FAQ

  • A3.In case of typhoons or severe rains, Setagaya City announces the following warnings so that you can make your own decision to evacuate accordingly.
    Warning Level 3 (preparation for evacuation):
    the elderly, disabled, infants, and those who take more time to evacuate should start to evacuate.
    Warning Level 4 (evacuation order / advisory):
    All should take evacuation actions.
    Warning Level 5:
    At this level, a disaster has already occurred. Take the best actions to save your life.
    Check your area with the Hazard map below. (in Japanese)
    Setagaya City Dosha Saigai Hazard Map (Flood and Sediment Hazard Map)
    https://www.city.setagaya.lg.jp/mokuji/kurashi/005/003/003/d00149126_d/fil/pdf1.pdf
  • A4.Ask District Administration Office in your area about marriage between Japanese and a foreign national
    【Where to Inquire / Register】
    District Administration Offices in your area:
    Family Registration Section, Setagaya District Administration Office
    　　Tel; 03-5432-2825
    Family Registration Section, Kitazawa District Administration Office
    　　Tel; 03-5478-8041
    Family Registration Section, Tamagawa District Administration Office
    　　Tel; 03-3702-1136
    Family Registration Section, Kinuta District Administration Office
    　　Tel; 03-3482-1326
    Family Registration Section, Karasuyama District Administration Office
    　　Tel; 03-3326-8293
    【Related links】
    Family Register Notifications (戸籍の届け出) (Link in Japanese, machine translation available)
    https://www.city.setagaya.lg.jp/theme/003/001/d00007014.html
    Marriage Registration （婚姻届）(Link in Japanese, machine translation available)
    https://www.city.setagaya.lg.jp/theme/009/001/001/d00005285.html
    ■ Ask your nations’ embassies or consulates about marriage between foreign nationals
  • A5.When a child is born, you need to submit the birth notification form and the birth certificate to the municipal office where the parent is registered or where the birth occurs within 14 days of birth.
    【Where to Register】
    Register at Family Registration Section at District Administration Office in your area.
    Family Registration Section, Setagaya District Administration Office
    　　Tel; 03-5432-2825
    Family Registration Section, Kitazawa District Administration Office
    　　Tel; 03-5478-8041
    Family Registration Section, Tamagawa District Administration Office
    　　Tel; 03-3702-1136
    Family Registration Section, Kinuta District Administration Office
    　　Tel; 03-3482-1326
    Family Registration Section, Karasuyama District Administration Office
    　　Tel; 03-3326-8293
    For more information, see Life in Setagaya.
  • A9.Lump-sum Payment Withdrawal 脱退一時金
    If you a) have paid in the national pension plan for at least six months without receiving any pension benefits and b) apply for payment within two years of the date you left Japan, you will be refunded a portion of the premiums you paid in a lump-sum payment. Please inquire about the details of this before leaving the country.
    【Inquiries】
    Setagaya Pension Service Office (Setagaya Nenkin Jimusho)
    　Tel：03-6880-3456（main swichboard）
    　Fax：03-6880-3490
    National Pension Section, National Health Insurance and National Pension Division, Setagaya City Hall (Kokuho-ka Kokumin Nenkin-gakari)
    　Tel: 03-5432-2356
    　Fax: 03-5432-3051
    【Related Link】
    Japan Pension Service, lumpsum payment withdrawal
  • A16.Returnee and Foreign Student Counseling Office
    Counseling and tutoring (e.g. in Japanese-language instruction) are provided for Japanese children who have just returned from another country and foreign children who are enrolled in municipal elementary or junior high schools.
    Tutoring: Wed.（for junior high school students）
    　　　　　Sat. （for elementary and junior high school students）
    For more details;
    Setagaya City website
    【Inquiries】
    Returnee and Foreign Student Counseling Office（at Umegaoka Junior High School）in Japanese
    Tel・FAX：03-3322-7776
  • A17.Elementary Schools and Junior High Schools
    Japan’s compulsory education consists of a total of nine years: six years of elementary school (ages 6 to 12) and three years of junior high school (ages12 to 15). The school year starts in April. It is not compulsory for foreign residents to attend a Japanese school, but they can do so if they desire.
    For more details;
    Life in Setagaya
    * For private elementary and junior high schools, please contact the schools directly.
    【Inquiries】School Affairs Division, Board of Education, Setagaya City Hall
    　Tel：03-5432-2683　FAX：03-5432-3029
  • A18.Health Checkup for Attending School
    Children entering elementary school the following April will have a checkup performed between late October and November. A notice is to be sent to guardians between September and early October. If you are a foreign resident and wish to enroll your child in a municipal elementary school, you will receive a separate notification when completing school entrance procedures.
    Inquiries: Students Health and Meal Services Division (Gakko-kenko-suishin-ka), Board of Education
    　Tel: 03-5432-2693 Fax: 03-5432-3029
    For more details;
    Setagaya City website in Japanese, machine translation available
  • A19.Kindergartens and Childcare Facilities
    “Kindergartens” are educational facilities for preschool children, while “childcare facilities” are welfare facilities for children whose parents and guardians cannot look after them during the day because of work or illness. Each type of facility differs in areas of responsibility and function but shares the aim of helping children grow up in a socialized environment.
    Nursery Schools
    Eligible age: Preschool children
    Applicable persons: Parents and guardians who cannot look after their children at home due to illness or daytime work.
    How admission is decided: Selection is determined according to need, as per the applications.
    To apply and inquiries: Children and Family Support Division (Kodomo Katei Shien-ka), Public Health and Welfare Center, District Administration Offices, Children and Family Support Center
    For more details,
    An admission Guide to Nursery Services for Your Child or Children
  • A20.There are various types of medical institutions in Japan, ranging from small doctor’s offices and clinics to large general hospitals offering multiple clinical departments. Ordinarily, both are referred to as “Byoin (Medical centers).”
    Locating a Medical Institution
    You can search for medical institutions by phone or Internet, narrowing your search using specific criteria including available languages. If you are looking for local medical institutions, it is also a good idea to ask a neighbor.
    Medical Information Services
    Medical Institution Information Service “HIMAWARI”
    http://www.himawari.metro.tokyo.jp/（English, Chinese, Korean）
    Information on medical institutions provided 24 hours. Medical consultations also available.
    (in Japanese only. Medical Consultation: Mon. to Fri. 9:00a.m.-8:00p.m.）
    Tel: 03-5272-0303
    Foreign language medical information services.
    * Inquiries on medical institutions providing services in foreign languages and on the Japanese medical system.
    Daily, 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. (English, Chinese, Korean, Thai, and Spanish)
    Tel: 03-5285-8181
    AMDA International Medical Information Center
    https://www.amdamedicalcenter.com/activities
    Information on medical facilities where foreign-language speaking doctors or staff are available, as well as information on medical and welfare services.
    Weekdays 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. (guided in simple Japanese)
    Tel: 03-6233-9266
  • A21.When you’ve got pregnant, submit a pregnancy notification to the municipal office and get a Maternal and Child Health Handbook.
    For more details;
    Life in Setagaya
    Setagaya City website
    in Japanese, machine translation available on the site
  • A22.Setagaya Volunteer Association‘s volunteer centers and bureaus offer consultation services on volunteering. You can inquire by email or mail form on the website http://www.otagaisama.or.jp/.(in Japanese)
    Setagaya Volunteer Center
    ＜Hours＞
    9:00a.m.-9:00p.m., Tue-Fri
    9:00a.m.-5:00p.m., Sat & Sun
    ＜Closed＞
    Mondays, national holidays, summer holidays(mid-August), New Year Holidays (Dec 29-Jan 4)
    Umegaoka Volunteer Bureau /Daita Volunteer Bureau / Tamagawa Volunteer Bureau
    ＜Hours＞
    9:00a.m.-5:00p.m., Mon-Sat
    ＜Contacts＞
    Setagaya Volunteer Center　　：03-5712-5101
    Umegaoka Volunteer Bureau　：03-3420-2520
    Daita Volunteer Bureau  　　　：03-3419-4545
    Tamagawa Volunteer Bureau　：03-3707-3528
    【Inquiries】
    Setagaya Volunteer Association
    http://www.otagaisama.or.jp/(in Japanese)