Port Island Survival Guide

1. Port Island Survival Guide Created by Alisha Abbott / Jennifer Frederick / Jarryd Pentony 神戸市中央区港島中町

2. Contents • Alien Registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 • Your Apartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 • 3) Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 • Transportation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 • Shopping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 • Furnishing your Apartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 • Banking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 • Post Offices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 • 4) Emergencies • Emergency Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 • Hospitals and Clinics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 • Disasters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 1 Welcome to Port Island!

3. 1. Alien Registration Explanation of Incoming Resident Paperwork On July 9th, the old foreigner registration system was abolished and now all residents of Japan will be recorded in the same system as Japanese nationals. When you arrive at the airport, immigration will take your fingerprints and issue you a Residents Card (在留カード、zairyu kaado). Make sure you carry it with you at all times as it shows you are in the country legally! Once you arrive in your neighborhood, you will need to go to the ward office and submit a Moving In Notification (転入届け、tennyuu tokode). JETs living on Port Island can do this at the Chuo Kuyakusho (Chuo Ward Office). If you lose or have your card stolen you must first report it to the police.  The police will issue you a ‘bulletin of loss’ or a ‘theft bulletin’.  Should your card be destroyed in a disaster such as a fire the Fire Department will issue you with a similar bulletin.You must take the bulletin with you to the Regional Immigration Office within 14 days from the day you noticed the card was lost or had the card stolen. Ward Office Sample Residence (Zairyu) Card 2 Alien Registration

4. 2. Your Apartment Welcome! Useful Household Japanese These are the basic comforts that should be ready for you: water, electricity, gas, curtains, futon,fridge, gas stove, floor fan, and lights. If any of these things are not available, have not been turned on, or you are not sure how to check if they are on, please be patient. Another JET will be along shortly to help. 3 Life on the Island

5. Your Apartment (continued) Waste Disposal http://www.city.kobe.lg.jp/foreign/english/index.html There are three categories of trash, each requiring a specific bag which you can buy at any supermarket or convenience store: Note: Oversized garbage (over 5kg, or too big to fit in a bag) must be scheduled for pick-up. First, call the reception center at 392-7953 to buy an oversized garbage tag. Next, attach the tag to the oversized items and place them outside on the designated day. Please place your trash in the collection areas (clean stations) on the proper days before 8:00 AM. Your Address When writing your address in roman letters, the formats recommended by the Japan Post are: Frodo Baggins 2-1-42-312, Minatojima Nakamachi 3-Chome Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0046 or Frodo Baggins 3-2-1-42-312 Minatojima Nakamachi Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0046 • The dash between numbers is pronounced no in Japanese. • 42 is the building number, 312 is the apartment number. • Be sure to add “Japan” at the bottom for international mail. Life on the Island 4

6. Your Apartment (continued) • Caring for your Home • A few tips for a happy home: • Apartment- Wood-lined closets and clothing tend to mold, so use moisture collectors to dehumidify. If you have an air-conditioner, you can set it to “dry”. • Tatami- They are susceptible to bugs and molding. You can vacuum and wipe it with a damp cloth to clean. If you have tatami mites, you can use Daniaasu. • Drains- One of many products is the pellet-shaped drain cleaner. • Bedding- On warm sunny days, air out your mattress and futon. • Cockroaches- If you see them, you can use a Gokiburi Roach Trap. Moisture Collectors Daniaasu Drain Cleaner Gokiburi Roach Trap Maintenance If you have a maintenance issue, please call our island’s Housing Management. If you are expecting a large delivery, have your coin tokens ready. Once you have used these coins, you can ask for more. Housing Management Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday-Saturday *Closed on holidays 10:00-12:00 and 13:00-16:00 (078) 302-1645 (may only speak Japanese) After-hours emergency: 06-6969-2151 Building 67 http://minatoweb.co.jp/company.php For EMERGENCY assistance, contact your CIR. 24-hour gas leak assistance: 0120-719424 5 Life on the Island

7. 3. Getting Started A B C D F E G I H A Naka Koen Station F Port Island Disaster Shelter (Elementary School) Post Office B G Post Office C Our Neighborhood Iryo Center Station- ShiminByoin (Hospital) H D SMBC, Toho, 100 yen, Daiei I IKEA Minatojima Campus Mae Station, Pharmacy, Family Mart E Getting Started 6

8. 3.1 Transportation Port Liner (Train) Port Island is serviced by the Port Liner. The closest two stations to the apartments are Naka Koen (P04) and Minatojima Campus Mae (P05). It takes 8 minutes from Naka Koen to get to Sannomiya and 9 minutes from Minatojima Campus Mae. The Port Liner runs two circuits. One runs to Kobe Airport and the other travels on the Kita Futo loop around the Island (this will take you to IKEA). From Sannomiya, all Port Liner trains stop at Naka Koen and Minatojima Campus Mae. It costs ¥240 one way, but you can buy month-based passes as well. These passes are fully reimbursed as part of your school travel expenses. Commuting Passes– A Port Liner Pass can be purchased from the Sannomiya Terminal (directly on your right when you exit the Port Liner gates). They have an English application example. Ask the staff to borrow it if you need help. Useful link for trains: www.hyperdia.com 7 Getting Started

9. 3.1 Transportation Walking There is a footbridge between Sannomiya and Port Island and it takes about 40 minutes. Just follow the Port Liner. Taxi Taxis from Sannomiya to the apartments are around ¥1,300. It’s easiest to ask for Port Island Toho (as in the name of the store), or Minatojima (which is Japanese for Port Island). The ICOCA (イコカ) card is a rechargeable smart card you can use on most train, subway and bus lines in our region of Kansai. It costs ¥2000 to get the card and it comes with a credit of ¥1500. You can buy it at JR Sannomiya station ticket machines. You tap the card on a magnetic pad before entering and exiting the gates. The card then has the correct amount deducted from its outstanding balance. Getting Started 8

10. 3.2 Shopping Grocery Shopping The biggest grocery store on Port Island is Daiei (Gourmet City). It’s across the street from Minatojima Campus Mae station. You can find a good range of meat, fruit and vegetables, and all the kitchen basics. There is also Toho( トーホー)just across the road from Daiei (see p. 6). Toho is smaller and a little more expensive. It’s great if you just need to get something quickly. Tips: Pre-made foods such as bentos and sushi will be discounted some time after 7pm. Japan has strict best-before dates; therefore, supermarkets try to sell them before they expire. On Thursday, many things are discounted. Fruit and vegetables are freshest on Sundays. Other Options For foreign food stores, there are several options. The closest store is SJ Kobe (located under JR West gate). Sannomiya also features Foreign Grocers in Kitano (if you head up towards the hills behind the Ikuta Shrine, cross a few major roads you will hit it).Rokko Island has The Foreign Buyers Club (they are also online www.foriegnbuyersclub.com). There are two Costcos in our area (Amagasaki and Gakuentoshi). To enter you need to have a Costco card. This costs ¥5,000 per year. Alternatively, you can go with a friend who has a card (each cardholder is entitled to bring two friends). BEWARE – Costco is extremely busy on weekends (particularly in the afternoon) and on public holidays. The best time to go is after school on a weekday. Getting Started 9

11. 3.3 Furnishing your Apartment Located conveniently on Port Island, (take the Kita Futo bound Port Liner to Minami Koen or walk 1km south) IKEA is the best place to start shopping for big items (see map on p. 6). The staff at IKEA speak a range of languages so you can easily find an English speaker. IKEA has a delivery service, but if your load is not too excessive the taxi drivers outside are usually helpful. There are many businesses that you can utilize to furnish your apartment. Below is a list of conveniently located stores that will meet your immediate needs. 10 Getting Started

12. 3.4 Banking Your bank is SMBC (Sumitomo Mitsu Banking Corporation). Your pay will be deposited on the 20th of each month (if the 20th falls on a weekend or holiday, you will receive your money the previous business day). The easiest way to access your money is to use an ATM. Please refer to the map on p. 6 for a nearby SMBC location. Tips: Withdraw your money on weekdays before 5pm to avoid the ¥105 service fee. Japan is a cash society, do not expect to be able to pay with credit or debit cards; always carry cash. Port Island SMBC (ATM) hours of operation: 8 am – 11 pm. 3.5 Post Offices There are two post offices on Port Island (see p. 6). Japan’s Postal Symbol Getting Started 11

13. 4.1 Emergency Services You may use public phones to dial emergency numbers. Push the red button and then dial the number. Otherwise, call the following numbers in case of emergency: Helpful Japanese: 12 Emergencies

14. 4.2 Hospitals and Clinics The nearest hospital is Shimin Byoin (see p. 6). When you go to the hospital you will need to take: your Residence (Zairyu) card, your National Health Insurance card, and cash. Since we are covered by National Health Insurance, costs are inexpensive. Shimin Byoin Shimin Byoin has an emergency clinic which is open 24-hours. This hospital is open for walk-ins between 8:45 to 11:45 am. Kaisei This hospital is located north of Hankyu Rokko and the doctors speak English. The hours of operation are Monday to Friday, 9 am to 11 am for walk-ins. Residence (Zairyu) Card National Health Insurance Card Consultation card Pharmacies There are two local pharmacies: The first is inside Daiei. Many medicines must be purchased separately at the medicine counter. The opening hours are not always reliable and it will always close before Daiei does. The second one is next to the Family Mart. It is open more frequently. Emergencies 13

15. 4.3 Disasters When a disaster occurs, the Kobe International Community Center provides consultation desks especially for foreigners. They address inquiries and provide information. Kobe International Community Center Address: Kobe International House 20F, 8-1-6, Goko-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe TEL: (078) 291-8441 In case of disaster, the nearest Port Island shelters are: 14 Emergencies