International Affairs Office "Kokusai Gakari"
The City Office has also set up the International
Affairs Office in the Mayor's Office. If you have any questions or problems,
please feel free to contact this office. It was set up with the purpose
of making Takayama a city in which the internationalization process can
be brought about smoothly, and one of the office's duties is to help people
from abroad adjust to life in Takayama. The International Affairs Office
is in the Mayor's Office of the City Hall. The telephone number is 35-3130.
takayama@htia.org
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General
Information on Tourism "Kankou Annai"
The Tourism Section of Takayama has a wide range
of information, in both English and Japanese, on points of interest in
Takayama and the Hida area as well as other parts of the country.
You can obtain this information at the City Office,
or you can talk to one of the English-speaking workers at the Tourist Information
Office i n front of Takayama Station. If they don't have the information
that you need there, they will most likely know where to find it. The Tourist
Information Office's phone number is 32-5328. The office is open from 9:00
a.m. to 5:00 daily and until 6:30 during the tourist season, from April
1st to October 31st.
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J.N.T.O.
The Japan National Tourist Organization (JNTO)
operates two services with foreign visitors in mind. The Japan Travel Phone
is a telephone service for information in English, available throughout
the country from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily. In eastern Japan, call toll
free 0088-22-4800; in western Japan (including Takayama) call toll free
0120-44-4800. Within Tokyo or Kyoto cities, you must make a regular local
call (10 yen for three minutes). The Tokyo telephone number is 03-3201-3331,
and the Kyoto number is 371-5649. The service provides travel information
and assistance in English.
JNTO also operates three Travel Information Centers
(TIC): Tokyo Office, 1-6-6 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, telephone 03-3502-1461;
Tokyo International Airport Office (Narita), Airport Terminal Building,
Narita, Chiba-Pref., telephone 0476-34-6251; and the Kyoto, telephone 075-371-5649.
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N.I.C.
While the international community in Takayama is
still quite small and there is no formal organization, the City of Nagoya
has a large and active international community. The Nagoya International
Center sponsors programs and various events from its headquarters at 1-47-1
Nakano, Nakamura-ku, Nagoya. The organization also publishes a monthly
guide to the Nagoya area, including events in the entire Chubu District.
This guide can be quite helpful in planning day trips for shopping, sightseeing,
and cultural or educational excursions throughout the Chubu region. Call
or write the Nagoya NIC to receive your copy. You can contact the NIC at
the above address or by calling 052-581-5678.
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G.I.C.
The Gifu International Center issues a monthly
English newsletter called "SEKAIWA HITOTSU". Many kinds of information
are available in the newsletter. If you want to subscribe to newsletters,
please contact the Gifu International Center, telephone 058-277-1013.
The opinions published in the Hodgepodge do not
necessary reflect the views of the Gifu International Center or Gifu Prefectural
Government. They need input from its readers in order to fulfill its' purpose.
This newsletter is a forum for you to share your experiences and insights
you have gained from living in Japan. Please submit entries by the 20th
of each month to the International Center.
Also, feel free to visit the Center, there are
always some English speaking staff who will help you. The Center is open
Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. and they are closed on
Saturdays and Sundays.
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Newspapers "Shinbun"
There are four English daily newspapers published
in Japan which are also available in Takayama.
The Japan Times (Chunichi Newspaper
Agency)
Asahi Evening News (Asahi Newspaper
Agency)
Mainichi Daily News (Mainichi
Newspaper Agency)
The Daily Yomiuri (Yomiuri Newspaper
Agency)
You may subscribe to English newspapers through
the nearest offices of the above mentioned agencies. They will be delivered
to your home every day.
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Banking "Ginkou"
To open a saving account at any bank you will need
to take your Certificate of Non-Japanese Registration or your passport
and your personal seal.
You can also apply for a cash card at the same
time. With a cash card, you can utilize ATMs (Automatic Teller Machines)
and CDs (Cash Dispensers).
You can have your public bills such as water, gas,
electricity and telephone paid automatically from your bank account. The
application procedures are the same for any public utility fees.
With ATMs, you can withdraw cash (bills only) from
your bank account as well as deposit cash (bills only) to your account
outside the bank, even after banking hours. To use these service, you need
to receive a cash card beforehand from your bank.
You can operate the ATM by pushing buttons according
to the instructions indicated by the display. The instructions are usually
displayed in Japanese only. If you have trouble using the ATM, ask a clerk
for help.
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Seals "Inkan"
It is more common to use personal seals rather
than a signature in Japan. There are two kinds of seals. One is a registered
seal, JITSUIN, which is registered at a municipal office and the other
is a private seal, MITOMEIN.
When your seal is registered, a certificate of
seal impression will be issued by a municipal office. By using your registered
seal with this certificate, your act is legally confirmed. Consequently
JITSUIN is used for formal contracts or legal procedures. A private seal
is used for simple legal procedures. A private seal is used for simple
legal acts such as opening a bank account, withdrawing money from the bank
or issuing a receipt.
A foreigner who has an alphabetical name will need
a seal made by putting their name into KANJI, HIRAGANA, or KATAKANA.
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(C): Hida Takayama International Association All right reserved.
