e. extend your visa) etc within 14 days of the change. It's nearly as much fun as Immigration. Same applies of course if you lose the card, have it stolen, or it is damaged - bring your passport and two photos. The card also has a expiry date, and you will need to visit City Hall to renew within 30 days of this if you intend to extend your stay. About the only time you won't need to go to City Hall to update changes on, is if you die. In which case a member of your household will be required to return it, within 14 days.
If you need to have an inkan (name stamp/chop) registered and certified,
then you need to go to the "citizen's Affairs Division" in City Hall and
apply for an "inkan stamp certificate" (inkan shoumeisho). An inkan stamp
has your family name carved into it and is used in Japan in lieu of a signature.
If you are not from a country that traditionally uses inkan, then you should
be able to get by without one even when opening a bank account or paying
bills. If you are, then you may need to obtain one to complete your alien
registration. In recent years, new arrivals from Korea have also been required
to provide kanji surnames when registering, even if they do not use them
in Korea. An inkan can usually be purchased from stationery stores or from
specialist inkan/hanko shops for 2000-3000 yen. As a general rule common
Japanese names are kept in stock, unusual names and foreign names are not,
so if you think you will need an inkan its best to arrange one to be carved
with time to spare. These will probably cost 4000-5000 yen, though cheaper
types (made from plastic) will always be possible. If you are going to be
using your inkan regularly, its often advisable to have 2 made at the same
time in case you lose one. Makes it a lot easier to get your banking done
while you wait for a replacement.
For medical and nursing costs the rates are calculated from a formula including:
1. Income Base: Amount of Citizen Tax you pay based on your income
2. Property Base: Amount of Fixed Property Tax (land / house) you pay
3. Equality Base: Calculation per insured person
4. Even Base: Calculation per householdHow much you might not need to pay:
The premium is reduced if your taxable income (in Japan) for the previous year falls beneath the threshold. This is good news if you have just arrived (although the "National Health Insurance & Pension Division" will make an effort to investigate your income level prior to your arrival) or if you are beginning the second year of ekeing out an existance on a research stipend, scholarship or your savings. To apply for the reduction in premium, head to City Hall.
How much extra you might need to pay:
If you are aged 40 to 64, then since April 2000 you are required to contribute to the Nursing Care Insurance Program, the rate is slightly different if you are aged 65 or more. This is a new program and is still finding its way - bottom line is that you will pay a little more than the young. For the full details, contact the Nursing Care insurance Division in city hall.
How much coverage you receive:
As of 2004, the insurance plan will cover 70% of the total cost of medical treatment for injuries or illnesses (in other words you will need to pay 30% of the cost incurred). Please also note that at the time of printing, most hospitals, clinics etc won't accept credit cards. (If you don't have sufficient cash on you at the time, you won't be turned away though, you will just receive a bill).
If you receive large medical bills due to a serious illness or injury, the system is designed to cap the overall cost and keep it within an affordable level. Basically you need to keep the receipts of your payments (the 30% of the total bill that you contribute). If the medical fees exceed 63,600 yen per month, then the full additional cost of medical treatment above that threshold will be paid for by the Insurance program. If you are on reduced premiums, or exempt (due to low income) from paying the citizen's tax, then the threshold is only 35,400 yen per month. Please note that the receipts should originate from only one hospital (as a general rule, the system does take into account specialist care) and for the same treatment.
Another feature of the Insurance is that if you have difficulty paying a large medical bill (for example due to cash flow reasons) you are able to apply for a loan of up to 90 percent of the amount due.
If you are exempted from paying the citizen's tax, you can receive subsidized meals while in hospital. You need to apply for it, though it should be noted that the food isn't really the best.
If you or your spouse has a child while in Okazaki, then 300,000 yen (per child) is paid to the head of the household to help cover some of the costs.
Although the city is increasing in size, it is still customary for new residents to introduce themselves to their neighbours, and to join the town association (chounai-kai). There is a small fee, and it will differ from neighbourhood to neighbourhood. One thing to be aware of is the "kairanban" - a bulletin that is circulated informing people of upcoming evnts such as gutter cleaning, health examinations, security issues and so forth. If and when you receive one, don't throw it away or hang on to it. Have a read and then pass it on to your neighbour. If you can't read Japanese well enough, ask a friend or your neighbour.
Although the population density here is less than many comparable cities in Japan, the houses are close to each other (and many apartments have thin walls). Residents tend to have different lifestyles, some work days while others work nights, some have children etc. Particularly at night, it is important to keep noise to a minimum, which is one of the reasons why if you want to have a party its sometimes best to hold it in a bar or other location. Little things make a difference, such as not leaving your car idling, holding last minute goodbye conversations inside with the door closed instead of outside in the carpark etc. The volume of your voice may also need to be lower than what you are used to at home.
If you visit a public bath please note that the custom is to first wash
yourself thoroughly. Japanese bathrooms are made up of a bath and a washing
area. First, wash yourself thoroughly in the washing area, and then after
rinsing thoroughly, get into the bathtub. A bath in Japan is for soaking
and warming up the body, not for washing. As the entire family uses the
same bath water, make sure to keep the water as clean as possible for the
next person, and do not drain the tub until after everyone is finished bathing.
At the time of publication, there are two persistent and frustrating problems. The first is that for the most part bank ATMs are still not open 24 hours a day as has been the custom in most countries for several decades. Many ATMs are shut at 8pm and are unavailable on Sundays or public holidays. The second is that again for the most part bank ATMs will also not accept overseas issued credit or debit cards - even when they carry the mastercard/visacard sign. This is one of the reasons why for foreigners the post office is a popular choice of bank. All Post office ATMs will accept most overseas issued Visa (and most other) cards, and the post office ATMs often have longer hours of operation - until midnight in the case of the Central Post Office just south of the AEON shopping center.
Travellers checks aren't very common in Okazaki, and the only places you can cash them are in the larger hotels, (most) bank branches and the bigger Post offices. For cashing traveller's checks in hotels, it may be best to have yen denominated checks for lower commission costs. The actual time required by a bank to cash a check is also much longer than is common outside Japan. Foreign Cash can be exchanged at banks and the Central Post Office (there are no "Bureau de Change" or Thomas Cook offices).
As of 2004, if you don't like carrying much cash around, then the best bet is to bring a Visa card (or any card that is part of the Cirrus network) and use the ATMs operated by the post office. You can of course use almost any credit card for purchases, and even compared to 5 years ago, a lot more small shops are taking the cards than before. The main reason why many shops do not accept credit cards yet is due to the high fees (4-7% as of 2004, roughly double that of most countries) that most of the credit card issuers are charging the shopkeepers. This will probably change in due course.
There are different types of accounts, from ordinary savings accounts (futsu kouza) to time deposits and installment deposits etc. For most foreigners opening an account the "futsu" account is what is required. You will need identification. The requirements seem to differ from bank to bank (and sometimes from branch to branch). As a minimum you'll need an Alien Registration Card. If you haven't obtained an "alien card" yet, time to head to City Hall with your address (or the address of someone willing to allow it to be used as a registered address with City Hall/town office registration), 2 passport photos, and your passport and register for the "gaikokujin touroku shoumeisho". Please note that this takes a few weeks to process. If you need a bank account immediately and can't wait, also ask for a document that will act as a substitute for the card so that you can open a bank account. This document is called a "touroku genpyou kisai jikou shoumeisho". Once suitable equipped, take your card (or substitute) to a bank with your passport (and/or any other form of documentation such as a Japanese driver's license or Health Insurance Card) and ask to open an account. Some banks/branches will also as insist that you need an "inkan" (name stamp/chop) as well, if that is the case, the inkan will also need to be registered. As of 2004, this is another reason why many foreigners prefer to use the much more customer friendly post office.
When you open an account, you can also apply for a cash card at the same time so that you can use ATMs to make deposits, withdrawals, check your balance etc. An increasing majority of the ATMs in Okazaki are now bilingual.
ATM
(click on the picture to enlarge)
The easiest way to pay your electricity, gas and water bills is by automatic withdrawal on a fixed day each month from your account. The utility companies will also send you a notice of payment and copy of the bill so that you know how much it cost. You can apply for this at your bank or post office. (Note it is also easy to pay bills at a convenience store - you just need to remember each month).
Remittances can be made from both banks (bank transfer) and post offices
(giro). Remittances from foreign banks to post accounts are not possible.
Cashing of travellers checks, exchange of foreign currency etc can be
done at both banks and post offices. Cashing of bank drafts (especially
in foreign currency) can take up to a month. Please note that with some
smaller branches, there have been cases where the staff have refused
to perform the function and send people halfway across town to a major
branch. As usual, the service provided by the banks tends to be slower
(as of 2004) than the Post office.
Okazaki Catholic Church
Foreign language masses available, the actual language vary from year to
year. A limited amount of parking available.
Myodaiji-cho
Tel: 51-1848
Assembly Shinsho Christian Church
Hashira-cho
Tel: 52-3727
Japan Christian Order Church
Hachiman-cho
Tel: 21-7359
Japan Alliance Christian Atago-yama Church
Iga-cho
Tel: 21-6458
Okazaki Megumi Christ Church
Tatsumi-Higashi
Tel: 53-4578
Allied Gospel Christ Church of Okazaki
Located on Route 248 across the road from Seiyu.
Tosaki-cho
Tel: 54-7610
Embassies and Consulates (back to top)
There are no foreign consulates in Okazaki. The nearest foreign missions are in Nagoya. It is a good idea to register your name and address (and whatever other details are recommended) with the Embassy or Consulate of your country, in case of emergencies or natural disasters.
Compared to 5-10 years ago, there aren't as many public telephones around as there used to be, but you usually don't have to go far to find one. Virtually every convenience store, many bus stops etc have at least one. The problem is that while you can make domestic calls from any public phone, it is only possible to make an international call from a telephone that is designated as an "International" telephone. Some of the machinese still accept coins, but the best way to make a call is to use a telephone card. These can be bought at any convenience store or from vending machines.
There are three kinds of public telephone:
These are the most common, and can use coins and cards. Only some of them can be used for international calls.
Also very common. Most are enabled for international calls. Can use coins and cards.
Not very common in Okazaki as of 2004, these are the newest type of public telephone. They only use "IC Cards" and coins. International calls will be OK.
| Important Update (July 2006): Due to a change in laws in 2005, it is not possible anymore to obtain a mobile phone without an Alien Registration Card. Therefore, if you really need to have a mobile phone, go to the City Hall, apply for an Alien Registration Card, ask for the replacement document (see "Opening a Bank Account" for details) which you take to the mobile phone service provider of your choice to get a "keitai denwa" (mobile phone). |
You can see these everywhere, usually either glued to the ear of the owner or being used for text messages, as cameras etc. Due to a lack of standardization, cellphones from overseas usually will not work in Japan. If you are only staying for a short period, these are the easiest and most affordable route. There are two types;
It is usually not worth obtaining a landline unless you are going to be in Japan for a reasonable period of time. To buy a new telephone line will cost you around 65-70,000 Yen, though they can sometimes cost more if there is an installation required. The service provider is NTT, the quality of service often leaving something to be desired. Please note that it is sometimes possible to buy a used phone line from somebody leaving Japan, and this is usually cheaper.
If you do not already have access provided via your workplace or accommodation, there are a growing number of internet cafes, and other public places that you can use. Broadband access is diffusing rapidly and high speed connections are very affordable. The ISPs and other vendors are in a constant state of change, we will try to maintain at http://key.mikawa.cc/xxx.html an up-to-date file of resources you can use if you wish to get good internet access at home.
There are a large number of bookshops in Okazaki, with the largest being Miraiya-shoten on the 3rd floor of the AEON shopping complex. For the most part the bookshops only sell Japanese language content. Magazines, maps, dictionaries and so on are also available in most of the shops.
For foreign books, the best bet is to either head into Nagoya (to bookshops such as Maruzen, Kinokuniya etc), or order online from amazon.co.jp - which will (usually) give you a quicker delivery than amazon.com If you can't read Japanese, use amazon.com first to find your book, then copy the ISBN number to the Japanese site. The actual ordering (credit card details, confirmations etc) can be displayed in English.
There is a very small foreign language bookshop at the Yamasa Institute in Hane-cho, the books largely catering to those learning Japanese (excellent dictionaries, textbooks etc).
Reversible is a local (monthly) magazine containing a lot of useful information, store profiles and the like (it's in Japanese only)
Also published (fortnightly) is "Okazaki News", published by volunteers. It's bilingual, and often contains a lot of useful information regarding upcoming events in Okazaki, particularly cultural ones. Always worth picking up a copy. Read the online edition here: http://www.city.okazaki.aichi.jp/oia/index_e.htm
From Nagoya but slowly expanding its coverage and reach there is a useful English magazine called JapanZine. The advertisements are mostly concentrated on restaurants and bars in Nagoya and other larger cities, but it often contains interesting articles about local festivals, sightseeing places and so forth. Visit http://www.japan-zine.com/ for the online version.
Apart from the free to air channels and the BS satellite channels of run by the publicly owned NHK network, it is possible to obtain pay TV. Skyperfect is the most common satellite TV provider. For cable TV try MICS, which also includes a local channel.
On the AM band try NHK1 (729KHz), NHK2 (909KHz), CBC (1053KHz), Tokai (1332KHz). These are mostly talk stations and broadcast in Japanese only. On the FM band there is more music: NHK FM (82.5MHz), FM Aichi (80.7MHz), Radio I (79.5MHz), ZIP FM (77.8MHz). The latter two contain a large amount of foreign language broadcasting. For local radio, listen to FM Okazaki - as of 2004 the local community station is broadcasting on a 10KW signal, so in some parts of the city (due to hills, concrete buildings, interference etc) you might not be able to pick up the signal clearly (or at all). The FM Okazaki homepage is at http://www.763.fm
Okazaki makes a lot of digital video cameras (SONY has a large plant here) and Japan uses the NTSC standard. If you bring a PAL or NTSC video camera with you to Okazaki, you won't be able to buy any video cartridges. Bring them from home.
There are excellent camera shops (Map C, C3 - Kitamura Cameras is a good one), and film of all types is easy to obtain. If you run out of film during the middle of a day trip you usually buy a cheap disposable camera from most of the convenience stores.
There are nearly 25,000 Post Offices (Yuubinkyoku) in Japan, and Okazaki has oodles of them. Besides providing a variety of safe, secure and speedy postal services, Post Offices also offer savings deposits, remittance services (by money order and transfer), foreign currency and traveler's check services. You can also pay your utility bills (gas, water, power and some others - telephone etc.), though a convenience store is often quicker.
Post Office
Location: http://www.yamasa.cc/members/ocjs/Map.nsf/MapMain?OpenForm&64
(Click on the picture to enlarge)
Size and Weight Restrictions
Letter-Post
| Classification | Weight | Dimensions | ||||||
| Maximum | Minimum | |||||||
| Postcards | -- |
|
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|||||
| Letters | Up to 2 kg | |||||||
| Printed matter | Up to 5 kg (Note 1) Up to 30 kg (M-bags) |
|||||||
| Literature for the blind | Up to 7 kg | |||||||
| Small packets | Up to 2 kg | |||||||
Note 1:Up to 2 kg for printed matter addressed to Canada, and printed matter (other than books) addressed to Ireland.
EMS and Parcel Post
| Classification | Weight | Maximum size | -- | Minimum size | |
| EMS | Up to 30 kg(Note 1) | A a+b+c+d+e=3m (a) up to 1.5m B a+b+c+d+e=2m (a) up to 1.05m Size A or B applies according to the destination.(Note 2) |
 |
Minimum size is the same as that for letter-post items. |
|
| UPU parcel post | Up to 20 kg(Note 1) | ||||
| Special parcels |
To Philippines | Up to 20 kg | a+b+c+d+e=2m (a) up to 1.05m |
||
| To South Africa | Up to 10 kg | a+b+c+d+e=1.8m (a) up to 1.05m |
|||
Note 1:For EMS and UPU parcel post, please inquire at your post office for details, since conditions may vary according to country and type of mail.
Note 2:Some countries use parcel size limits other than A and B.
See below for Airmail, Surface Mail, Parcel Post and Economy Air rates.
Airmail Rates
| Zone | Zone 1 | Zone 2 | Zone 3 | Special mail sevices available | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Destination | Asia,Guam, Marshall Is., Midway snd others |
North America,Central America,Oceania, Middle East,Europe |
Africa,
South America |
Registered | Insurance | Express | Advice of delivery (Note 1) |
||
| Classification | Weight | ||||||||
| L e t t e r s |
Standard- sized items |
Up to 25 g | 90 yen | 110 yen | 130 yen | YES | YES (Note 2) |
YES | YES |
| Up to 50 g | 160 yen | 190 yen | 230 yen | ||||||
| Nonstandard-sized items |
Up to 50 g | 220 yen | 260 yen | 300 yen | |||||
| Up to 100 g | 330 yen | 400 yen | 480 yen | ||||||
| Up to 250 g | 510 yen | 670 yen | 860 yen | ||||||
| Up to 500 g | 780 yen | 1,090 yen | 1,490 yen | ||||||
| Up to 1 kg | 1,450 yen | 2,060 yen | 2,850 yen | ||||||
| Up to 2 kg | 2,150 yen | 3,410 yen | 4,990 yen | ||||||
| Greeting cards | Up to 25 g | 90 yen | 110 yen | 130 yen | -- | -- | -- | -- | |
| Postcards | Uniform rate of 70 yen for anywhere in the world | YES | -- | YES | YES | ||||
| Small packets | Up to 50 g | 120 yen | 150 yen | 170 yen | YES | -- | YES | YES | |
| For each additional 50 g or fraction over 50 g up to 1 kg |
+70 yen | +90 yen | +120 yen | ||||||
| For each additional 250 g or fraction over 1 kg up to 2 kg |
+175 yen | +225 yen | +300 yen | ||||||
| Aerogrammes | Uniform rate of 90 yen for anywhere in the world | YES | -- | YES | -- | ||||
Note: Please confirm details about destinations at the post office counter.
Surface Mail Rates
| Classification | Weight | Rates | Special mail services available | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered | Insurance | Express | Advice of delivery (Note 1) |
||||
| Letters | Up to 20 g | 90 yen | YES | YES (Note 2) |
-- | YES | |
| Up to 50 g | 160 yen | ||||||
| Up to 100 g | 270 yen | ||||||
| Up to 250 g | 540 yen | ||||||
| Up to 500 g | 1,040 yen | ||||||
| Up to 1 kg | 1,800 yen | ||||||
| Up to 2 kg | 2,930 yen | ||||||
| Postcards | -- | 60 yen | YES | -- | -- | YES | |
| Small packets | Up to 100 g | 130 yen | YES | -- | -- | YES | |
| Up to 250 g | 220 yen | ||||||
| Up to 500 g | 430 yen | ||||||
| Up to 1 kg | 770 yen | ||||||
| Up to 2 kg | 1,080 yen | ||||||
Note 1: Registered or insured mail only.
Note 2: Not available to some destinations.
Note 3: For detailed conditions, please contact your post office.Parcel Post Rates
| Handling | Airmail | Surface mail | Special mail services available | ||||||||||
| Zone | Destination | Weight | Up to 500 g |
For each additional 500 g up to 5 kg |
For each additional 500 g up to 10 kg |
For each additional 1 kg over 10 kg |
Up to 1 kg |
For each additional 1 kg up to 10 kg |
For each additional 1 kg over 10 kg |
Registered | Insurance | Express | Advice of delivery |
| Zone 1 | East Asia (China, Korea, Taiwan, Mongolia and others), Guam, Marshall Is., Midway and others |
yen 1,700 |
yen +350 |
yen +300 |
yen +400 |
yen +1,500 |
yen +250 |
yen +200 |
-- | YES (Note 1) |
YES (Note 1) |
YES (Note 2) |
|
| Zone 2 | Southeast Asia and Southwest Asia (India, Malaysia, Pakistan, Thailand and others) |
2,100 | +600 | +500 | +700 | 1,700 | +400 | +300 | |||||
| Zone 3 | North and Central America (Canada,U.S.A., Mexico and others), Oceania and Middle East (Australia,New Zealand Iran, Israel and others), Europe (Germany, Great Britain and others) |
2,500 | +850 | +750 | +950 | 1,800 | +550 | +350 | |||||
| Zone 4 | Africa (Kenya,Nigeria, South Africa (Rep.) and others), South America (Brazil and others) |
3,200 | +1,400 | +1,200 | +1,600 | 2,200 | +450 | +350 | |||||
Note 1: Not available to some destinations.
Note 2: Insured parcels to some destinations, only.Economy Air [SAL] Parcel Post Rates
| Zone | Destination | Weight | Special mail services available | ||||||
| Up to 1 kg | For each additional 1 kg up to 5 kg |
For each additional 1 kg up to 10 kg |
For each additional 1 kg over 10 kg |
Registered | Insurance | Express | Advice of delivery |
||
| Zone 1 | East Asia (China, Korea and others) |
yen 1,800 |
yen +600 |
yen +500 |
yen +300 |
-- | YES (Note 1) |
YES (Note 1) |
YES (Note 2) |
| Zone 2 | Southeast, Southwest Asia (India, Malaysia, Pakistan, Thailand and others) |
2,200 | +700 | +600 | +400 | ||||
| Zone 3 | North America (U.S.A., Canada), Central America, Oceania, Middle East and Europe | 2,700 | +1,150 | +1,050 | +700 | ||||
| Zone 4 | Africa and South America | 3,400 | +1,600 | +1,450 | +1,000 | ||||
Note 1: Not available to some destinations.
Note 2: Limited to insured parcels to some destinations.
If you move into Okazaki, remember to go to City Hall for Alien Registration. You will need to contact the Utilities companies about 7-10 days before you leave. The telephone numbers are:
You will need to give them your new address, or if you are leaving Japan, a person to pay the remaining bills.
Telephone - If you are moving to somewhere else in Japan, call 116.
Postal Mail - Go to a post office and complete a change-of-address form. If you do this, then any mail sent to your old address will be forwarded to the new address for up to one year.
For household trash the system is quite complicated. Okazaki has an extensive recycling program and just about every conceivable item of trash is covered by a fairly pervasive system. The city already had a flourishing textile recycling industry and most of the manufacturers also have extremely high recycling/recovery methods, so it wasn't surprising when the new laws went into effect in 2002. If you are going to be living in Okazaki for a month or longer, head down to city hall and pick up a copy of the "Official Guide" - it's in English with helpful illustrations. Without the guide its practically impossible to avoid problems (there will be people checking your trash bags to ensure that you are keeping up with the spirit of things)
You need to use the designated trash bags (purchasable from any supermarket and most convenience stores), and know where your closest kerbside recycling point is (ask your local Chonai-kai - the town association for the part of Okazaki you live in), or your neighbors for details.
Trash Station Sign
(Click on the picture to enlarge)
Location:
http://www.yamasa.cc/members/ocjs/Map.nsf/MapMain?OpenForm&57
Basically you have a choice of the academic libraries at the various Universities
and Institutes, or the Public system. The Okazaki City Public Library is located
next to the Okazaki Police Station. Turn into the street just in front of
the Police Station carpark and you will see two large brick buildings. The
one on the left is the City Art Museum, the one on the right is the Public
Library. There is a branch of the library at the Civic Center near JR Okazaki
station (which amongst other things has an excellent Jazz collection).
Okazaki Public Library
(Click on the picture to enlarge)
To borrow books you need to submit an application form and present identification confirming your address in Okazaki (in Japanese, best to use your alien registration card if possible) to the information desk on the first floor. From then on you can borrow up to 10 items (books, videos, back issues of magazines) for up to 2 weeks. Note: If you leave Okazaki remember to hand in your library card to the first floor help desk.
The first floor consists of newspapers, magazines, an information desk, videos, and the children's section.
The second floor contains the reference section, novels, literature, and the English section. There is also a copy machine available for use for 10 yen a copy. Copies can also be made at the price of 10 yen at most Convenience Stores, where color copies are priced at 50 yen.
The third floor is comprised completely of desks and is a quiet study room open to anyone who wants to hit the books in silence.
There are a few problems. The library opens at 9am (too late for most working people), closes at 5pm (too early for most working people), is closed on Mondays and most Public Holidays. When you add up all the holidays it is not open at all for on average roughly 80 days each year. The library seems to be geared primarily for school children and the retired. As of 2004: Open 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. (July and August until 6 p.m.) and closed Mondays, the 3rd Friday of the month, and the period between December 28th and January 4th.
Aichi Gakusen Daigaku (Okazaki Campus)
Telephone Number: 0564-35-7098
http://www.gakusen.ac.jpAichi Sangyou Daigaku
Telephone Number: 0564-48-4511
http://www.asu.ac.jpOkazaki Joushi Tanki Daigaku
Telephone Number: 0564-22-1295
http://www.okazaki-c.ac.jpAichi Sangyou Tanki Daigaku
Telephone Number: 0564-48-7811
http://asu-g.net/univ/Ningen Kankyou Daigaku
Telephone Number: 0564-48-7811
http://www.uhe.ac.jpThe Yamasa Institute
Hanehigashi-machi 1-2-1 (Map C, B3)
Tel: 55-8111 Fax: 55-8113
http://www.yamasa.org
Location: http://www.yamasa.cc/members/ocjs/Map.nsf/MapMain?OpenForm&
The Yamasa Institute
(Click on the picture to enlarge)
Sekirei Hall
Location: http://www.yamasa.cc/members/ocjs/Map.nsf/MapMain?OpenForm&46
Tel: 25-0511
Tatsumigaoka Kaikan
Location: http://www.yamasa.cc/members/ocjs/Map.nsf/MapMain?OpenForm&53
Tel: 24-3951
Fukushi Kaikan
Location: http://www.yamasa.cc/members/ocjs/Map.nsf/MapMain?OpenForm&47
Tel: 53-1151
Shimin Kaikan
Location: http://www.yamasa.cc/members/ocjs/Map.nsf/MapMain?OpenForm&34
Tel: 21-6973
Taiyou no Shiro
Location: http://www.yamasa.cc/members/ocjs/Map.nsf/MapMain?OpenForm&45
Tel: 24-2535
Aoi Hall
Location: http://www.yamasa.cc/members/ocjs/Map.nsf/MapMain?OpenForm&69
(on the Yamasa Campus)
Tel: 55-8111
Like everywhere else in the country, Okazaki is a place where people go crazy over cherry blossoms but earth tremors are ignored. While a tremor won't occasion much comment, most people have through experience, earthquake and fire drills at schools and companies a high level of awareness. The basic things:
Identification: Keep your passport handy, (and in a different location,
a photocopy of the relevant pages including Japan visa etc) Emergency supplies:
Keep a small amount of cash, dry food, bottle of water, flashlight etc in
your room/apartment
Evacuation: Ask where your local evacuation point is (its usually a school
yard, but confirm it)
If and when an earthquake happens, turn off the gas if you are cooking.
In the retail sector, shops and stores in Okazaki have traditionally opened
at 10am and closed around 6.30 for 7.30pm. The exception has been the morning
street markets, which open very early to sell fresh produce such as fish,
vegetables and fruit at the street stalls. The better known street markets
are Funa-ichi (in Kosei-cho) and Go-ju-ichi (in Myodaiji-cho) and Shi-ku-ichi
(in the street adjacent to the Yamasa Institute's Aoi Hall).
What has turned this orderly system on its head in recent years is the extended
trading hours of the larger shopping centers. Whereas most of the shops in
Kosei-cho (the older part of town) still close by 7 (including the department
stores and including on Saturdays), the shops in the massive AEON shopping
complex (includes Seibu and Jusco Department stores, and hundred of specialty
shops) are at a minimum open until 8pm, in many cases until 10pm, and in the
case of the supermarket, until midnight (in 2004). The large shopping centers
also do not need (and cannot afford) to take a rostered day off - which many
of the small family run shops elsewhere in the city still schedule. The result
has been that a lot of business in increasingly moving to the south-central
area of the city (Maps B and C),
particular along route 248 between the Police Station and the Seiyu Department
store where it is easier to shop using a car than in Kosei-cho. As the General
Post Office (open until midnight) has also moved in recent years from Kosei-cho
to this area), the city's commercial center has generally been shifting south.
The complete redevelopment of the JR Okazaki station area will probably further
extend this trend towards car use and extended trading hours.
It is extremely important that you ensure that your visa is appropriate for the category of work being performed. There are restrictions on the type of work (especially bars, nightclubs, hostess clubs and the like) and number of hours of work that can be done on visas such as student, and visitors on short stay (ie tourist) visas are unable to work at all. Women in particular should take note that hostessing work is usually illegal as far as their visa category is concerned and that in recent years it has carried an increasing level of personal risk to safety.
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