KYOTO CITY INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION

Ⅲ Necessary Information for Daily Life

4. Community and Communication

4-1 Japan’s Customs and Public Holidays

◆Daily Life

・Shoes are removed in the entranceway to homes. Slippers are not worn in rooms with tatami (straw floor covering) mats.

・Wash before getting into the public bath or onsen(hot spring). Towels and soap are not used in the bathtub. The bathwater is not replaced after each user.

・Greet others with a bow, not a handshake.

・Contracts often require a personal seal (inkan) as well as a signature.

・For Kyoto addresses, “上る” (agaru, which means “going up”) indicates heading North, and “下る” (sagaru, which means “going down”) indicates heading South

・By law, people under the age of 20 are prohibited from drinking alcohol and smoking in Japan.

◆Shopping

・A 5% sales tax applies, and is included in the price of the product.

・Except for a few retail stores, prices are generally not negotiated.

・Tipping is not necessary either.

◆Public Holidays in Japan

・Government, municipal offices and most businesses are closed from Dec. 29 to Jan.3.

・From the end of April and into the first week of May there are a number of national holidays. This period is called “Golden Week”. During this time businesses and stores remain closed.

・ Most businesses are closed during the Buddhist Obon season, which lasts from August 13 to 16.

〈Public Holidays in Japan〉

元日 (Ganjitsu) New Year’s Day	1 Jan.	憲法記念日(Kenpo-kinenbi) Constitution Memorial Day	3 May	秋分の日 (Shubun-no-hi) Autumunal Equinox	About 23 Sep.
成人の日 (Seijin-no-hi) Coming of Age Day	Second Monday in Jan.	みどりの休日(Midori-no-kyujitsu) Greenery Day	4 May	体育の日 (Taiiku-no-hi) Sports Day	Second Monday of Oct.
建国記念の日(Kenkoku-kinen-no-hi) National Foundation Day	11 Feb.	こどもの日 (Kodomo-no-hi) Children’s Day	5 May	文化の日 (Bunka-no-hi) Culture Day	3 Nov.
春分の日 (Shunbun-no-hi) Spring Equinox	About 21 Mar.	海の日 (Umi-no-hi) The Day of Sea	Third Monday in July	勤労感謝の日(Kinro-kansya-no-hi) Labor Thanksgiving Day	23 Nov.
昭和の日 (Showa-no-hi) A day to reflect on the Showa Era	29 Apr.	敬老の日 (Keiro-no-hi) Respect for the Aged Day	Third Monday in Sep.	天皇誕生日(tenno-Tanjobi) The Emperor’s Birthday	23 Dec.

4-2 Japanese Classes

◆Japanese Classes at the Kyoto International Community House

① Japanese Classes

Japanese classes are taught by volunteers from registered societies. Anybody can join, at any time, no matter their level of Japanese. Purchase tickets (\50 per class). Appointments are not required. Every week from Tuesday to Sunday.

② “Touching the Heart of Japan” Lecture : “Easy Japanese”

Japanese lectures aimed at easing non-native speakers’ of Japanese to life in Kyoto. Meets once a week for three months.

＊For more details inquire at the Kyoto International Community House

◆ Other Japanese classes in Kyoto

Kyoto Prefecture International Center “Beginner’s Japanese Course”

Location Kyoto Station Bldg. 9th Fl., Shiokoji-Sagaru Karasuma-dori, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto

TEL 342-5000

Times 1)Saturday Course (Once a week)

2) Sunday/ Thursday Course (Twice a week)
＊Both courses meet from 10:15 to 12:30

Fees 1) \5,000/ 3 months 2) \6,000 / 3 months.

URL http://www.kpic.or.jp/class.html

Kyoto International Cultural Association (KICA) “Private Japanese Lessons”

Location 15-9 Yoshida Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto

Kyodaikaikan Room #116

TEL 751-8958

Times Day and time (from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM) selected by student.

Fees \2,000/ Hour

URL http://web.kyoto-inet.or.jp/org/kicainc/

Kyoto YWCA “RAKU-RAKU”

Location 44 Konoe-cho,Demizu-agaru,Muromachi,Kamigyo-ku,Kyoto

TEL 431-0351

Times Inquiry necessary

Fees \2,500/ Month (plus additional \900 charge for texts each month)

Fushimi Youth Center

Location Fushimi Youth House (91 Okago-cho, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto)

TEL 611-4910

Times 1) Every Monday from 7:00 to 8:30 PM

2) Every Saturday from 10:00 to 11:30 AM

Fees 1) \2,000/ 10 classes 2) \2,000/ 10 classes

Japanese Space Kyoto

Location Trademark Kyoto

180 Banchi, Fudo-cho, Takoyakushi-Shinmachi Nishi-iru

Nakagyo-ku(North of Dog Café) ,

TEL 361-0882

Times Sunday, Wednesday, Friday 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM

Fees \800/ lesson

URL http://j-space.sakura.ne.jp/framepage1.htm

◆Japanese Language Institutions, Universities and Schools.

Name	Address	Telephone
Kyoto University of Foreign Studies 京都外国語大学 (Kyoto Gaikokugo Daigaku)	6 Kasame-cho, Saiin, Ukyo-ku	322-6043
Ryukoku University 龍谷大学(Ryukoku Daigaku)	67 Tsukamoto-cho, Fukakusa, Fushimi-ku	642-1111
Doshisha University 同志社大学(Doshisha Daigaku)	East of Karasuma- Imadegawa, Kamigyo-ku	251-3257
The Kyoto Center for Japanese Linguistic Studies, Kyoto Japanese Language School (財)京都日本語教育センター 京都日本語学校(Zaidanhojin Kyoto Nihongo Kyoiku Center Kyoto Nihongo Gakko)	394-2, Higashihinodo-cho, East of Shinmachi, Ichijo-dori, Kamigyo-ku	414-0449
Kyoto Institute of Culture and Language 京都文化日本語学校 (Kyoto Bunka Nihongo Gakko)	21 Kamihate-cho, Kitashirakawa Sakyo-ku	722-5066
Kyoto YMCA Japanese Language Courses 京都YMCA 日本語科 (Kyoto YMCA Nihongo-ka)	Sanjo School: 2 Nakanomachi, Yanaginobanba Higashi-iru, Sanjo-dori, Nakagyo-ku	255-3287
Japanese International Foreign Language Institute 日本国際外語学院 (Nihon Kokusai Gaigo Gakuin)	513 Kamiitabashi-cho, Fushimi-ku	602-1111
Kansai Gogen Gakuin 関西語言学院	39 Shimokawahara-cho, Fushimi-ku	647-1000
Kyoto International Academy 京都国際アカデミー (Kyoto Kokusai Academy)	North side of Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, 627-1 Kitamachi, Imadegawa Agaru, Onmae-dori, Kamigyo-ku	466-4881

4-3 Message Boards-Living Information

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

◆Kyoto International Community House (752-3511

◆Kyoto YWCA (431-0351

◆Kyoto Prefectural International Center (342-5000

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