英語

Foreign
Resident Manual
Helping you avoid gettingcaught up in criminal
activity and havea peaceful and safe timein Japan.

Tokyo Metropolitan Government
Oﬃce for Promotion of Citizen SafetyWithcooperation
from

Metropolitan Police Department

Tokyo Regional Immigration
Services Bureau

Contents
Introduction

P1

Japanese Rules and Manners

P2 ～ P5

Japanese Laws to be Aware Of

P 6 ～ P 10

Take Care when Riding a Bicycle

P11 ～ P13

Take Care when Working

P14 ～ P17

About Your Residence Card

P18 ～ P20

Reporting Obligations of Mid
to Long-term Residents

P21 ～ P24

Who to Call When You Have Problem

P25

Introduction

To foreigners living in Tokyo Metropolitan
Many foreigners live in Tokyo Metropolitan.
However, some foreigners are in trouble with the Japanese due todifferences in language, culture, and lifestyle.
In addition, there are people who do not know the laws of Japan,
and by remembering the wrong things, they do not notice and violate
the law.
In Tokyo Metropolitan, we created this manual to help foreigners
understand the rules, manners and laws of Japan and lead a safe
and secure life.

1Japanese Rules and Manners
Throw away garbage in a garbage bin

Do not throw away garbage in the street.

Follow the rules for disposing of garbage

When disposing of garbage pay attention to the day,time, location and kind of garbage.

Do not dispose of bulky waste illegally.

To dispose of bulky waste, follow the rules
determined by the City Hall where you live.
2

Obey the rules in the rental agreement.

Without permission from the landlord: adding other renters,
renting to other people, renovating the rooms, and keeping
pets are not allowed!
Failure to adhere to the terms of the agreement may resultin an expulsion order.

Do not leave objects in the hallway and stairs.

Other people also use the hallway and stairs outside
the room.
If there are objects you cannot escape in case of fireor earthquake.
3

Do not speak loudly or listen to music at highvolumes in your room or in the hallway.

Loud voices and loud sounds will annoy the people around.
If you make a noise, you may be reported to the police andreceive attention from the police officers.

Do not talk on your phone or have loudconversations on the train or bus.

A voice speaking telephone and loud voices can bother people
on trains and buses.
If you are noisy, you may get in trouble.

Follow rules and manners where people live
and where there are many people.
4

Only those over 20 years old can take alcoholand smoke.

In Japan, people under the age of 20 (those who are not
20 years old) cannot drink or smoke.

Please smoke in smoking area.

Do not smoke while walking or use it outside of smoking areas.
And you can't throw cigarette butts on the road.
Tokyo bylaws prohibit smoking inside indoor facilities.

5

Japanese Laws to be Aware Of
Do not share commuter tickets or health insurance
certiﬁcates.
Can

I bor

row

that?

H
insuealthcerti ranceﬁcate

You are not allowed to use someone else's commuter ticket,
health insurance certiﬁcate, or Individual Number Card.
You are not allowed to lend you commuter ticket, healthinsurance card, or Individual Number Card to someone else.
This is a violation of the law and you will be punished.

If you ﬁnd a loﬆ item, bring it to a police box.

You can't make a found wallet, money, cards your property.
This is a violation of the law and you will be punished.
If you lose something, submit a loﬆ item report.
The loﬆ thing will get back when it is found.
6

Shoplifting is a crime.

Shoplifting is taking products from a store without paying
for them.
Stealing, transporting, keeping watch, or helping
someone to get away are all crimes.
Japanese stores have security cameras and security
guards are patroling them.
You must never do shoplifting.

Do not take ride someone else’s bicycle,
even if it is abandoned.

Do not take away on bicycles at stations or roads.
This is a violation of the law and you will be punished.

Do not take vegetables or fruit from someone
else's plot, or steal their livestock.
Do not catch fish or shellfish in rivers or the sea
without permission.
7

Do not carry dangerous items.

Knives and pepper spray

Do not carry dangerous goods such as knives for no reason.
This is a violation of the law and you will be punished.
The following is not a reason to carry dangerous goods.
You have it to protect yourself● Think it’s convenient that is why you have it● Think it’s fashionable●●

Before it was used for work or camping but putting it away
was bothersome so it was just left in the bag

Possession and use of illegal drugs is a crime.

In Japan, the following drugs cannot be possessed or used.
● Stimulant ● Cannabis (marijuana) ● Cocaine● Heroin●MDMA●Dangerous drugs, etc.
Even a single use is a crime.
Never possess or use it.
Bringing it to Japan is also a crime.
8The following are crimes!
Beware of work that promises easy earnings.
●●●

Selling or transferring cellphones, cash cards or bank books.

Making contracts for other people including cellphones
or bank accounts.

Using other people’s credit cards to order products orservices online, etc.
Order

9

●

Withdrawing money using someone else’s cash card.
PIN code× × × ×Receiving packages in someone else’s name. Forwarding
to someone else or to a designated location.

●

Forwarding

Receiving packages in someone else’s name●Forwarding to a designated location

Receive envelopes or luggage from other people,
not knowing what is in them and pass it to those who asked it.

Be careful!
These kinds of actions hide organized crime.
People may become accomplices
to crime without realizing it.
Don’t get involved easily just because
it appears to be easy money.
10

Take Care when Riding a Bicycle
When you purchase or receive a bicycle please
perform registration procedures.

When you purchase a bicycle:▶

Registering as new bicycle is required

When you receive a bicycle:▶

Registering a change of name is required

You can apply for crime prevention registration at a bicycle dealer, etc.
where the sign for “Bicycle Crime Prevention Registry” is displayed.
To change the name of the crime prevention registration,
you will need a fee, residence card and bicycle security registration
card (if you have one).

Park your bicycle in designated bicycle parking spaces.

If you do not park in a designated location and just park in frontof a station, etc. it will be removed!
To receive your bicycle back after removal, you may needto pay a fee.
11

In Japan the same laws apply to bicycles
and cars!
Five rules for safe riding bicycles
１

For bicycles, the road is the rule, the sidewalk
is the exception.

But, in the following situations it is acceptableto ride a bicycle on the sidewalk.
●●

When there is a sign on the sidewalk thatsays "Normal bicycle sidewalk is allowed"
When the person riding is a child under 13,
a senior 70 or older, or a person with physical disabilities●

When it is difficult to stay on the left edge of the roaddue to construction, etc

２ Ride on the left edge of the road

When passing the road by bicycle, it is the sameleft-hand traffic as the car. Right-hand traffic is prohibited.
12

３ Pedestrians have the right of way on sidewalks.
Bicycles keep to the side of the road.

When riding the sidewalk by bicycle, run at a speed that allows
you to stop immediately near the driveway.
If you are blocking the passage of pedestrians, be sure to pause.
４ Obey safety rules

Riding while drunkis prohibited

Riding with an open
umbrella is prohibited.

Riding double
is prohibited

Use a light at night

Riding side-by-side
is prohibited

Obey traffic signals at intersections.
Stop and confirm safety

５ Wear a helmet

Tokyo Metropolitan promotes using helmets
when riding bicycles.

If riding a bicycle in the Tokyo Metropolitanarea, it is necessary to take out insurance
against bodily injury liability.
13

Take Care when Working
When you work part-time, please receive
permission to engage in non-qualiﬁed
activities in advance.

SAMPLESAMPLESAMPLE

Foreign nationals are allowed to work in Japan within the limitsof their ﬆatus of residence as defined by the Immigration
Control and Refugee Recognition Act.
In the following cases, please obtain a permission
to engage in activity other than that permitted under
the ﬆatus of residence previously granted in advance.

● A person who is not allowed to work in Japan, such as"Student" or who has a "Family" ﬆatus of residence,
does a part-time job● Those who are permitted to work in Japan, such as theﬆatus of residence “Technology, Humanities knowledge,
International services", do a part-time job in addition to theactivities specified in the ﬆatus of residence

Be careful!
There is a time limit for non-qualiﬁed activity permits.
You muﬆ not work part-time without receiving permission
from outside the qualiﬁcation or work part-time withoutadhering to the reﬆriction.
This is a violation of the law and you can bepunished or even deported!
14

NO!

If you will work part-time after receiving the permit,
do not work more than 28 hours per week.
28 hours+

20 hours=

48 hours

28 hours maximum!

The total must not exceed 28 hours per week even if in two andmore different locations!
Persons with a “Student” status of residence may work up to 8
hours per day (maximum 40 hours per week) during extended
breaks defined by the school (summer break, winter break, etc.)

If you will work part-time after receiving the permit,
do not work in adult entertainment

You cannot work part-time in the following locations.
●Places such as snacks, cabarets, pubs, cabaret clubs, host clubs, etc.
where a customer is entertained and offered meal and drink● Gaming centers● Mahjong shops ● Pachinko parlors ● “Love hotels” ● “Telephone clubs”● “Deai kissa” ● Adult goods stores● Adult video stores ● Private room video shops ● Call girl businesses

In such places, you are not allowed work even as a janitor,
dishwasher, waiter, hall staff, etc.

15

If you work part-time after receiving the permit,
be careful of work similar to adult entertainment.

You should not work in a massage parlour with sexual services
or in a restaurant where you sit next to a customer and have aconversation or a drink.
Even if any person in the shop says that it is okay, you must notbelieve it.
Even if you even didn’t know that you worked in adult entertainment, you may be punished or deported.

You are not allowed to work part-time if you leave your school.

After an international student leaves school due to withdrawal orremoval from school, he / she cannot work part-time.
Even if the period of residence status and Non-qualification
Activity Permit remain, part-time job is not allowed.
If you work part-time after leaving school, you may be punishedor forcibly deported from Japan.

16

Beware of work that asks for a registration fee.

There is a crime that introduces a part-time job to a foreigner
who lied and cheated money as a registration fee.
Beware of those who ask for money, such as registration feesand referral fees.

Do not offer your home as accommodation fora fee without permission.

In order to receive money and allow travelers to stay at home, itis necessary to obtain permission from a health center, etc., or to
notify a prefectural government or municipalities.
If you manage an accommodation facility without permission,
you will be punished.
17

Your Residence Card
Always have your residence card with you
when out of your home.

Alwayscarrried

The residence card is issued to foreigners who ﬆay in Japan fora long time.
You must always carry the residence card.
Not keeping a residence card with you is a violation of the law
and you may be fined.
You must keep a residence card with you, even if you haveanother identification card, such as a passport or health insurance certificates.
Those who are eligible for a resident card ("Mid to Long-term
Residents") are those who do not fall under any of thefollowing ① to ⑥.
❶ Persons with a period of ﬆay of up to three months.
❷ Persons with a “Temporary Visitor” Status of Residence.
❸ Persons with a “Diplomat” or “Oﬃ cial” Status of Residence❹ Oﬃcials of Taiwan Japan Relations Associations oﬃce inJapan (such as Taipei Economic and Cultural RepresentativeOﬃce, etc.), or the General Department of Paleﬆine in Japanor their family members.
❺ Special permanent residents❻ Those who do not have a ﬆatus of residence
18Please show it when you are requested
by police or an official from the Immigration
Services Agency to present your Residence Card.

Show

Foreigners are obliged to show their residence card when police
officers etc. request them to present their residence card.
You will be punished if you do not present your residence cardin response to a request from a police officer.

Residence cards have a validity period.

Check here!

● Status of residence "Permanent resident" / "Class 2 Highly Skilled Professional"
Older than 16 years of age: 7 years from the date of grantYounger than 16 years of age: till 16th birthday● Residents other than "Class 2 Highly Skilled Professional"
Older than 16 years: Until the expiration date of your stay
Under 16 years of age (until the expiration date of your stay or your 16thbirthday), whichever comes first19

If you have loﬆ your Residence Card,
immediately apply at the Immigration Services
Agency to have it reissued.

Loss
To apply for a reissue, you will need a proof of loss (lost certificate, ﬆolen certificate, disaﬆer certificate, etc.), passport, andphoto. Ask your local immigration and immigration office inadvance.
If you do not apply within 14 day, you may be punished.

Do not lend or transfer your Residence Card.
Do not lend it! Do not transfer it!

Do not lend or hand over your residence card if you know it will
be misused.
Even if your residence card has expired, you must not lend it.
This is a violation of the law and you can be punished or deported.

Beware of counterfeit or modiﬁed Residence Cards!
Foreigners who have a forged or altered residence cardfor the purpose of exercising may be punished or deported
even if they have ﬆatus of residence!
20

NO!

Reporting Obligationsof Mid to Long-term Residents
Mid to Long-term Residents are required
to report their municipalities and Immigration
Services Agency of their Japanese address
and the organization they belong to (company,
shop, school, etc.).

窓口

Medium to Long-term Residents must submit a notification as
required by the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act.
● Address location● Name, date of birth, nationality / region, gender● Affiliated organization (activity organization, contract organization) ※● Divorce from a spouse, death of a spouse※※ Notifications regarding affiliated institutions and spouses are determinedby the target person.

Failure to fulfill the notification obligations or filing a false lie may
result in punishment or cancellation of your ﬆatus of residence.
If you have not fulfilled the notification obligation,● Application for change of ﬆatus of residence● Application for permission to renew the period of ﬆay● When applying for a permanent residence permit, you may be negatively
evaluated and may be punished.

21

After entering Japan, if you decide where youlive or change your place of residence, be sure
to notify your municipal office of your new address.

Address
is determined

Address changes

A resident card is required to submit a new address to themunicipalities.

If you get married or in other cases when
there is a change to your name, birthdate,nationality or gender, notify the Immigration
Bureau immediately.
Name, nationality,
etc. change

When submitting a notification to the Immigration Services
Agency, you will need a passport, a photo, a residence card, andother materials to prove that your name has changed.
22

If you drop out of school or change your company,
notify the Immigration Services Agency immediately.

Graduation,
enrollment,
transfer, withdrawal
from school, etc.

Job change,
retirement, etc.

The following ﬆatus of residence is required for notification.
Professor, Highly Skilled Professional, Business Manager, Legal /Accounting services, Medical services, Inﬆructor, Intra-company
Transferee, Technical Intern Training, Student, Researcher,Engineer/Specialiﬆ in Humanities/International Services, Nursing,
Entertainer, Skilled labor, Speciﬁed skilled worker
The following reasons are required for notification.
● Name change, location change, disappearance of organization such as
school or company to which you belong● Withdrawal and transfer from organizations such as schools and companies to which you belong● Termination of contract with a contracted organization such as a company,
conclusion of a new contract
Failure to fulfill notification requirements or filing a lie will result inpunishment.
23

If you are a resident with a status of residence
such as "Family stay”, "Spouse” etc. of Japanese",or "Spouse of a permanent resident etc.", please
notify the Immigration Services Agency immediately
if you are divorced or widowed.
り

け
こん とど

Divorce,death ofa spouse

The person who is obliged to report is the person whose
activities as a spouse are the basis of the status of residence.
Others are not eligible. If you are divorced or your spouse died,
you must submit a report to the Immigration Services Agency aswell as to the municipalities (notice of divorce and death of a
spouse).
Failure to fulfill the notification obligations or false notifications will
result in punishment.

Notifications such as changes to the organization
to which you belong, and divorce or death ofa spouse can also be made via the Internet.
Please search here.
Immigration Services Agency electronic
notification system

http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/i-ens/

24

SearchWho to call
When You Have Problems
In an emergency
For crime or accidents

For ﬁres, sickness or injury▼▼

Dial 110

Dial 119For information about ﬆatus of residence, etc.
Immigration Information Center
Dial 0570-013904(Weekdays 8:30 to 17:15)

Assiﬆance available in English, Korean, Chinese,
Spanish, Portuguese, Tagalog, Vietnamese!

For more information about residency for foreign nationals
Foreign Residents Support Center(Tokyo Regional Immigration Services Bureau)
Tel: 03-5363-3025 (Reservation only)(Weekdays 9:00 to 17:00)
Reservation form:
http://www.moj.go.jp/isa/support/fresc/fresc_2.1.html
Address: Yotsuya Tower 13F, 1-6-1 Yotsuya, Shinjuku City, Tokyo

For information about daily life
Tokyo Metropolitan Foreign Residents' Advisory Center
Language

Available

Tel.

EnglishMondays to Fridays

03-5320-7744

ChineseTuesdays and Fridays

03-5320-7766

KoreanWednesdays

03-5320-7700

Consultation times: 9:30 to 12:00, 13:00 to 17:00

25

Foreign Resident ManualThis manual is available in multiple languages.
It can be downloaded free of charge fromthe Tokyo Metropolitan Government Oﬃce
for Promotion of Citizen safety website.

SearchForeign Resident Manualhttps://www.tomin-anzen.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/chian/chiankaizen/gaikokujin/zairyuumanyuaru/index.html

Issued by: Tokyo Metropolitan Government Oﬃce
Headquarter/General Promotion Headquarter/Security
Measures Section-2-8-1- Nishi-Shinjuku-ku, Shinjuku-ku,
Tokyo 163-8001☎ 03-5388-2279
2021年3月発行

印刷物登録番号

英語版（ 2 ）29