Life in Fukuoka "English"

【Please Cooperate with Water Conservation】

Since last autumn, there has been very little rainfall in Fukuoka Prefecture.
Rainfall in the area where Kyushu's largest river, the Chikugo River, is located, has been the lowest in the past 50 years, according to observations.
As a result, the water storage level of the dams connected to the Chikugo River continues to decline.

About one-third of the tap water used in Fukuoka City comes from the Chikugo River. Therefore, it is becoming increasingly difficult to secure water from the river as we have in the past.
The forecast for the coming month also predicts less rainfall than usual.
If this dry weather continues, Fukuoka City will face a very serious water shortage.

For this reason, Fukuoka City is continuing efforts to conserve limited water resources and avoid waste.
It is said that if every citizen of Fukuoka saves just one bucket of water per day, the city can conserve approximately 6 million cubic meters of water over the course of a year.

So, let’s all be mindful and do our part to conserve water.

 

 

【Fukuoka City Information】

Filing City and Prefectural Taxes

I'm pretty sure that most of you have received your tax forms to file in Reiwa 8, they were sent by post from Fukuoka City. 

The deadline for filing is Monday, March 16th. The tax department of the ward office will accept your tax return from 9am to 5pm on weekdays, however the counters there may be crowded so please send your tax returns by mail or by internet. 

Those who are required to file Fukuoka City taxes include anyone who has lived in Fukuoka City since the first of January 2026 and had income in 2025. Those who submitted a final tax declaration to the tax authorities or those who only received a salaried income whose company filed year end adjustments  do not need to file a tax return. 

When filing, you need your My Number card or a document that shows your number and a driver's license, passport or resident card to show proof of identity. 

Documents, such as withholding slips that show your income from 2025 and any documents for deductions made during 2025 are also necessary.

For information on what documents are needed and anything else about filing your taxes, please visit your local ward offices website. If there is anything that you don't understand, please use the telephone translation hotline to call the ward offices. The hotline supports 25 languages including English , Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese and Nepali. The number is 092-753-6113. 

That phone number is for a interpretation center, so after speaking to a representative you will be connected to your local ward office. Make sure you tell them which ward you live in and that you want help with filing taxes. If you go to your ward office in person, you can also use your phone and this service to help you with interpretation, so don't hesitate to use it!

"Blue Ticket” System for Bicycle Violations Starting in April

To continue, I'd like to share some changes coming to traffic violations regarding bicycles. 

In Japan, bicycles are considered "vehicles" and are subject to traffic regulations.

Starting in April 2026, a blue ticket (fine) system will be applied to bicycle traffic violations for riders aged 16 and older.

There are 113 types of violations that may be subject to fines. Among them, the following are especially important to watch out for:

Ignoring traffic signals

Using a smartphone while riding

Riding without lights at night

Riding against traffic

Riding on sidewalks

Riding side by side

Using earphones or headphones

Holding an umbrella while riding

Riding on the right side of the road

Entering prohibited areas

Not stopping at stop signs

In addition, it's important to never ride under the influence of alcohol.
Any of these traffic violations can lead to accidents and injuries.

To use bicycles safely and comfortably, please review the traffic rules and make a conscious effort not to violate them.