



No.40
March 2014 Issue

Published by the Saitama Tourism and International Relations Bureau (STIB)International Exchange Center













 







How to move in Saitama City

I want to move within
Saitama city. What do I
need to do to change ouraddress?

What is the process for mychildren to change schools?

 asI want to move as cheaply
possible.
What steps must I take tostart/stop the supply ofelectricity,

gasandwater?

 Start a new life comfortably by knowing important procedures, rules, andmanners for moving to a new residence.


Various procedures for MovingAdministrative

Before Moving

After Moving

Notifications of moving

Submit “a moving-out notification” to theSubmit “the moving-out certificate” and “ain and moving out

Citizen Services Division of your current

moving-in notification” to your new city,

ward/branch office about one month beforeward, town, or village office within 14 days

moving out, and receive “a moving-out

after moving in.

Procedurescertificate”.
You need to bring your residence card or special permanent resident certificate.
Children in elementary
andjuniorhighschools

 Inform

theperson

receivinga

 Inform a person receiving a moving-in

moving-out notification that you have anotification

child/children in elementary/junior highchild/children in elementary/junior highschool.       school.

 Receive “a school certificate”
shomeisho)(zaigakuthatyouhavea Present “the school certificate andand a textbook certificate

textbook(kyokasho kyuyo shomeisho) ” fromcertificate”

toyourchild/children’s new school.

your child/children’s current school.
You need to go to the Citizen Services Division of Ward/Branch Offices and your child/children’s schools
to do these procedures.
Procedures for utilities

Before Moving

Electricity

Contact your electric power company. It

After Moving
Turn on any breaker or fuse switches.

makes the necessary arrangements.
GasWaterContact your gas company. It makes theContact a gas company. It makes thenecessary arrangements.

necessary arrangements.

Call Saitama City Waterworks Bureau at 048-665-3220.

You can also contact the above by fax or internet. These procedures are free of charge.

Report your change of address.
MailIf you notify your local post office of the change in address, mail sent to the old address
is forwarded to the new address for one year at no charge.

Driver’s licenseTelephoneChange the address on your driver’s license at your new local police station. Contact your telephone company.

                            Tips for moving on the cheap   Hiring a moving company can make the moving process more efficient.
Choose a company that fits your budget or plan.
. Get estimates from several movers including smaller local ones as well as major ones, which is usually
free of charge.
. Compare and choose a mover after narrowing down your possibilities to two or three by checking theirprices or services.
. Moving rates differ widely depending on the month or the day of the week. Avoid moving during the busy
season(March, April, August, and October as well as Saturday, Sunday, and holidays) , if possible. If it is

not possible, book your company as far in advance as possible.
. Pack yourself and cut down moving costs.

How to Dispose of Garbageby moving             (See “How generatedto Dispose of Household
Garbage” issued by Saitama City)
Dispose of garbage generated by a move in accordancewith the rules of “How to Dispose of Household
Garbage(kateigomi no dashikata) ”.

 It is important to reduce the items you have by getting rid of your unwanted belongings before moving. Youcannot throw away large amounts of waste at your waste collection site at once. Take out garbage in awell-planned way as your moving date approaches. Dispose of bulky refuse such as disused furniture inadvance, which costs money, or recycle it.


Rules of vacation           oving out of a rented houseor rooms is called “akewatashi (vacation)”.
 When you decide to move out, inform your management company of your moving date one month
before the departure date. If you move without informing the company of your intention to do so or wait until
just before you move, your security deposit (See Note 1) might not be refunded. Clean out your rented
house or rooms as much as possible before moving out.

(Note 1) security deposit(shikikin)

A security deposit equivalent to one-to-three months’ rent is given to a management company by a renter
upon entering into a lease contract. If the rent is outstanding or the place is left damaged or in poor condition
after the renter moves out, the money will be used to cover the cost and whatever left will be refunded to therenter.
Courtesy visits   Go around making “courtesy visits(aisatsu mawari)”
once your moving date has been set. Let yourneighbors know that you are moving. It is a good idea to exchange contact information as much as you canto cherish your old friendships with them.
Visit your new neighbors including those living above and below you in housing complexes to introduce
yourself when you have moved to a new place. This is important to get on well with them.
Japanese customs There is a Japanese custom called “Hikkoshi Soba (moving-in noodles)”. People who have just moved into a new place give their new neighbors “soba”. It is because the long shape of noodles
 symbolizes hopes for a long and friendly relationship and “soba” also means “close by”.
 Recently it isn’t very customary to give “soba”. Instead, people often give their new neighbors small gifts of about ¥100 to ¥300 such as towels when visiting them.
 Publisher’s information
Saitama Tourism and International Relations Bureau
(STIB)International Exchange CenterPlace9th Floor of the COMUNALE Complex
Higashi Takasago-cho 11-1, Urawa-ku, Saitama City

Tel: 048-813-8500  Fax: 048-887-1505


Saitama Tourism and International
Relations Bureau (STIBCOMUNALE F
Saitama City International Exchange Center

E-mail: iec@stib.jp
URL:

http://www.stib.jp/kokusai