Life in Fukuoka "English"

【Koinobori – Carp Streamers】

A familiar sight during this season, Koinobori (carp streamers) are traditionally displayed to celebrate Children’s Day on May 5th, also known as Tango no Sekku. The streamers are put up to pray for the healthy growth of children, especially boys, wishing for them to grow up strong and resilient.

The carp is considered a lucky fish that symbolizes success in life, as it is believed to overcome adversity and swim upstream. Because of its ability to live in a variety of environments like ponds and marshes, it also represents vitality and strong life force—making it a fitting symbol for children's health and strength.

Typically, Koinobori are displayed on rooftops, balconies, in gardens, or by the entrance of homes, with several carp streamers of different sizes swimming in the wind. The largest black carp represents the father, the red one the mother, and the smaller blue one the son. These days, carp in green, orange, purple, and pink have also become common, and many families display one for each family member.

In Sawara Ward, Fukuoka City, about 150 colorful and impressive Koinobori fly over the Aburayama River every year. The sight of them fluttering along the riverside is breathtaking—it’s a great spot for a spring stroll.  

Also, at the Tsubame no Mori Hiroba on the rooftop of JR Hakata City, large Koinobori will be on display again this year from Friday, April 25 to Monday, May 6. Admission is free, so it’s a nice stop to add to your outing plans.

【Fukuoka City International Foundation Information】

Legal Consultation and Personal Counseling 

The Fukuoka City International Center offers free legal consultation and personal counseling for the international residents of Fukuoka City.   

Legal consultations are available from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM on the first Saturday of every month, and from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM on the third Wednesday of the month. Each session lasts 45 minutes and is by appointment only. Consultations are provided by a lawyer from the Fukuoka Bar Association.

 Free English interpretation services are also available so if you will need an interpreter, please mention that when you make your reservation.

Personal counseling services are available every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday with a Japanese clinical psychologist in English or Japanese. Reservations are necessary, so please make one if you are interested.

Both types of consultations ensure strict confidentiality, so you can feel at ease when you come to these consultations. Reservations will be taken from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM on weekdays. For detailed inquiries, please contact （0120-66-1799）.

【FUKUOKA IS OPEN Center】

A new school and work year has begun—! Have you settled into your new rhythm? Many of you may be working hard in a new environment or have just started a new life here in Fukuoka.

This week, I’d like to introduce the FUKUOKA IS OPEN Center, a one-stop consultation service for foreign residents living in Fukuoka Prefecture.

The FUKUOKA IS OPEN Center is a free consultation service that supports the improvement of living and working conditions, so that people can live safely and comfortably—and thrive—in Fukuoka. Located on the 3rd floor of ACROS Fukuoka in Tenjin, Chuo Ward, the center is run in cooperation with Fukuoka Prefecture and various specialized agencies. They offer free support and advice on job hunting, employment, residency status, housing, medical care, education, and more.

Excluding national holidays and year end holidays, the center is open from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday to Friday, and also on the 3rd Sunday and 4th Saturday of each month.

In addition to in-person consultations, support is also available online, by email, and by phone, in 24 languages.

There’s also a multilingual portal site, FUKUOKA IS OPEN, which includes useful information for daily life and videos featuring foreign residents sharing what they love about Fukuoka. Be sure to check it out!

We hope everyone can enjoy a fulfilling and comfortable life here in Fukuoka!

【Fukuoka City information】

Rules about putting out the garbage

There are a lot of people starting a new chapter in their lives in Fukuoka now and that does typically mean buying new things or getting rid of old things. Which brings us to garbage and the rules around garbage here.

In Fukuoka City, garbage is seperated into different categories. They are burnable, nonburnable and plastic pet bottles and glass garbage, as well as over-sized garbage. Other than oversized garbage, you can buy the bags for each type of garbage at convenience stores and supermarkets, so make sure you use the Fukuoka City garbage bags for throwing things out.

The red bag is for burnable garbage. This is used for garbage like food scraps, paper waste, clothes and plastics.

The blue bag is for nonburnable garbage which includes things like empty cans and glass or ceramics.

And the yellow bag is for plastic pet bottles and glass bottles.

The day on which garbage is picked up is specific to your neighborhood. Burnable garbage is picked up twice a week and nonburnable and glass bottles and plastic pet bottles are picked up once a month.

Garbage is picked up late at night so garbage should be put out between sunset and midnight on your collection day in the designated location.

If you need to find out when garbage is picked up in your neighborhood, you can do so by adding the official Fukuoka City LINE account to your friend's list. Set your location when you add the account and you will get notifications for the pickup day.

And, if you type in the name of the garbage you want to throw out, the account will tell you which bag you should put it in, so it's a pretty handy service.  

If you can't fit something you want to throw out in one bag because it is too big or is heavy enough to tear the bag, it is considered over-sized garbage and needs to be thrown out through a different process. For over-sized garbage, pick-up can be arranged if you contact the Fukuoka City Oversized Garbage center, or Sodai Gomi Uketsuke in Japanese, by phone, on the internet or through LINE. They will tell you how much it will cost to throw away the item, where to put it and on what day and time they will pick it up.

If you decide to call the Oversized Garbage Center, you can call 092-731-1153, again that is 092-731-1153. They have support for 23 different languages through an interpretation center. There is also a QR code service that provides information on garbage disposal rules in 10 different languages. Just check the Fukuoka City website for more information on that.

【Nepal Festival Fukuoka】

With spring in the air and more beautiful days to enjoy being outside, it's the perfect time to get out and explore!

This weekend on Saturday and Sunday, the Nepal Festival Fukuoka will be held at Tenjin Central Park—a cultural exchange event that showcases the traditional arts, music, and food culture of Nepal. Visitors can enjoy delicious Nepalese cuisine and stage performances by popular artists.

Currently, over 10,000 Nepalese people live in Fukuoka City, many of them international students. Fukuoka is one of the cities in Japan with the largest Nepalese population. And this year, April 14 marks the New Year in the Bikram Sambat calendar used in Nepal.

The Nepal Festival Fukuoka has been held annually since 2010 to celebrate this New Year, making this the 12th edition of the event. Organized mainly by Nepalese students and residents living in Fukuoka, the festival offers a full program of activities that let visitors experience Nepalese culture with all five senses. You’ll find authentic food, traditional goods, folk dance and music, a musical instrument parade, opportunities to try on traditional Nepalese sarees, art exhibits, and travel information about Nepal.

The event takes place from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM on April 12 and 13 (Saturday and Sunday). Admission is free, and the venue is Tenjin Central Park.

Come join this popular event and celebrate the Nepalese New Year right here in Fukuoka!

【Fukuoka City information】

Consultations for Foreign Residents

Is there anything worrying you as you settle into your new life here? Or maybe something you don't understand? 

 The Fukuoka City Comprehensive Consultation and Support Center for Foreign Residents provides guidance and information on various aspects of daily life, including residency procedures, employment, healthcare, welfare, childbirth, childcare, and education for children. If you are unsure where to ask for help, the center can introduce you to the appropriate service. 

The phone number is (0120-66-1799). Phone calls will be taken from  9:00 AM to 5:30 PM on weekdays.
. The center is closed on Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays, and New Year holidays
Support is available in 23 languages.

If you need to confirm procedures related to National Health Insurance, waste disposal, or taxes in Fukuoka City, you can call the Interpretation Center, which will connect you to your local ward office for consultation.

The phone number for that is (092-753-6113). Phone calls will be taken from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM on weekdays. That center is closed on  Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays, and New Year holidays
Support is available in 23 languages.

Additionally, if you need assistance finding a medical institution, speaking with a doctor, or receiving medication at a hospital or pharmacy, you can use the Fukuoka City Medical Interpretating Call Center for telephone interpretation.
Requests can be made not only by foreign residents but also by hospitals and pharmacies.

That phone number is (092-733-5429). The service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Support is available in 20 languages.
The service itself is free, but the caller is responsible for telephone charges.