Life in Fukuoka "English"

【Mother's Day】

Sunday the 14^th is Mother's Day or Haha no Hi, in Japan. In the US, Mother's day is on the same day, the second Sunday of May, and usually we treat our moms to a nice breakfast and give her some kind of present. When I was kid, we often did something in art class to give as a gift to mom. That's pretty typical, I think. Once you're a bit older and have money from a job, it's usual to give flowers. Roses are probably the most popular in the US.

In Japan, like in the US, it's a day to say thanks to mom and show her gratitude for everything she's done for you. Carnations are the typical flower to give here, with red being the most popular. In the language of flowers, it means ”love for mom”, “ardent love” and “belief in love” which are sentiments to share on Mother's Day. In addition to giving flowers, giving her something she would like is also nice, even if it's not an object per se. Many people in Japan spend time with their mothers by going out for the day or having a meal together. It could be hard to see your mom in person on the day, due to work or distance, but you can still show your appreciation with a few words. This week, take the time to express how much your mom means to you!

【Fukuoka City Information】

Covid Vaccinations

 Now, I have some information for you from Fukuoka City about Covid-19 vaccinations.

Fukuoka City has been working toward making sure everyone who hopes to be vaccinated can do so with peace of mind. And this year as well, 2023 or Reiwa 5, free vaccinations for the Novel Coronavirus are available.

From May 8^th until August, the Omicron Adapted Bivalent vaccine will be administered for the spring booster shots.

Those who have received their first and second vaccinations, and who are over 65 years old, between 12 and 64 years of age with underlying medical conditions or healthcare workers are eligible for this booster shot, three months after their last vaccination.

From September, the autumn booster shots will be given and will be available to anyone 5 years and older who has had both their first and second vaccinations. 

When the inoculation coupon arrives, please visit the reservation site or call the vaccine call center to make a reservation. Please wait until that coupon does arrive.

If you haven't received that coupon, please phone the call center to have it issued again. 

People who have recently relocated to Fukuoka City from overseas and who hope to get vaccinated need to fill out an application to receive the inoculation tickets.

For questions regarding vaccinations, to make a reservation or to apply for the inoculation ticket, you can call 092-260-8405.  Calls will be taken between 8:30 am and 5:30pm every day. 7 languages are available at that number, including English, Chinese and Korean.

【DJ recommended restaurants】

This week. I'd like to give you a few restaurant recommendations if you are looking for a place to eat. There are so many great places in Fukuoka, whether you are looking for seafood, grilled meat, noodles, spice and so on.

First, if you are in the Daimyo area and craving izakaya food, then Tarafuku is my recommendation. It's my go-to restaurant for myself and my partner and also a great place to bring people who are visiting Fukuoka. The building and the inside looks well-loved, old but full of character and a lively atmosphere. The menu is excellent, there are so many izakaya standards like fried chicken, or rolled omelettes, but you'll also find seasonal specials taking advantage of the ingredients for that season. The menu is all in Japanese and the specials are often handwritten, so if reading is still a work in progress, invite your kanji reading friends out! As for what I would recommend at Tarafuku, well, I like to try something new every time and I would just say to try whatever catches your eye. You'll want to make a reservation if you go, it's usually pretty busy. 

Another place that I find myself going back to time and time again is D. Khajana, an Indian restaurant near Ohori Park. The lunch menu is more than reasonable, I've always walked out so satisfied and everything is delicious. You can even do takeout by calling ahead, or if you have time to wait a bit, ordering at the store. Definitely get some shish kebab, it's often in the set menus.

One more recommendation is Taco Mia, also by Ohori Park and with a branch at Momochi Beach that is open for the season. I sometimes place an order for pickup for their quesadillas or burritos and have a kind of picnic lunch at Ohori. If you are by Momochi beach though, enjoying the sea air, definitely go into their shop there. Thinking about their tacos is making me so hungry.

If you've never been to any of these places, perhaps over the holiday week you'll have a chance to check them out. If you're trying to avoid crowds, then get takeaway  from D. Khajana or Taco Mia and enjoy a leisurely dinner and maybe movie at home with friends. If you're planning to just jump into the feeling of Fukuoka, then Tarafuku is the place for you. I'm sure it'll have an especially fun atmosphere with the holiday week and all the visitors that will be in Fukuoka enjoying their time here!

And, if any of your friends are looking for places to go, you can always share these suggestions with them!

【Fukuoka City Information】

World Aquatics Championship and the World Aquatics Masters Championships

Now, I have some information from Fukuoka City. You've probably seen the posters up, but if you haven't, from July 14^th to 30^th  Fukuoka is hosting the ‘World Aquatics Championships Fukuoka 2023’ and from August 2^nd to 11^th, the ‘World Aquatics Masters Championships Kyushu 2023’.

 The World Aquatics Championships is a swimming event comparable to the Olympics, where the world's best swimmers compete in 75 events in 6 sports.

And the excitement of watching the world's top swimmers competing against each other can be experienced in Fukuoka.
Fukuoka citizens and spectators from all over the world will have the chance to come together and enjoy the festive atmosphere of these championships!

For more information about the competition schedule and tickets, please look up "World Aquatics 2023".

The World Aquatics Masters Championships are open to everyone over the age of 25 with the aim of realizing "health, friendship, and mutual understanding.
The championships will be held in the three Kyushu cities of Fukuoka, Kumamoto, and Kagoshima, and 10,000 swimmers from around the world will participate. Applications will be accepted until June, so if there is someone interested in participating among your friends and family back home, let them know about it!

Enjoy this year's summer in Fukuoka, where you can feel the excitement of swimming and competitions!

【Places to Get Out and About】

Just when you thought April had only begun, we find ourselves at the end of it and heading into Golden Week! Golden Week, if you are new to Japan, is a group of holidays typically from May 3rd to 5th.

But with this weekend and the next, some people might have a full 9 days off this year. If you are looking for something to do over the next week, let me introduce a few ideas this week, for places to go around Fukuoka.

First, one of the easiest places to go to is Ohori Park, right in the city. Get a picnic basket ready or even pick up something from the delicious shops around like Taco Mia, Mister Donuts, the Garden Cafe in the Park or La Brioche bakery and spend a day walking around, enjoying the Japanese garden or taking the rowboats and swanboats out for spin on the pond.

If you want to get a bit further out of town, you could do a little wisteria hunting. There are beautiful flowers at Buzoji Temple out towards Chikushino city and the amazing display at Kawachi Flower Park and Kisshoji temple in Kitakyushu. If you want to avoid the crowds, I recommend hiking. In Sawara-ku, there's a great waterfall called Karanno no taki and a path that goes up the mountain behind it. It's a decent hike and a great chance for some forest bathing. Those are just some of my suggestions, but there's still plenty more to do in Fukuoka.

One of those big things to do is Hakata Dontaku Minato Matsuri, one of those must see events in Fukuoka over the Golden Week holiday.

What is this Dontaku event, you say? Well, it's a festival put on by the citizens of Fukuoka and attracts not only the citizens of the city, but tourists from around Japan and abroad. 2 million people come to the festival every year. This year's festival is the 62nd and will be held over two days on May 3 and 4. The Dontaku -tai, a group of mainly local citizens, will parade through the streets and give stage performances, wearing gorgeous costumes and "Shamoji” a kind of rice paddle but for performance here.
The "Hana Jidosha," large brightly lit cars decorated with characters and other decorations, are also a specialty of the festival. As the festival comes to a close, you'll find the whole town in a festive mood with audience members jumping in to join the dancing and clapping the shamoji.

It's a fun event, I've been quite a few times and it's impressive to see all the different dance shows and costumes. It's really a city party and you're bound to make new friends as you get out and enjoy the atmosphere, not to mention, have a chance to soak up some real life Hakata culture!

【Subway Nanakuma Line Tenjin-Minami - Hakata Extension Opens!】

Fukuoka City boasts some of the most convenient public transport access in Japan, with its proximity to the airport and the city center, trains and subways running from east to west and north to south, and numerous bus routes. Now, the city is even more convenient with the addition of another subway line connecting Tenjin and Hakata!

A new station called "Kushida Jinja-mae" was opened between "Tenjin Minami" and "Hakata" stations, and you can now get to shopping mall "Canal City Hakata" in about 2 to 3 minutes on foot from the nearest subway station, whereas it used to take about 8 to 10 minutes!

Definitely take advantage of the spring weather and the very convenient public transportation here in the city to go out and discover the many charms of Fukuoka City.

【Fukuoka City Information】

Bicycle Manners

I guess like me, many of you probably ride bicycles on a regular basis.

If you are new here, do you know the rules and manners around riding bicycles here in Japan?
 
In Japan, bicycles, as a rule, are supposed to ride on the left side of the roadway.
Pedestrians have priority on sidewalks, so when riding on sidewalks, please ride slowly on the side of the road.
All bicyclists should wear helmets and you need to make sure you have a bicycle light to turn on at night. 
Riding two on a bicycle or riding side by side is prohibited. It is also important to never drink alcohol and then ride a bicycle.

One more thing is to make sure you don't ride a bicycle while holding an umbrella, using a cell phone or even listening to headphones as doing any of these things while riding is dangerous. 

If you need to park your bicycle, make sure it is parked in a bicycle parking lot.
Bicycles parked in areas other than bicycle parking lots, like on streets or in parks , are considered to be obstructive or a nuisance to pedestrians and end up being considered abandoned bicycles and can be subject to removal.
　 Fukuoka City charges a fee of 2,500 yen to have a removed bicycle returned, and if it is not picked up within a certain period of time, it will be discarded.
Fortunately, to keep your bicycle safe, there are a number of parking areas near shopping malls and stations that offer free parking for a set period of time.

Another thing to know about cycling here is that, anyone who rides a bicycle in Fukuoka City must purchase bicycle insurance.
If you have an accident on your bicycle, you may have to pay a lot of money to the other party involved in the accident. If you have bicycle insurance, for example, if you injure someone while riding your bicycle, the insurance will pay for medical treatment and other expenses instead of you. So, make sure you have bicycle insurance in case of an accident.

Bicycles are a great way to get around and are environmentally friendly, but it's important to know the rules and manners as well to have a safe ride around the city!

【About Fukuoka City】
This week, I would like to introduce Fukuoka City again, as I know many of you have started your new lives in Fukuoka City this spring.
Fukuoka City is a very energetic city and is called the "Gateway to Asia" with many international flights arriving every day. It is also the center of politics, economy, culture, and fashion in Kyushu.
With a population of over 1.6 million, many people from Japan and abroad have immigrated to the city, and there area as many as 40,000 international residents currently living here.
In addition to its convenient transportation, the best food stalls in Japan, and the high quality of its food culture, the city offers a wide range of shopping facilities, and its urban side of life is also concentrated in a compact area.
It is also surrounded by the sea and mountains, with many parks, making a city where urban and and nature coexist in harmony. It makes it very convenient and comfortable to live here!
In this season when the weather is nice, when you get the chance, take a day off and explore the city on foot!

【Fukuoka City Information】
Rules about putting out the garbage
Now, I've got some information to share with you about a big part of life in Fukuoka City.

There are a lot of people who are starting a new chapter in their lives this month and that does typically mean buying new things or getting rid of old things. Which brings us to garbage.
In Fukuoka City, garbage is separated into three types. There is burnable, nonburnable and plastic pet bottles and glass garbage. You can buy the bags for each type of garbage at convenience stores and supermarkets.

The red bag is for burnable garbage. This is used for garbage like paper waste, food scraps, 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, 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. They have support for 18 different languages. 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 that QR code.

【Advice for a fresh start in life】

This week is the beginning of the year, in a sense. It's the beginning of the fiscal year and when a lot of other things start, like new radio programs. Although Life in Fukuoka has, thanks to its listeners, been going on for a few years now, let me introduce myself for any new listeners. Perhaps you've just moved to Fukuoka for a new job or school and have decided to tune into the show.
Well, my name is Colleen and I'm originally from Detroit, Michigan in the US. I originally came to Fukuoka in 2002 as an exchange student at Kyushu University and came back again in 2005 to work, but only for a year. My how time flies, it's been 18 years since then!
Currently, I work a few different jobs, as an instructor at a hotel school, a narrator and of course, as a LOVE FM DJ. Not only do I do this show, but if you tuned in yesterday morning, from 8am to 9:45 am, you would've heard me on air on my program Earth Feeling.
As for my hobbies, well, I have few, I enjoy traveling, taking photos, playing tennis and cooking. On my days off, my boyfriend and I usually try to find place to visit, whether it's just at Maizuru Park to see the flowers and walk the castle ruins, or a drive somewhere in Kyushu.
If it's your first time in Fukuoka, I recommend getting a sandwich at La Brioche bakery, near Ohori Park and taking a stroll around the park, stopping when you find a place that suits you to enjoy that sandwich It's just a nice way to spend an afternoon, especially if you've been busy with moving, meeting new people and just getting adjusted to life in a new place! Sometimes you need to just stop and take a breath.
Spring is the season of freshness and fresh starts too, I guess. I'm sure you'll find yourself facing a number of challenges as you begin life here, but don't shy away from them. Every challenge is a learning experience whether you succeed or fail. Also, don't be shy about speaking Japanese, you might mistakes as you speak, but hey, you're learning a brand new language! It's not easy! Good luck as you begin your new year here! If you have any messages you want to send or even any requests for the show, feel free to message!

【Fukuoka City Information】

Consultations for Foreign Residents

I have some information from Fukuoka City.
Is there anything worrying you as you settle into your new life here? Or maybe something you don't understand?

Well, at the Fukuoka City Consultation Support Center for Foreign Residents, you can get information on things like residence procedure, employment, medical care, welfare, childbirth, child rearing and children's education, as well as referrals to the appropriate consultation centers.

To contact the Consultation Support Center, please call 0120-66-1799. Phone calls will be taken between 9am and 6pm on regular business days. The center is closed on weekends, holidays and over the new year. 21 languages are supported at that hotline.

In addition, if there's there's anything you want to know National Health Insurance, garbage or taxes, or procedures necessary for living in Fukuoka City, please call the Interpretation Center.

If you want to check the procedures of Fukuoka City, you can call the Interpretation Center and ask for help. You can also call the Interpretation Center for consultation by connecting to your local ward office. The telephone number is 092-753-6113. 18 languages are supported at that number.

 Vietnam Festival 2023 in Fukuoka

 I have some information on the Vietnam Festival 2023 in Fukuoka.

This festival commemorates the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Vietnam.The festival is being held over two days, April 15th and 16th at Fukuoka Tenjin Chuo Park.

The event will feature live performances by Vietnamese pop artists, traditional dances, ao dai shows and other stange events.There will also be food and drink booths featuring Vietnamese cuisine.

The event will be held from 10am to 8pm on the 15th and from 10am to 7pm on the 16th.It will be held rain or shine unless there is stormy weather, in which case, it will be cancelled.Admission is free so please feel free to drop by!

For more information, please look up Vietname Festival 2023 Fukuoka.

【DJ Recommendations – Spring Walks】
Are you feeling a little sluggish or out of sorts with the change in the seasons? How about taking a walk to refresh yourself?

Tenjin Central Park, located in the center of Fukuoka City, is an urban oasis created on the site of the former Fukuoka Prefectural Government Office. The park covers a total area of approximately 31,000 square meters, making it a great spot for a stroll.
The park is also popular as a cherry blossom viewing spot, and there is a large natural grass plaza in the center of the park where you can picnic, nap or enjoy other relaxing outdoor activities. The fountain plaza you'll find in the park, lined with Parthenon-like columns, is made of stone and other materials used in the former Fukuoka Prefectural Office Building, and its nostalgic atmosphere is just as symbolic as the park itself.

The Nishi-Nakasu area across the river from Tenjin Central Park is called "HARENO GARDEN," and is home to the Kihin-kan, an important cultural property of Japan. There you'll also find great bakeries and a number of restaurants. Popular with tourists, it is a good place to spend time in a café or to buy bread or coffee to eat in the park.
There is also a "fuku-haku-deai-bashi" bridge at the other end of the park, which has been used in a number of films and TV dramas. When you're on the bridge, you'll find it hard to resist taking a photo there of yourself. As you walk through the park from one end to the other you'll find so many ways to enjoy your stroll.

Another good place for a walk in Fukuoka city is "Ohori Park "!
Ohori Park is a park built around a pond. The pond is about 2 km around and has a well-maintained jogging course that follows it.
You can also actually cross to the island in the center of the pond. The path that traverses the pond is connected by four bridges and is a wonderful place for a stroll. As you walk along the path, you can almost forget that you're in the middle of a major metropolitan city, with the sound of the birds and the trees surrounding you. The pavilion that juts out into the water is a nice place for pictures, especially around sunset.
You'll also find a boathouse at Ohori park where you can rent row boats or swan boats to take a tour of the pond. A lot of people do this and it's a fun way to relax and spend time at the park.
Fukuoka is an area rich in nature. And walks around the city will allow you to find your favorite natural area. If history is something you are interested in, you'll also find plenty of that in Fukuoka with the ruins of Fukuoka Castle and the many temples and shrines dotted around the city.
There are many unique places to visit in Fukuoka. Enjoy walking the streets of Fukuoka in the spring season and discover something new, whether you are a recent resident of the city or someone who has been here for years.

The new season's message

Well that's it for the program today. I want to say thank you very much to all of you who have tuned in every week for Life in Fukuoka. Next week marks the fourth year of this program, "Life in Fukuoka," which began in April 2020!

So, once again thank you for listening to our broadcasts and podcasts and I look forward to all of our future shows!

We will continue to provide useful information and fun topics for foreigners living in Fukuoka. If you have any suggestions for things you want to hear about, things you want more information on, then please, feel free to send messages to me or to the show!

You can send your message to 761@lovefm.co.jp with "Life in Fukuoka English" in the title.

【Spring Cleaning】

In Japan, the big house clean up is usually done in December right before the new year, but there are many advantages to cleaning in the spring.
For example, in winter it's pretty cold, so cleaning outside and cleaning around kitchen and bathrooms tends to feel like a hassle, but in spring, it is warmer, so it is easier to get motivated to do these chores. Plus, opening windows and doors for ventilation is actually pretty nice, and oil stains are easier to remove when the temperature is higher. This is really the season for efficient cleaning. Humidity is also lower on many days, so mold is less likely to form. Laundry also dries quickly, making it easy to wash curtains, sofa covers, and other large items.
If you do a big spring clean now along with changing up your room and clothes, your home will be spotless and you will feel pretty fresh and new. You can start this new season completely refreshed.
If you were slacking a bit at the end of last year, why not take this opportunity now to do a thorough house cleaning?

 【Fukuoka City Information】

Now, I have some information from the Fukuoka City International Foundation for you.

Using Line Call for Information and Advice

The Fukuoka City International Foundation does have an official LINE account.

If you connect with the Foundation's official LINE account, you can make an appointment for consultations on daily life or free professional consultation using the LINE call feature. Telephone consultations are available in 22 languages, so please feel free to contact them. In addition, you can get information on the Foundation's events and announcements for international residents. Please add the Foundation's official LINE account to your friends' list from the Fukuoka City International Foundation website. The foundation will not accept consultations via the LINE talk chat function, but you can use the inquiry form on the foundation's website if you want to send a message about anything.

The Japanese Chatting Salon

To continue, I've also got some information for any international students who are studying in Fukuoka. The Fukuoka City International Foundation holds a “chatting salon” once a month where, international students and Japanese volunteers have a chance to chat. The next session is online, on Friday, March 31^st.

Using Zoom, international students and Japanese volunteers meet one on one or in small groups to talk about topics that interest them. So if you are looking for a chance to use daily Japanese as well as practice the Japanese you've learned in class, or just want to chat with a native Japanese speaker, then definitely join in! The sessions are free but you do need a reservation.

To make a reservation, please visit the Fukuoka City International Foundation's website or its Facebook page. The web address is www.fcif.or.jp. If there is anything that you don't understand feel free to contact the Fukuoka International Student Support Association at 092-262-1744. Again that number is 092-262-1744. Phone calls will be accepted from 9am to 6pm on weekdays. Definitely check it out! They're looking forward to hearing from you!

【March 17th Manga Weekly Magazine Day】

As I've mentioned before, Japan has a number of unusual anniversary days. March 17^th, happens to be Manga Weekly Magazine Day.

So, what is this day and why is the 17^th the date for it?

Well, it seems that on this day in 1959, the first weekly magazines targeted toward kids were sold for the first time. These two magazines were Shonen Magazine and Shonen Sunday.

Both of these manga magazines are still being published today and Weekly Shonen Magazine, which went for 40 yen when it was first sold, is still only 340 yen.

Manga is, of course, very popular in Japan with kids to adults enjoying the huge variety of manga available to them.

In the US, manga is also very popular. It's a lot more common now, but it was kind of difficult to get when I was a teen. Actually, I worked at a bookstore when I was 18 and loved watching anime and reading manga. I actually ordered quite a lot of translated manga for the bookstore and managed to get a small section for it. It turned out to be popular with the customers and expanded to several bookshelves. My favorites at the time were Takahashi Rumiko's Maison Ikkoku and Ranma ½.

These days it's much easier to get manga, and anime even, online from anywhere in the world. Is there anything you like to read or watch? I'm a big fan of Meitantei Conan or Detective Conan, as well as One Piece.

Although some manga are pretty difficult to read with complicated plots and loads of difficult kanji, there are quite a few that are a lot easier and pretty fun, if you are trying to find other ways to study Japanese. I found Meitantei Conan to be pretty good for my studies!

【Fukuoka City Information】

Covid Vaccinations

Now, I have some information for you from Fukuoka City about Covid-19 vaccinations.

Fukuoka City has been working toward making sure everyone who hopes to be vaccinated can do so with peace of mind.

In Fukuoka City, vaccination tickets for the Omicron variant for those who will receive their third, fourth or fifth doses of the vaccine are being sent out. The vaccination for the omicron variant will be limited to one time per person. Vaccination vouchers are being sent out to those were vaccinated at least three months before.

When the inoculation coupon arrives, please visit the reservation site or call the vaccine call center to make a reservation. Please wait until that coupon does arrive.

If you haven't received that coupon, please phone the call center to have it issued again.

People who have recently relocated to Fukuoka City from overseas and who hope to get vaccinated need to fill out an application to receive the inoculation tickets.

For questions regarding vaccinations, to make a reservation or to apply for the inoculation ticket, you can call 092-260-8405. Again, that number is 092-260-8405. Calls will be taken between 8:30 am and 5:30pm every day. 7 languages are available at that number, including English, Chinese and Korean.

【March's seasonal vegetable-Nira or Garlic Chives】
Now that we are in March, the days are getting warmer and warmer, but you may still find the evenings a bit chilly. That temperature gap can be a bit rough on the body since you might still be feeling a bit tired out from the cold of winter, so to keep yourself feeling good and strong, it's important that you eat lots of good seasonal foods with plenty of nutrients.
One of those foods happens to be Nira, the garlic chive, which is in season in March.
Allicin, the unique aroma component of garlic chives, is said to increase the absorption rate of vitamin B1 and convert sugar into energy.
One dish that happens to contain a lot of vitamin B1 and allicin is sauteed liver and nira. It is a kind of stamina food and is one way to boost your energy.
When you buy nira, it's good to remember that they are freshest when they are bright green all over, firm to the tips of the leaves and look fresh.
Make an active effort to take advantage of the foods of each season to boost your immune system.

【Fukuoka City Information】

Avoiding the Rush When Moving House

March and April are busy months for moving house and as a result, the consultation desks at your local ward offices may be quite crowded. The period between March 20^th and April 10^th are especially busy with wait times of 2 to 3 hours, so if you can try to avoid that period. However, that's not always possible,and if you find that you're too busy on weekdays to submit the notification of your move to the ward office, then you'll be glad to know that there are several weekend days when the offices are open for paperwork related to moving in or out of the city.

On Sunday the 26^th of March and Sunday the 2^nd of April, Fukuoka City ward offices and their branches will be temporarily opened from 10am to 2pm to take paperwork in regards to moving in or out of the city. 

If you are moving out of Fukuoka City, you do not have to go to the ward office to report your move-out. You can do so by mail or online if you have your My Number Card.
If you are moving from one place to another inside Fukuoka city you do not need the notification of the move out of your previous residence, you just need to submit notification that you have moved into your new residence.

There is now an online service available to make reservations with the ward office to take care of moving procedures. Reservations can even be done via a smartphone but must be made by 8:30 am, 5 business days before your desired date. You just need to send the date you want to go in, and information about your address change. With this system, an appointment can be easily arranged and the process at the consultation desk will take less time.
If you have any questions, you can check with the ward office using a telephone interpreter.
The telephone number is 092-753-6113. Again, that phone number is 092-753-6113.
Tell them you are moving to Fukuoka City and would like to discuss moving procedures with the ward where you live.

One more process that you should remember when moving is making sure you call to have your water turned on or turned off. You will need to have the notification of your move for this. Please call at least 4 business days before you move to arrange this. The phone number for that is 092-532-1010. Again, that number is 092-532-1010. Phone calls will be accepted in languages other than Japanese. This process can also be done online.

Garbage from Moving House

Also with Spring and the moving season, this time tends to be when we see a lot more oversized garbage, like furniture and home electronics. Fortunately, I have information on how to use the Oversized Garbage Disposal Center to get rid of all of that.

The first way to do it is by applying for pickup with the Oversized Garbage Disposal Center. First, contact them by phone or by internet, or even through the Official Fukuoka City Line Account, to put in your application and then purchase the appropriate oversized garbage disposal ticket at the convenience store or other shops.

The garbage pickup day will be roughly one week after you apply.

You must put out the garbage by 8:30am on the collection day in the designated spot.

The phone number for the Oversized Garbage Disposal Center is 092-731-1153. Again, that number is 092-731-1153.

If you apply via the internet or Line, you can do so at your convenience, 24 hours a day.

For TV's, refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, clothes dryers and air conditioners, according to the home appliance recycling law, there are specific guidelines for disposal.

You can have the old appliance removed by the firm installing the new one or you can contact the store where you originally bought the appliance. You can also contact the Yamada Denki in your city about disposal. Recycling fees as well as fees for collection and transport will be required.