For first time residents in Japan, visiting the city hall can be a very intimidating experience. What do you do? Where do you go first? What do you need to ask? Quite frankly, the language barrier that most people meet certainly isn’t any help. But don’t worry! The Tokyo Life has consulted with staff members at municipal offices in Tokyo and compiled a checklist of questions to ask your local municipal office.
In this guide, you’ll find important information that you will need to know from the city hall. Each question includes English, Japanese, and romaji for the brave and curious who want to start working on their Japanese skills.
Table of Contents
- At the City Hall
- Insurance: National Health Insurance and National Pension
- Insurance: Social Insurance
- For Garbage and Recycling
- For Daily Life
- Language Support
- For Families and Children
- Language Directory
- City Hall Directory for Japan
Download the pdf version of our City Hall Checklist here.
At the City Hall
These are questions you should ask when visiting city hall the first time you move to Japan. Included are items about registering your address and enrollment in health insurance and pension. For more information on those topics, check out our National Health Insurance, National Pension, and Social Insurance guides.
| English | Japanese | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| How do I register my address? | 住所を登録したいのですが | jūsho o tōroku shitai no desu ga |
| What do I need to apply? | 申し込みに必要なものは何ですか | mōshikomi ni hitsuyō na mono wa nan desu ka |
| How do I get my Notification Card (paper-type My Number Card)? | マイナンバー交付通知書（紙製のマイナンバーカード）はどのように受け取れますか | mainanbā kōfu tsūchisho (kamisei no mainanbākādo) wa dono yō ni uketoremasu ka |
| How do I apply for a My Number Card? | マイナンバーカードの申し込みはどうすればよいですか | mainanbākādo no mōshikomi wa dō sureba yoi desu ka |
| Where can I apply? | どこで申し込みますか | doko de mōshikomimasu ka |
| What do I need to apply? | 申し込みに必要なものは何ですか | mōshikomi ni hitsuyō na mono wa nan desu ka |
| How do I know what type of insurance and pension I should enroll in (social vs national)? | 社会保険（雇用保険）か国民健康保険、そして年金はどれに加入すればよいですか | shakai hoken (koyō hoken) ka kokumin kenkōhoken, soshite nenkin wa dore ni kanyū sureba yoi desu ka |
| How do I file my income tax? | 所得税の納税について教えてください | shotokuzei no nōzei ni tsuite oshiete kudasai |
| How do I file my residence tax? | 市民税（区民税）の納税について教えてください | shiminzei (kuminzei) no nōzei ni tsuite oshiete kudasai |
| What documents do I need when I move to a different ward? | 違う市（区）に引っ越す時に必要な書類は何ですか | chigau ichi (ku) ni hikkosu toki ni hitsuyō na shorui wa nan desu ka |
| How do I apply for these documents? | それらの書類はどのように申し込みますか | sorera no shorui wa dono yō ni mōshikomimasu ka |
Insurance: National Health Insurance and National Pension
These are questions you should ask when you want to know about enrolling in National Health Insurance and National Pension.
| English | Japanese | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| How do I apply for the National Health Insurance? | 国民健康保険に加入したいのですが | kokumin kenkōhoken ni kanyū shitai no desu ga |
| What do I need to apply? | 申し込みに必要なものは何ですか | mōshikomi ni hitsuyō na mono wa nan desu ka |
| How much do I have to pay? | 保険料はいくら払うことになりますか | hokenryō wa ikura harau koto ni narimasu ka |
| What deductions are available? | どのような控除がありますか | dono yō na kōjo ga arimasu ka |
| Can I apply for deductions? | 控除を受ける対象になりますか | kōjo o ukeru taishō ni narimasu ka |
| How do I apply for deductions? | 控除を受ける手続きはどうすればよいですか | kōjo o ukeru tetsudzuki wa dō sureba yoi desu ka |
| How do I apply for the National Pension? | 国民年金に加入したいのですが | kokumin nenkin ni kanyū shitai no desu ga |
| What do I need to apply? | 申し込みに必要なものは何ですか | mōshikomi ni hitsuyō na mono wa nan desu ka |
| How much do I have to pay? | 保険料はいくら払うことになりますか | hokenryō wa ikura harau koto ni narimasu ka |
| What deductions are available? | どのような控除がありますか | dono yō na kōjo ga arimasu ka |
| Can I apply for deductions? | 控除を受ける対象になりますか | kōjo o ukeru taishō ni narimasu ka |
| How do I apply for deductions? | 控除を受ける手続きはどうすればよいですか | kōjo o ukeru tetsudzuki wa dō sureba yoi desu ka |
Insurance: Social Insurance
These are questions you should ask when you want to know about enrolling in Social Insurance.
| English | Japanese | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| How do I apply for Social Insurance (Employment Insurance)? | 社会保険（雇用保険）に加入したいのですか | shakai hoken (koyō hoken) ni kanyū shitai no desu ka |
| What do I need to apply? | 申し込みに必要なものは何ですか | mōshikomi ni hitsuyō na mono wa nan desu ka |
| How much do I have to pay? | 保険料はいくら払うことになりますか | hokenryō wa ikura harau koto ni narimasu ka |
| What deductions are available? | どのような控除がありますか | dono yō na kōjo ga arimasu ka |
| Can I apply for deductions? | 控除を受ける対象になりますか | kōjo o ukeru taishō ni narimasu ka |
| How do I apply for deductions? | 控除を受ける手続きはどうすればよいですか | kōjo o ukeru tetsudzuki wa dō sureba yoi desu ka |
For Garbage and Recycling
These are questions you should ask when you want to know about the rules and scheduling for waste disposal in your area.
| English | Japanese | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| What are the trash disposal and recyclable waste rules for __________ City/Ward? | __________市（区）のゴミ・リサイクル品収集のルールは何ですか | __________shi (ku) no gomi risaikuruhin shūshū no rūru wa nandesuka |
| Do you have a trash disposal and recyclable waste calendar? | ごみ・リサイクル品収集のカレンダーはありますか | gomi risaikuruhin shūshū no karendā wa arimasu ka |
| Where can I find __________-speaking doctors, dentists, hospitals, or clinics? | __________語が話せる医者、歯医者、病院、クリニックはどこにありますか | __________go ga hanaseru isha, haisha, byōin, kurinikku wa doko ni arimasu ka |
For Daily Life
These are questions you should ask when you want to know about available services for daily life in your area.
| English | Japanese | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Does __________ City/Ward offer any free health services? | __________市（区）には無料の健康診断・サービスがありますか | __________shi (ku) ni wa muryō no kenkōshinda sābisu ga arimasu ka |
| Do you have a list of places and what they offer in __________ language? | どこで受けられますか、リストはありますか。__________語でのサポートはありますか | doko de ukeraremasu ka, risuto wa arimasu ka. __________go de no sapōto wa arimasu ka |
| Where are they located?* | それはどこにありますか | sore wa doko ni arimasu ka |
| What are the conditions for applying? | 申し込みにはどのような条件がありますか | mōshikomi ni wa dono yō na jōken ga arimasu ka |
| *You will often receive a letter when you apply for National Health Insurance listing health services available at a discounted price or free. | ||
| Does __________ City/Ward offer any free legal services? | __________市（区）では無料の法律相談はありますか | __________shi (ku) de wa muryō no hōritsu sōdan wa arimasu ka |
| Where are they located? | どこで受けられますか | doko de ukeraremasu ka |
| What are the emergency numbers for __________ City/Ward? | __________市（区）での緊急連絡先はどこですか | __________shi (ku) de no kinkyū renrakusen wa doko desu ka |
| Do they offer __________language support? | そちらは__________語でのサポートはありますか | sochira wa __________go de no sapōto wa arimasu ka |
Language Support
These are questions you should ask when you want to know about services or support available in your language in your area as well as Japanese courses you can take.
| English | Japanese | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| What languages are supported in __________ City/Ward? | __________市（区）ではどの国の言葉のサポートがありますか | __________shi (ku) de wa dono kuni no kotoba no sapōto ga arimasu ka |
| (Or) Do you offer support in __________ language? | （または）「__________国の言葉のサポートはありますか | (mata wa) __________koku no kotoba no sapōto wa arimasu ka |
| What support services are available in __________ language? | __________語ではどのようなサポートサービスがありますか | __________go de wa dono yōna sapōto sābisu ga arimasu ka |
| Does __________ City/Ward offer free Japanese lessons? | __________市（区）は無料の日本語教室がありますか | __________shi (ku) wa muryō no nihongo kyōshitsu ga arimasu ka |
| Where are the lessons taught? | 日本語教室はどこで開かれていますか | nihongo kyōshitsu wa doko de akareteimasu ka |
| How do I enroll? | 参加するにはどうすればよいですか | sanka suru ni wa dō sureba yoi desu ka |
For Families and Children
These are questions you should ask when you want to know about schooling option in your area, including location and requirements.
| English | Japanese | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| What childcare services are available in __________ City/Ward? | __________市（区）にはどのような子ども関連のサービスがありますか | __________shi (ku) ni wa dono yō na kodomo kanren no sābisu ga arimasu ka |
| Where are they located? | それはどこにありますか | sore wa doko ni arimasu ka |
| What are the conditions for applying? | 申し込みにはどのような条件がありますか | mōshikomi ni wa dono yō na jōken ga arimasu ka |
| What schools are available in __________ City/Ward? | __________市（区）の学校を教えてください | __________shi (ku) no gakkō o oshiete kudasai |
| Where are they located? | 場所はどこですか | basho wa doko desu ka |
| What are the conditions for applying? | 申し込みに必要な条件は何ですか | mōshikomi ni hitsuyō na jōken wa nan desu ka |
| Does __________ City/Ward have any international schools? | __________市（区）にはインターナショナルスクールはありますか | __________shi (ku) ni wa intānashonaru sukūru wa arimasu ka |
| Where are they located? | 場所はどこですか | basho wa doko desu ka |
| What are the conditions for applying? | 申し込みに必要な条件は何ですか | mōshikomi ni hitsuyō na jōken wa nan desu ka |
Language Directory
| اَلْعَرَبِيَّةُ | アラビア語 | arabiago |
| မြန်မာဘာသာ | ミャンマー語 | myanmāgo |
| 官话 | 中国語 | chūgokugo |
| English | 英語 | eigo |
| français | フランス語 | furansugo |
| Deutsch | ドイツ語 | doitsugo |
| Ελληνικά | ギリシャ語 | girishago |
| मानक हिन्दी | ヒンディー語 | hindīgo |
| bahasa Indonesia | インドネシア語 | indoneshiago |
| italiano | イタリア語 | itariago |
| 한국어 | 韓国語 | kankokugo |
| bahasa Melayu | マレー語 | mareigo |
| नेपाली | ネパール語 | nepaarugo |
| português | ポルトガル語 | porutogarugo |
| русский язык | ロシア語 | roshiago |
| español | スペイン語 | supeingo |
| Tagalog | タガログ語 | tagarogugo |
| ภาษาไทย | タイ語 | taigo |
| Ўзбекча | ウズベク語 | uzubekugo |
| Tiếng Việt | ベトナム語 | betonamugo |
City Hall Directory for Japan
| Adachi-ku | 足立区 | あだちく |
| Arakawa-ku | 荒川区 | あらかわく |
| Bunkyo-ku | 文京区 | ぶんきょうく |
| Chiyoda-ku | 千代田区 | ちよだく |
| Chuo-ku | 中央区 | ちゅうおうく |
| Edogawa-ku | 江戸川区 | えどがわく |
| Itabashi-ku | 板橋区 | いたばしく |
| Katsushika-ku | 葛飾区 | かつしかく |
| Kita-ku | 北区 | きたく |
| Koto-ku | 江東区 | こうとうく |
| Meguro-ku | 目黒区 | めぐろく |
| Minato-ku | 港区 | みなとく |
| Nakano-ku | 中野区 | なかのく |
| Nerima-ku | 練馬区 | ねりまく |
| Ota-ku | 大田区 | おおたく |
| Setagaya-ku | 世田谷区 | せたがやく |
| Shibuya-ku | 渋谷区 | しぶやく |
| Shinagawa-ku | 品川区 | しながわく |
| Shinjuku-ku | 新宿区 | しんじゅくく |
| Suginami-ku | 杉並区 | すぎなみく |
| Sumida-ku | 墨田区 | すみだく |
| Taito-ku | 台東区 | たいとうく |
| Toshima-ku | 豊島区 | としまく |
*For areas outside of Tokyo’s 23 wards, please refer to any of the following websites:
https://uub.jp/cty/ (Japanese)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cities_in_Japan (English)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_towns_in_Japan (English)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_villages_in_Japan (English)
Need more help with figuring out living in Tokyo? Our Tokyo 101 guides take the stress out of navigating life in Japan.
Download the pdf version of our City Hall Checklist here.
Featured image by Chimene Gaspar on Unsplash
