Guide to life in Itoigawa

Itoigawa has “public housing” which is rented cheaply to people who do not have much money.

There is also a website bringing together information on how to find housing in Japan.

When you start using electricity, gas, and water, such as after after moving house, there are procedures which you need to follow.

[When you start using electricity]
Apply to an electricity provider by phone or online.

[When you start using gas or water]
Apply to Itoigawa City’s Gas and Water Bureau.

Some areas and facilities are not supplied with gas or water by the Gas and Water Bureau. Please check where to apply with your facility’s manager.

“Hello Work” provides free advice to people looking for work. You need to register in order to have jobs introduced to you.
Before working in Japan, find out the rules about residency status, ways of working, labour contracts, wages, and so on.

You need a “bank account” in order to receive wages, scholarship money, etc.
You can save money, make transfers, pay for utilities, etc.
If there are changes to information such as your address, period of residency, residency status, etc., please let your bank know right away.

Post

In Japan, the symbol for post offices and postboxes is a red “〒”.
You can send letters, postcards, and parcels within Japan and abroad.

You can also send parcels abroad using delivery services (“takkyubin”).
Please ask for details at the counters of each delivery service company.

Major companies:

• Sagawa Express
• Nippon Express
• Yamato Transport
• Seino Transport

Rail

The Hokuriku Shinkansen Line, JR Oito Line, and Echigo Tokimeki Railway run through Itoigawa City.
The shinkansen line makes access from Tokyo and Osaka easy.
The money paid to ride on a train or bus is called “unchin” (“fare”).
You can buy a ticket for the shinkansen or use a smartcard onto which you have loaded money.
You need to buy a ticket for the JR Oito and Echigo Tokimeki lines. You cannot use a smartcard.

Bus

The local buses which run through the city are convenient for going to places far from train stations.
There are many local bus routes, so use the bus company’s website to look up:

• which bus you should take
• where the bus stops are for each bus
• at which bus stop you should get off.

Motor vehicles and motorcycles

People who have overseas driving licenses need to convert their licenses in order to drive a car or ride a motorcycle in Japan.

Bicycles

When you buy a bicycle in Japan, you need to register it to prevent theft. Please keep the traffic rules for bicycles.

When you feel unwell or suffer a minor injury, please go to a local clinic suited to the symptoms.
When you go to a large “general hospital”, you need a letter of introduction.