京都市国際交流協会

Useful Kyoto Info

Kyoto International
Community House

〒606-8536
2-1 Torii-cho,Awataguchi,
Sakyo-ku Kyoto,606-8536 JAPAN.
TEL：075-752-3010
FAX：075-752-3510
E-mail：office@kcif.or.jp

January:1～4, 10, 16, 23, 30
February:7, 14, 21, 22, 28

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Useful Living Information

Money

Banks and Post offices

Banks and Post offices offer such services as automatic transferring of deposits, remittances, credit card payments and payment of utilities such as electricity, gas etc. In order to take advantage of such services, it is necessary first to open a savings account.

Servcie Counter Operating Hours

•Bank :Monday–Friday 9:00am–3:00pm
•Post Office:Postal Services

(1) Opening an account

To open a savings account with a bank or post office, fill out an application form available at the particular bank or post office and stamp your hanko (or signature) on it. A minimum 1 yen will be required as an initial deposit into your account. When you open a savings account at any bank or post office you will be issued a cash card.

The use of cash cards (ATM)

•Both deposits and withdraws can be easily made.
•To access the account, it is necessary to enter a series of four numbers (PIN). Don’t forget your PIN number!

ATM Operating Hours
Banks	•Weekdays 9:00–21:00 •Weekends 9:00–18:00
Post Office	•Weekdays 9:00–19:00 •Weekends 9:00–17:00
*The ATM operating hours vary depending on the banking facility. Furthermore, depending on the time, service charges may be applied. For details, inquire at the respective banking facilities.

(2) Automatic payment of utilities

Payment of public utilities such as electricity, gas, telephone charges and NHK television charges etc. can all be withdrawn automatically from your account. Your hanko and the registration number of your bill (customer number) is necessary to begin these services.

*You can also make payments of utilities, telephone charges, NHK television charges at convenience stores. Inquire at your local store.

(3) Remittances

Banks

In order to transfer money through banks, you will be required to fill out an application form to identify bank name, branch name, account type and account number, address, name, and the telephone number of the recipient. In order to receive a overseas remittance you must inform the sender of the above information. It is possible to transfer money to or from Japan.

Post offices

International Postal Remittances

1)	Sending a money order directly to the address of the recipient If you send an order this way, the recipient will get a notice form his/her local post office to come and collect the order in cash. It will be sent there by air mail.
2)	Sending a money order to the recipients postal saving account The money will be paid directly in to the recipients postal saving account after arriving at the country of destination. This service is cheaper than sending a money order to the address of the recipient.

International Postal Transfers
International transfers can only be conducted when both sender and the recipient have a postal transfer account at their respective post offices.
*There are countries which do not conduct this service. If the country you wish to send money to does, note that the time it takes for this service may differ from country to country. Check with the post office for details.

Inquiries
Kyoto Central Post Office, Postal Saving Section
Kyoto Chuo Yubinkyoku Chokin-ka
075- 365-2511

(4) Foreign Exchange

Foreign exchange services are available at any bank bearing the “Authorized Money Exchange” sign. Such banks are able to cash travelers checks as well.

(5) Places where you can withdraw money with foreign credit cards

If you have credit cards with a VISA, Plus, Master Card or CIRRUS symbol you can withdraw money from the following banking facilities:

•	All Card Plaza A minutes walk (25m.) north of Teramachi St. and Shijo St. intersection.
•	Takashimaya Department Store, 7F South-west corner of Shijo St. and Kawaramachi St. intersection
•	Kyoto Tower, B1F On the corner of Karasuma St. and Shiokoji St. (north side of JR Kyoto station)
•	Self cashing facility at Puratto Kyoto Turn east at the intersection of Shijo St. and Karasuma St. South west corner of the next street.
•	Kyoto Family Shopping Center, 1F East of Kadonooji St. and Shijo St. intersection. It is on the north side.
•	Takashimaya Department Store, Rakusai shop, 3F 2-5-5 Higashi Sakaidani-cho Oharano (Rakusai New Town)

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Television and Radio

NHK programs (receiving fee)

NHK is a public broadcasting station. Different from other TV stations, broadcasting is supported by television viewer funds. Everyone who has a TV set must pay NHK reception fees.

For more information and inquiries about this fee and payment, contact the NHK broadcasting Corporation Kyoto Office(075-841-4321)
The monthly receiving fee is ¥1,395 (¥2,340 if you also receive programs by satellite)
Discounts are available if you pay by automatic bank transfer. Otherwise, a collector will come to your house to collect the reception fee – a service called “shukin”.

Other Overseas Channels

•MIYA Vision (075-864-2230)
•Sky PerfecTV (045-339-0202 / 0570-039-888)
•WOWOW (0120-3-80805)

Foreign language FM broadcasting station (FM CO.CO.LO)

¯In the main cities of the Kansai area, (Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe etc.) foreign language FM station FM CO.CO.LO 76.5MHz can be received. It broadcasts daily living and sightseeing information, news, music and emergency information in 17 languages (mainly in Asian languages).

For Kyoto City Information
"Kyoto City Information”Every Monday 14:22–
Kansai Inter Media(06-6615-7650)

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Newspapers

Home delivery of foreign language newspapers

•JAPAN TIMES (English) 075-771-1588
•DAILY YOMIURI (English) 075-761-0502
•International HERALD TRIBUNE (English)0120-456-371
•Jinmin Nippo (Chinese) Akioka office u042-394-9738
•Toa Nippo (Korean) 03-3248-1251

Home delivery of other newspapers

•OCS (OVERSEAS COURIER SERVICE)06-6473-2634

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Flea Markets (Cheap used goods)

You can buy inexpensive clothes, living goods, antiques etc. at the following markets.

•Toji,Kobo-san Market (Toji Temple)
(Minami-ku) 21st of every month(075-691-3325)
•Kitano-Tenjin-san Market (Kitanotenmangu)
(Kamigyo-ku) 25th of every month(075-461-0005)
•Hyakumanben Handmade Goods Market (Chion??in)
(Sakyo-ku) 15th of every month(075-771-1631)
•Kameno-ichii Flea Market (Matsuo-Taisha)
(Nishikyo-ku) Every 2nd Sunday(075-871-5016)
•Omoshiro-ichii Flea Market
(Higashiyama-ku) 8th and 18th of every month Toyokuni-jinja shrine(075-411-3256)
(Nakagyo-ku)First Friday of every month Gosyohatimannguu-jinja shrine
•Kyoto Research Park Flea Market (car park area)
(Shimogyo-ku) Last Sunday of every month (06-6531-8417)
•Bizen Gallery Flea Market
(Sakyo-ku) 1st Saturday of every month (075-711-0711)
•Flea Market-Handmade Goods Market ?Nishijin Rakuichi-Rakuza Momoyama Bunka-Murai
(Kamigyo-ku) 12th of every month Myoren-ji temple(075-451-3527)
•Thrift Shop (Kyoto YWCA)
(Kamigyo-ku) Every 1st and 3rd Saturday (075-431-0351)
•Shiyakusho-mae Flea Market (Plus one Network)
Once a month(075-229-7714)

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Courier and Express Delivery Services

When you want to send something, besides the post, courier and express delivery services are available. In case of large parcels, a courier will come to your home directly and pick it up. Such services may be faster and cheaper than posting. Check in the telephone book for more information.
*You can also apply for these services at convenience stores.

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Pets

Owning a dog

All dogs over 3 months old must receive a preventive injection against rabies at a veterinary clinic (charges apply). Dog registration can also be done at veterinary clinics, (requiring owner’s name and address, and address of where the dog is kept if not the same).

Inquiries
•Living Hygiene Section (Seikatsu Eisei-ka) 075-222-3433
•Health Section in public office (Health Center)

When a pet dies

Wrap the dead body in oilpaper or newspaper and put in a cardboard box. Contact:

Inquiries
Environment Cleaning Center (Kankyo Bika Center) 075-681-1741

When you can no longer look after your pet

Inquiries
Domestic Animal Consulting Center (Katei Dobutsu Sodansyo) 075-671-0336

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Message Boards - Living Information

Message boards are a great source of useful information. So, whether you want to make new friends, buy or sell things, find out about local events, learn foreign languages, or look for a room etc, you should visit the following places.

•Kyoto International Community House
075-752-3511
•Japan National Tourist Organization/Tourist Information Center Kyoto (TIC)
075-371-5649
Kyoto Tower Building 1F, Karasuma-shichijo-sagaru, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto
•Kyoto YWCA
075-431-0351
44 Konoe-cho, Muromachi-demizu-agaru, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto
•Kyoto Prefectural International Center
075-342-5000
Kyoto Station Building 9F, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto

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Useful Living Information

Money

Television and Radio

Newspapers

Flea Markets (Cheap used goods)

Courier and Express Delivery Services

Pets

Message Boards - Living Information