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The maze of local administration can be daunting to navigate,
The International Association is waiting to help you with any questions:
| Accomodation
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| The standard procedure
for finding accomodation in Aizu Wakamatsu is to employ a real
estate agent. This can prove to
be expensive. One of the wonderful things about living in a rural
area like this is the power of word-of-mouth. If you have
a
little time, try mentioning to as many people as possible that
you are looking for a new home and you might be surprised at
what turns
up at an unexpectedly low price.
City Housing
The City owns and manages several
types of housing for the use of citizens. Lotteries to
allocate the available spaces are held several times a year. If
you are interested in
this cheaper housing option, keep an eye on the English City information
bulletin Shisei
Dayori. The International Association also holds up to date information.
There are certain conditions relating
to income and family status, but several international residents
of the City have successfully entered this accomodation. The
City Hall helps with language difficulties during the application period.
(Information from Shisei Dayori) |
| Electricity |
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The power in Aizu Wakamatsu comes in the following form:
100/200 volts
50 hertz
20 - 50 amps depending on the house
If you find that you keep blowing fuses, it may be possible to
get your amperage increased by the electric company. (It will
cost you depending on how many amps you want.)
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| Garbage
and Recycling |
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From October 2006 there were some changes in the collection of
household waste. The following table has been updated, and recent
changes
are shown in bold type.
Go to List =>
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| Gas |
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There are two types of gas used in Aizu Wakamatsu. One is natural
gas and the other is propane (or liquid petroleum gas). Natural
gas is piped into the home, whereas propane or LPG
is brought to the home in canisters. Your home will have one or
the other, generally not both. Your gas appliances (cooking stove,
water heater, etc.) must match the type of gas supplied to your
house otherwise there is a risk of fire or carbon monoxide poisoning.
Please consult the gas company when you buy new appliances.
If you are using an unvented water heater or space heater, be sure
to open a window or use a ventilation fan periodically to prevent
buildup of dangerous fumes.
As an earthquake safety measure, you should close gas valves after
cooking, and double check them before leaving the house and before
sleeping. In the event of an earthquake, close all gas valves immediately.
If you suspect a gas leak, close all the gas valves, call the gas
company and open all the windows. Do not use anything with an open
flame or an electric fan or anything else that might cause a spark.
Indicators of gas problems: gas smell, long orange
flames (improper combustion), strange odor when gas appliance
is in use
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| Money
& Banking |
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Banks are usually open from 9:00am to 3:00pm from Monday to Friday.
Bank machines are usually open later on weekdays and until about
5:00pm on weekends. Some bank machines are closed on Sundays. Most
bank machines close during the New Year's Holidays (in Dec/Jan)
and Golden Week (in May).
More Details=>
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| Moving
/ Leaving |
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If you are moving or leaving, be sure to complete the following
procedures:
Go to the procedures =>
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Paying Bills |
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There are three ways to pay your bills, listed from the most convenient
to the least.
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Automatic debit of your bank account or post office banking
account
Take your bank book, bank hanko, and a previous bill with you
to the bank to set up this system. It may take one or two
months for this
process to start, so for the first couple of payments you
will have to either pay in person at the office, by option
#2 below,
or at the bank, post office, or a convenience store.
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Paying in person at the bank, post office, or a convenience
store.
Take your bill and some cash to one of the above places. They
will send your money to the appropriate institution. Make sure
you keep your receipt.
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Sometimes a bill collector will come to your door. This is
extremely inconvenient because you might not have enough cash
to pay them. (They don't generally come on the same day of the
month.) If a bill collector comes to your door, ask him or her
about a way to make automatic debit payments.
Bills may come into your mailbox as little strips of paper. If
you receive random papers and are not sure what they are, keep them
and ask someone about them. Do not throw them out!
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Post Office Delivery |
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The Post Office Guide is a free book that is available at main
post offices or can be purchased from the International Postal Research
Centre by calling the postal services information number above.
It will cost around 200 yen. It is an excellent information resource.
Detail =>
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| Sewers |
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If you have problems with your sewerage connection, contact your
landlord or the city sewerage system department.
Some older homes have non-flush, drop-style toilets which use septic
tanks. These homes are serviced by large trucks that come periodically
to vacuum out the tanks. Your landlord might make arrangements for
this service. If no provisions have been made for this service,
ask your landlord to make some recommendations of good companies.
(This service should be performed at least once a year.)
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| Telephone
& Facsimilie |
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There are two ways to buy a telephone line: buy a line directly
from NTT (costly) or buy a line privately (sometimes difficult).
Details =>
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| Water |
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Call the city waterworks bureau before you move in to request water
service.
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