Chapter

3

Information on Daily Life

1

Japanese customs and manners in daily life

It is important for you to have a good understanding of Japanese customs and manners indaily life to live comfortably.
Here is a brief description of general Japanese customs and manners in daily life for yourreference.

(1) Japanese greetings“Ohayogozaimasu” Good morning“Konnichiwa” Good day“Konbanwa” Good evening(2) Daily manners (noise/cooking)Houses are built in close proximity in Japan’s urban areas. The walls of apartmentbuildings are so thin that noises are transmitted easily. Please be considerate of yourneighbors and keep noise levels down.
When you cook particularly strong-smelling dishes, be careful that these smells do not
spread to surrounding neighbors.

20

Chapter 3

Information on Daily Life

(3) Using a cellphone in public spaces
Refrain from talking on the phone on buses, trains, or in elevators, and put yourcellphone on silent mode or turn it off.

3(4) A custom of taking off shoes
Always take off your shoes when entering a house. We sometimes wear indoor
slippers, but these must also be removed if you enter a tatami-mat room.

(5) Traffic rules
Please obey traffic signals. Pedestrians walk on the right, and vehicles and bicycles goon the left. Pedestrian safety is given the highest priority on sidewalks.

21

① Pedestrians◦ Walk on a pathway or sidewalk if

possible. If not, walk on the right side of the road.

◦ Stop and check for safety when visibility is low.

② Bicycles◦Keep to the left side of the road when riding. (Riding on the right side is notallowed.)Times you are allowed to ride on the pathway:
・when there is a road sign saying [Bicycle riding is OK];・when you are under 13, 70 years old or over, or have a disability;
・when there is an inevitable circumstance such as road work.
◦ I t is now mandatory for all cyclists to make an effort to wear a helmet when riding abicycle. Be sure to wear a helmet when riding.
◦ It is prohibited to ride drunk, with another person, with an umbrella or something inyour hand, one-handed or side by side. When riding your bicycle, observe all the
traffic rules: Turn on the light at night, follow the signal lights, obey stop signs, andperform safety checks.
◦ In Tokyo, cyclists are required to carry liability insurance to cover damages causedby accidents. Be sure to take out insurance.
◦Cyclists are required to lock their bicycles to prevent robbery or other criminal
behavior. Be sure to register your bicycle and lock it when it is not in use.

③ Illegally parked bicycles
Illegally parked bicycles on the road may cause accidents or block traffic. They arealso a safety hazard in an emergency. Please use a bicycle parking lot.
It is prohibited to park a bicycle in the vicinity of any train or subway station.
Please take notice of the warning signs.
If you illegally park your bicycle or motorbike in such an area, your bicycle or
motorbike will be removed.

22

Chapter 3

Information on Daily Life

④ How to get your impounded bicycle backImpounded bicycles are stored at one of the Impounded Bicycle Storage Centers. The
location where your bicycle is stored will depend on the station or address from which it
was removed.
・Opening days: Daily except public holidays, substitute holidays, and from December
29 through January 3
・Opening hours: 11:00 - 19:00
・Storage time limit: 30 days (in principle)
・Bring the following to get your bicycle back:① Your ID② Bicycle lock key③ Impoundment fee (3,000 yen for bicycles; 5,000 yen for mopeds and scooters)3* Exemption from payment of impoundment fees: The impoundment fee must be paid even
if your bicycle is stolen. However, you may be exempt from this payment if you reported thetheft to the police before your bicycle was impounded. For more information, please contact
the nearest Impounded Bicycle Storage Center in advance.

・A List of Impounded Bicycle Storage Centers(1) If it was removed from a No Bicycle Parking Zone
Storage Center

Location & contact number

Place of impoundment

Impounded Bicycle
Storage Center I
1-2 Heiwajima(Under the☎03-3765-5161
Heiwajima Overpass)

Omori, Omori Kaigan, Heiwajima,
Omorimachi, Umeyashiki, Showajima,
Ryutsu Center, Ikegami, Magome, NishiMagome, Ookayama, Kita-Senzoku,
Den-enchofu, Tamagawa, Numabe, Unoki,
Nagahara, Senzokuike, Ishikawadai,
Yukigaya-Otsuka, Ontakesan, Kugahara,
and Chidoricho Stations

Impounded Bicycle
Storage Center II(Under the MiyakoOhashi Overpass)

5-1 Heiwajima☎03-3765-5162

Kamata Station East Exit

Impounded Bicycle
Storage Center III(Under the MiyakoOhashi Overpass)

2 HeiwanomoriKoen☎03-3765-5163

Kamata Station West Exit, Yaguchi-nowatashi, Musashi-Nitta, Shimo-Maruko,
and Hasunuma Stations

Impounded Bicycle
Storage Center VI(Under the Rokugo
Bridge Overpass)

4-30 Naka-Rokugo☎03-3736-0372

Keikyu Kamata, Zoshiki, Rokugodote,
Kojiya, Otorii, Anamori-Inari, andTenkubashi Stations

23

(2) If it was removed from outside of a No Bicycle Parking Zone
Storage Center

Area removed from (P.16)

Impounded Bicycle
Storage Center I(Under the
Heiwajima
Overpass)
Impounded Bicycle
Storage Center II(Under the MiyakoOhashi Overpass)
Impounded Bicycle
Storage Center III(Under the MiyakoOhashi Overpass)

Areas managed by Area Infrastructure Development Divisions
1 and 3

The following addresses managed by Area Infrastructure
Development Division 2:
Kamata 1- to 5-chome, Kamata-Honcho 1- to 2-chome

The following addresses managed by Area Infrastructure
Development Division 2:
Nishi-Kamata 1- to 8-chome, Shin-Kamata 1- to 3-chome, HigashiYaguchi 1- to 3-chome, Yaguchi 1- to 3-chome, Shimo-Maruko
1- to 4-chome, Tamagawa 1- to 2-chome, Chidori 1-chome (20, 21,23), Chidori 2-chome (5, 6, 27, 36, 38–41), Chidori 3-chome (1, 2,
4–6, 8–25)
Impounded Bicycle The following addresses managed by Area Infrastructure
Storage Center VI Development Division 2:(Under the Rokugo Omori-Minami 1-chome (1–2, 4, 12–24), Omori-Minami 2-chome
Bridge Overpass)(18–19), Naka-Rokugo 1- to 4-chome, Nishi-Rokugo 1- to
4-chome, Higashi-Rokugo 1- to 3-chome, Minami-Rokugo 1- to
3-chome, Higashi-Kamata 1- to 2-chome, Minami-Kamata 1- to
3-chome, Haginaka 1- to 3-chome, Hon-Haneda 1- to 3-chome,
Nishi-Kojiya 1- to 4-chome, Kita-Kojiya 1- to 2-chome, HigashiKojiya 1- to 6-chome, Haneda 1- to 6-chome, Haneda-Asahicho
1–16, Haneda-Kuko 1- to 3-chome(6) Please do not smoke while walking and do not throw cigarette butts on
the ground.
In Ota City, you are not allowed to smoke while
walking or riding a bicycle, or throw cigarette buttson the street. Smoking while walking or riding abicycle can cause harm to people as you passthem. In addition, littered cigarette butts will ruin
the beauty of the city. Stop littering! Practice goodmanners and help keep our city clean and beautiful.

(7) Local Town Associations
In most parts of Japan, there are organizations
called Local Town Associations within eachneighborhood. They are voluntary groups
which aim at developing friendly relations
among residents through cleaning, disasterand crime prevention activities, and local
festivals. Please feel free to join these groups
in your area and participate in creating a better
local community.

24Chapter 3

Information on Daily Life

(8) New Year’s Day and the Bon Festival
January 1 is New Year’s Day. People are usually off work until January 4, and it is the
tradition that all family members celebrate the New Year together. This is why shops
and hospitals are closed until January 3.
We customarily exchange post New Year cards called Nengajo as part of our New Yearcelebration.
You can buy these cards at convenience stores, supermarkets, post offices and various
other places. We post New Year’s cards with New Year’s greetings and words of thanks
so that they arrive on January 1 to our family, friends, and those people who have beenkind to us.

3

Most people are also off from August 13-15 because of the Bon Festival.
The Festival is a memorial service for ancestors. A tower is built in the center of a parkor temple, and people dance around the tower to traditional music. This will provide youwith a unique opportunity to interact with residents of your community.

2

Utilities (electricity, gas and water)(1) Electricity【Inquiries】TEPCO Customer Center☎ 0120-995-001

Mon-Sat (except for public holidays) 9:00-17:00
Usage:
When you move in, you will need to apply for electricity connection.
To use electricity on the day service starts, lift the switch on the ampere breaker. Pleasecontact TEPCO for details.
* This method is for when power is provided by TEPCO. When using a different powercompany, please contact them.

25

(2) Gas【Inquiries】Tokyo Gas Customer Center ☎ 0570-002211* From PHS/IP phone ☎ 03-3344-9100
Mon-Sat 9:00-19:00 Sun and public holidays 9:00-17:00
Usage:
Before you start to use gas, an employee from the gas company will visit you and open
your gas valve. Please contact Tokyo Gas about 1 week prior to the date that you will
start using gas. The company can then dispatch an employee to open the valve free ofcharge.
* This method is for when gas is provided by Tokyo Gas. When using a different gas
company, please contact them.
When you smell gas, using fire is prohibited!
1 Open windows and doors.
2 Close the gas valves.
3 Also, close the main gas line meter.
* Do not touch the switches for lights or fans. (Small sparks can form when switchingthem on and off.)
Gas leak information phone ☎0570-002299 (Available 24 hours)* When navigation dial does not connect (IP phones or from overseas)☎03-6735-8899(3) Water【Inquiries】Tokyo Metropolitan Waterworks Bureau Customer
Center (23 special wards)☎ 03-5326-1101
Mon-Sat (except for public holidays) 8:30-20:00*24-hour services in case of emergency, including water leaks.
Usage:
When using new water services after moving, etc., contact the waterworks bureau 3 to 4
days before start of use. You can also apply online.

(4) Telephone
How to dial
◦ International calls
Call using the access number depending on your telecommunications provider +010 (International Dial Identification Number) + Country Code + Area Code + Local
Number in this order.
Please confirm the access number with your telecommunications provider.

26

Chapter 3

Information on Daily Life

◦ Domestic calls

Area Code No.+The person's phone number
Example）03-1234-5678
Tokyo area code

3

Driving an automobile or a motorbike【Inquiries】Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department Website
Samezu Driver’s License Test Center
1-12-5 Higashi-oi, Shinagawa-ku,Tokyo☎ 03-3474-1374

3

A driver’s license is needed when you drive a car or a motorbike in Japan.

(1) International driver’s license
You can drive a car in Japan when you have a valid international driver’s license issued
by any member country of the Geneva Treaty.

(2) Switching to a Japanese driver’s license
When you have an overseas driver’s license and can meet the following two requirements,
you can switch it to a Japanese driver’s license at a driver’s license center.
・Your overseas driver’s license is valid.
・You can verify that you have stayed for 3 months or longer in total in the
country where you got the license.
*For information on how to switch to a Japanese driver’s license at a Driver’s
License Center, contact [Inquiries] above.

4

Other information about daily life(1)Recyclable garbage【Inquiries】
・Waste Collection Offices
Omori Waste Collection Office☎ 03-3774-3811
Kamata Waste Collection Office (Chofu area) ☎ 03-6459-8201
Kamata Waste Collection Office (Kamata area) ☎ 03-6451-9535
・Sanitation Division ☎ 03-5744-1628① Garbage separation
Home garbage is separated into recyclable(used paper, glass bottles, cans, PET bottles
and food trays), burnable, unburnable, andbulky or oversized items before collection.
The day of collection varies by area. For moredetails, see the pamphlet “How to sort anddispose of recyclable garbage and trash”.

27Separating and setting out recyclable garbage
Languages: English, Chinese, Korean, Tagalog, Nepali, and Vietnamese
Major distribution locations: City Office Main Building, Branch Offices（P17）,
Waste Collection Offices（P27）
Issued by: Ota City Sanitation Division② Application for the collection of bulky or oversized refuse【Inquiries】Ota City Bulky Refuse Reception Center ☎ 0570-037-530
Supported Languages: English, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai, andVietnamese
8:00-19:00 (Except Dec 29 through Jan 3 and maintenance days)
Apply with Ota Bulky Refuse Reception Center for the collection of bulky
refuse that is 30cm or wider. This includes furniture and electricalappliances. You will be charged for collection. Illegal disposal of garbage issubject to penalties. Follow the rules and correctly dispose of waste.

(English,
Chinese,Korean)A flow chart for collection of bulky refuse① Application
Phone or internet② Purchase a paid refuse

Tickets are sold at supermarkets andconvenience stores.

③ Disposal of refuse

Attach the collection ticket to the item to be disposed of,and put it at the designated place, not in the collection
spot, by 8:00 on the collection day.

③ Recycling of electrical appliances for home use【Inquiries】Electrical Appliances Recycle Reception Center.
☎ 0570-087-200（Reception: Mon-Fri 9:00-17:00）
It is obligatory by law to recycle air conditioners, TV sets, washing machines, dryers,
refrigerators and freezers. Ask the salesperson where you are purchasing a new
appliance about recycling your old appliance. If you fail to find a recycling shop,
contact the Home Electrical Appliances Recycle Reception Center* Cannot be collected by the City.You will be charged a recycling fee and a collectionfee.

④ Smartphone app for how to sort and dispose of recyclables and garbage【Inquiries】Collection and Recycling Section, Sanitation Division☎ 03-5744-1628

28

Chapter 3

Information on Daily Life

Have you ever wondered about when and how to dispose of your trash?
This App tells you when and how to dispose of waste and what you should keep inmind when disposing of your trash as well as waste sorting rules, frequently asked
questions, and quizzes and their answers.
This App is available not only in Japanese but also in English, Chinese, Korean,
Nepali, Tagalog, and Vietnamese. We hope that this App will be helpful to you.
Search(2) Postal services
Japan Post

3

【Inquiries】Customer Service Consultation Center ☎ 0120-23-28-86*By cell phone ☎ 0570-046-666
   *English reception ☎ 0570-046-111
Mon-Fri

8:00-21:00

Sat, Sun and public holidays

9:00-21:00① Major Post Offices in Ota City (Japan Post)
・Omori – 3-9-13 Sanno, Ota City
・Kamata – 1-2-8 Kamata-Honcho, Ota City・Den-enchofu – 2-21-1 Minami-Yukigaya, Ota City
・Chidori – 2-34-10 Chidori, Ota City

② Post office opening hours (mail business)
Mon-Fri 9:00-17:00 [Selected post offices open on Sat, Sun and at night.]③ Mail box

When you send a postcard or letter to a domestic orinternational destination, attach a postage stamp and put
the postcard or letter in a red mailbox. There are two slotson the boxes, one for letters (regular size) and postcards,
and one for other mail (irregular sizes, international,
express, etc.).
You can also send bigger mail through the post office.

④ International postal services
For parcels intended for overseas, services include EMS (Express Mail Service),
air mail, SAL (Surface Air Lifted) and surface marine post, with a variety of fees anddays before delivery.

⑤ Delivery when not available

Packets and parcels delivered when you are not available will be returned to thecenter by the delivery agent with a failed delivery notice left in the mailbox. The
parcel will remain at the post office for seven days from the following day. Please gowithin this period to pick up the package with the failed delivery notice, identificationsuch as a Zairyu card and a personal seal if you have one. If you would like torequest redelivery, there is space for you to fill in the desired date and location ofdelivery. Fill in the card and put it in a mailbox.

29

(3) Banking
At banks you can open a savings account and send funds overseas. Services vary ateach financial institution. For further details, contact the financial institution concerned.

(4) Housing① Public housing
The municipal government provides public housing. Because eligibility,
requirements and application times differ by type of housing, please enquire below
for further details.
Type

For inquiries, contact

City housing・
Resident housing

Ota City Residence Management Center ☎03-3730-7325

Senior Citizen
Housing

Senior Citizen Housing Management Service Counter☎03-5744-1346

Tokyo Metropolitan
Tokyo Metropolitan Housing Application Center ☎03-3498-8894
housing② Private housing rental
Because the amount of public housing is limited, there is a high demand for private
housing. You can contact a landlord through a real estate agency, and rent a
property by paying monthly rent.
Housing assistance is available for households with foreign nationals with status ofresidence, and can provide lists of cooperative real estate agencies and introduce
rent insurance companies.

【Inquiries】Housing Consultation Desk ☎ 03-5744-1343
Opening hours: Mon - Fri 8:30 - 17:00 (except public holidays, year-end
and New Year holidays)【Process of locating and moving to a property】◦ Finding a property[How to find a property]
・Search the internet;
・Visit a real estate agency located in your desired area.
◦ Contract[Expenses payable at the time of contracting]
It will be necessary for you to pay, at the time of contracting, a total of the rent for
5 to 6 months for the following:・Security deposit: Amount paid to the landlord at contracting. This is allocated to
unpaid rent or repair expenses attributable to the renter. The remaining amountwill be refunded when the renter terminates the contract.
・K ey money: Amount paid to the landlord at contracting in addition to thedeposit. This is nonrefundable when the renter terminates the contract.
・Commission: Amount you pay to the real estate agency.

30

Chapter 3

Information on Daily Life

[Cosigning]
It is requested for you to have a cosigner when renting a private house in Japan.
If you fail to find a cosigner, you can use a rental guarantor company.
*F ees will be charged when using a guarantor company.
◦ Moving
When moving, you are expected to pay attention to the following housing
circumstances in Japan, in addition to observing the contract:
・Disposal of garbage at the designated spot on the designated day.
・When cooking, be careful that strong smells do not spread from your property toyour neighbors.
・The room must be occupied by the contracted renter(s) only. No one other thanthe person on the rental agreement is allowed to move in.
・D o not let anyone take over your rented room without the landlord’s priorconsent.
・Take care not to make noise.

3(5) Consumer Consultation【Inquiries】Consumer Center Consultation Hotline ☎ 03-3736-0123◦ Consultation reception Mon - Fri

9:00 - 16:30◦ Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays are handled by national/prefectural facilities.

(Consumer Hotline ☎ 188)
Consumer consultations regarding issues with products and services provided to
local residents are handled by the hotline with the provision of advice and information
for finding a solution. If needed, the center can also provide arbitration between the
consumer and the business.

(6) Notification regarding dogs

【Inquiries】Area Health Divisions (P. 16)
All dog owners are obliged to register their dogs and have them vaccinated againstrabies annually by law (Rabies Prevention Act).

① Dog license(A) pertains to dogs that have microchip information registered with a designatedorganization certified by the Ministry of the Environment, while (B) pertains to dogs
that do not have microchip information registered with such an organization.
(A) Dogs that have microchip information registered with a designated organization
certified by the Ministry of the Environment
The microchip information is registered already, so registration with the city office is
not necessary. The microchip will be treated as an “Inukansatsu” license tag.
Please change the registered microchip information via the website of the designatedorganization certified by the Ministry of the Environment if your dog diesor if there is a change in registered information such as a change ofaddress.

31

(B) D ogs that do not have microchip information registered with a designatedorganization certified by the Ministry of the Environment
All dogs aged 91 days or older must be registered. Dog owners are issued a license
tag called Inukansatsu at registration. It is a requirement to keep it on the dog at all
times. If the license tag is lost, you must apply for a replacement. Please notify the
Health Care Services Division if your dog dies or if there is a change in registeredinformation such as change of address.
◦ Handling fees for dog license

Description of registration

Handling fee

New registration of the dog/ Issuance of license tag or Inukansatsu￥3,000Reissuance of license tag or Inukansatsu￥1,600② Inoculation against rabies
All dog owners are required to have their dogs inoculated against rabies annually,and keep issued inoculation tags on their dogs to certify that the dogs have been
inoculated. You must apply for reissuance if the certificate tag for the current year islost.
◦ Handling fees for rabies-inoculation tag

Application

Handling fee

Issuance of inoculation tag￥550

Reissuance of inoculation tag￥340③ Rules and etiquette for pet owners
We would like your kind cooperation to ensure that pet owners and those who are
not comfortable with animals can live in harmony together in our society. Please giveconsideration to others by following the following rules:◦Whenever possible, please have your dog defecate and urinate at home before

taking it out for a walk.
◦
Please ensure to clean up your dog’s droppings and urine when taking it out for awalk.
◦ Please ensure to keep your dog firmly on a leash when you take it out for a walk.
◦
Please train your dog so that barking and other behavioral problems are controlled

and minimized.

32

Chapter 3

Information on Daily Life

④ Inquiries regarding pets
Description of inquiries

Inquiry desks

Dog bites
Sanitation and Public Health Division
Partial subsidiary for the
castration and sterilization of ☎03-5764-0670
cats and dogs
Missing dogs and cats/Protection of dogs and cats

Sanitation and Public Health Division ☎03-5764-0670
Area Health Divisions (P16)
Animal Protection and Consultation Center, Tokyo☎03-3302-3507

Injured dogs and cats foundin public areas

Animal Protection and Consultation Center,Tokyo
Metropolitan Government ☎03-3302-3507

3Found onWaste Collection Offices (P27)
private properties
Ota City Area Infrastructure Development Divisions (P16)
AnimalFound in publiccarcasses areas(handled byadministrator)

Waste Collection Offices for those found on metropolitan
roads (P27)
Shinagawa Branch, National Road Management Office,Construction and Transport Ministry for those found on
national roads☎03-3799-6315(7) Ota City Government Website【Inquiries】Public Hearing and Public Relations Division ☎03-5744-1132
This website provides daily municipal news and information on administrative
procedures. It has a text-to-speech function, a function to increase text sizeand offers machine translation.

(8) Global City Ota Cooperation Association (GOCA) Website【Inquiries】Global City Ota Cooperation Association (GOCA) ☎03-6410-7981
The GOCA Website provides foreign residents with daily life information, disasterwarnings, and information on Japanese language classes. The website offers
machine translation into English, Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese.

(9) International Exchange Volunteer recruitment【Inquiries and applications】
Global City Ota Cooperation Association (GOCA) ☎03-6410-7981
The GOCA is recruiting international exchange volunteers. For more
information, please visit the following website or contact GOCA.

(10) VoiceTraThis is a speech translation app that translates anything you say into another language.
VoiceTra supports 31 languages and can be downloaded and used for free.
This is an experimental app developed to be tested by individual tourists
using an experimental server.

33