The X-Pat Files -  July 2006

 (Brought to you by H&R Consultants)

  The X-Pat Files Community E-Newsletter provides a forum for the spread of information useful for English speakers living in Aichi.  You can use the newsletter as an informational resource, and of course you can send in information you would like to share.
  This newsletter is a community service from The Japan Real Estate and Relocation company, H&R Consultants (www.japanhomesearch.com), and is edited by counselor and life coach Sue Conolly (www.sueconolly.net).

  Contents for This Edition

  1.  New Parking Violation Laws - Steve Burson
  2.  Misplaced Drivers Licenses - Jenny Elsby
  3.  Japan Automobile Federation (JAF)
  4.  "Tsubame"Chubu International Airport Limousine Service
  5.  Swimming Pools
  6.  Fireworks Displays
  7.  Newspapers and Magazines - Print Media in Japan
  8.  Meet & Greet Lunch
  9.  The Weather Forecast
 10. Falling Down - Sue Conolly

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  1. Summary of new Parking Violation Laws - Steve Burson

Many of you will be aware that the parking laws have recently changed in Japan. BEWARE! You can’t just park your car on the side of the road like you used to!

The police are now able to outsource the business of giving parking tickets to 3rd party companies. This means that there are now many more wardens out there looking to ticket you!

BEFORE:

-    They used to chalk your car and come back to write up your ticket an hour or so later.
-    If they couldn’t prove who was the driver of the vehicle, by law they couldn’t enforce the fine on the owner of the vehicle.

NOW:

-    There is no chalking of your car. They can write up your ticket anytime after you park your car (it appears they do allow 10 minutes in most cases)
-    The parking fine is fixed against the car registration, and the registered owner is responsible for payment.

 The following is a summary of the changes;

1.    If the driver of the vehicle does not pay the infringement fine by the designated payment date the registered owner / user of the vehicle is liable to pay the fine. If the fines are not paid the car will be ordered off the road.

2.    The new Parking Wardens circulate designated areas and attach stickers to the windows and take digital photographs of the license plates of cars that are unattended and in breach of parking regulations. Police also act in the same manner.

3.    The Parking Violation Sticker is attached immediately after a car is recognized as being illegally parked, regardless of how long the car has been there. This sticker is the infringement notice and payment advice. If this sticker is lost you have to apply for it to be re-issued which may take up to two weeks.

4.    The vehicle registration (shaken) cannot be renewed in the event that there are outstanding unpaid parking violation fines; therefore rendering the particular vehicle unusable when shaken expires.


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  2. Misplaced Drivers Licences - Jenny Elsby

If you are unlucky enough to misplace your Japanese licence, please be aware of the following proceedure that you need to follow.
It is illegal to drive in Japan without having your licence on your person.

1) You need to phone your local police station and tell them that you have lost your licence.  They will make you file a report, this can be done over the phone, detailing how you lost your licence, when you last saw it, when you coverted it over etc. They will give you a report number, which you should quote should you find the licence and need to cancel the report.  You will need someone who speaks Japanese to help you with this.

2) You need to head down to Hirabari drivers licence center (Hirabari Station,Tsurumai line, exit 1) between the hours of 9 -12/ 12:45 -3pm.  Here they will be able to issue you with a new licence. It is best to go with a Japanese speaker and you will need to take the following items:

2x Passport photos - the size is pretty strict so its best to take them at the center
Name stamp
JPY3200 for reissuing licence
Report number issued by Police
ID
 
Please note that until you have visited Hirabari drivers licence center you are unable to drive.

Please note that this information is only a guide and that you should contact the police directly to check this information should you have any further questions.

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  3. Japan Automobile Federation (JAF)

Japan Automobile Federation (JAF) provides road service for members 24 hours a day for your vehicle security.  Membership is just 2000 yen, for your peace of mind on the road.  Check out their English homepage at http://www.jaf.or.jp/e/
If you're stuck by the side of the road, have the following information ready before you call.
(1)  Your location (prominent building or landmark, place name, address, etc.)
(2)  Model and color of the vehicle and vehicle registration number
(3)  Nature of trouble or request (try to get a Japanese person to help you if you can't describe it)
(4)  Whether you have a JAF membership card or not, and membership registration number if you have one.

Members will be charged non-membership rates if they do not have their JAF membership card with them at the site of road service call.

If you call from an emergency phone rather than a regular phone, the call is easy for JAF to trace to your exact location.  However, there are other service providers also linked to the emergency phones, so make sure you ask for JAF assistance, or you could be charged for service from another company.

When you take a road trip, set your kilometers to zero in your car, when you get on the highway.  Then, even if you are broken down somewhere there is not an easy landmark, you can tell Road Service the distance you have travelled since getting on, and the direction you are travelling.
  
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  4. "Tsubame" Chubu International Airport Limousine Service

There is a reasonable and convenient service that will allow you to get a jumbo taxi from your home to Chubu International Airport for just 3000 yen per person (Meito-ku, Moriyama-ku, Chikusa-ku, Higashi-ku, Kita-ku, Nishi-ku), 2500 yen (Naka-ku, Nakamura-ku, Nakagawa-ku, Atsuta-ku, Showa-ku, Mizuho-ku, Tempaku-ku) or 2000 yen (Minato-ku, Minami-ku, Midori-ku).  They take reservations from just one person, with the only stipulation that you book ahead to use the service, by 7pm two days before you use the service.  Have someone who speaks Japanese book for you, on 0120-758-189.  They will take you from your door, to the door of the airport!
  
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  5. Swimming Pools

There are many good swimming pools in the Nagoya area, but it pays to know about the rules before you set out.  Each swimming pool will have its own rules, and some adhere to the rules more strictly than others, but it’s good to keep the common ones in mind, so that you don’t get all the way there and find that you have to go home again.  For each of the swimming pools listed here, it’s best to call ahead to find out which of the rules that might trip you up would apply.

1.  This is one for pretty much every swimming pool in Japan.  Every hour, there will be a ten minute break.  Everyone must get out of the pool at this time.  You don’t have to leave the pool side, but you may not be in the water.  After this break there is a typically a session of “warming up exercises” before everyone gets back in the water, but as you will see, they are pretty much optional and not everyone does them.

2.  Swimming caps – There are some pools that require everyone in the water to be wearing a swimming cap.  Other pool complexes will require a swimming cap in some of their pools (like the lap pool) but not the other pools (like baby pools).  For those who have driven all the way from home without a cap, there are some pools that will rent you a cap, and other pools where you can buy a cap at the front reception.  Again, it’s best to check this before you go if you don’t have one.

3.  Babies who are not toilet trained – Some pools allow babies of all ages, others will only allow children who are already toilet trained.  One shining example of this is the beautiful heated swimming pool in Komaki, which has a beautiful facility for families, several types of pools for small children…. But babies who have not yet been toilet trained are not even allowed pool side.  This of course means that if you are a mother with several children and a baby, you will have to stay upstairs with the baby while your children swim below.  If you have a baby, I strongly recommend that you call before you set out to any swimming pool to find out the baby policy.  If the baby policy is strict, all the swim diapers in the world will not help you.

4.  Height restrictions for water slides – again, some pools are stricter about this than others.  The usual restriction is 120cm (children under this size may not slide), but other pools have age restrictions (like under school age may not slide, under grade 3 may not slide).  With these age restrictions, it is always easier to fudge!

5.  Tattoos – in Japan, tattoos can make people nervous as they may indicate Yakuza connections.  Usually, a discreet tattoo will not turn a head, but if you have an obvious one, then you might like to check the pool’s policy on it.

6.  Poolside accessories – Usually, you will leave your towel in your locker and not take it pool side.  (You will find this out by default as most pools require you to walk through a waterfall or a shower to be able to get to the pool side area.  In regard to floating devices (like pool rings, beach balls etc), each pool has its own rules.  Other pools have rules about this during summer but not during the quieter months.  If you plan to bring pool toys, call ahead and get the scoop.

Here are phone numbers of local pools.  Use the phone numbers to have a Japanese friend call ahead for you to find out opening times and rules, or to program into your car navigation.  Some pools in summer are even open at night, so the opening times are crucial! 

Heated Pools (open all year around)

Nagoya City Gymnasium 50m heated pool (Minami-ku)- 052-614-6211
Mizuho Park Undercover Pool (Mizuho-ku) - 052-836-8210
Tsuyuhashi Sports Centre (Nakagawa-ku) – 052-362-4411
Biwajima Sports Centre (Nishi-ku) – 052-532-4121
Tempaku Sports Centre (Tempaku-ku) – 052-806-0551
Midori Sports Centre (Midori-ku) – 052-891-7775
Kita Sports Centre (Kita-ku) – 052-917-0501
Nakamura Sports Centre (Nakamura-ku) – 052-413-8021
Meito Sports Centre (Meito-ku) 052-705-4948
Chikusa Sports Centre (Chikusa-ku) 052-782-0700
Narumi Pool (Midori-ku) – 052-891-9314
Kanarebashi Pool (Chikusa-ku) – 052-773-5311
Nanyo Pool (Minato-ku) – 052-303-2015
Yamada-Nishi Pool (Nishi-ku) – 052-503-5151
Tomita Kita Pool (Nakagawa-ku) 052-431-8991
Naka Sports Centre (Naka-ku) – 052-232-2327
Showa Sports Centre (Show-ku) – 052-733-6831
Higashi Sports Centre (Higashi-ku) – 052-723-0411
Sun Frog Kasugai (Kasugai City) – 0568-56-2277
Komaki Water Park (Komaki) - 0568-78-0102
Nishibi Heated Pool (Nishi Biwajima-cho) 052-502-6990
Karuchiba Shinkawa (Kiyosu) 052-401-2666
Arco Kiyosu Heated Pool (Kiyosu) 052-409-8181
Ichinomiya Heated Pool (Ichinomiya) 0586-77-4727
Eco House 138 (Ichinomiya) 0586-47-7138
Inuyama International Tourist Centre “Froide” (Inuyama) 0568-61-1000
Tobishima Mura Heated Pool (Tobishima) – 05675-2-4332
Oharu-cho Sports Centre (Oharu) 052-443-7077
Tsushima Pool (Tsushima) – 0567-28-2556
Sobue no Mori Pool (Inazawa) – 0587-97-8282
Heiwa Raku Raku Plaza (Inazawa) 0567-46-5600
Korogi Sports Park (Nisshin) 05617-3-8959
Tokai City Heated Pool (Tokai) 053-601-1136
Tokai Shiawase Mura (Tokai) 052-689-1601
Tokoname Heated Pool (Tokoname) 0569-35-0454
Handa Fukushi Fureai Pool (Handa) – 0569-26-6661
Aichi Health Park Pool (Obu) – 0562-82-0211
Water Palace KC (Kariya) 0566-24-6261
Toyota Area Bunka Hiroba (Toyota) 0565-53-0671
White Wave 21 (Nishiohazu) 0563-34-8222
Mermaid Palace (Anjo) 0566-92-7351
Anjo City Sports Centre (Anjo) 0566-75-3545
Sun Village (Hekinan) 0566-41-2655
Happiness Hill Kota (Nukata-gun) – 0564-56-8111
Yutorina Gamagori (Gamagori) 0533-57-0123
Fureai Hiroba Suisui Park (Kitashitara-gun) – 0536-62-1043

Open Air Pools (open only in summer – please call for open dates)

Rainbow Pool (Minami-ku) - 052-614-6211
Shidami Sports Land (Moriyama-ku near NIS) – 052-736-3766
Kusunoki Pool (Kita-ku) – 052-901-9949
Mizuho Park Pool (Mizuho-ku) – 052-836-8210
Atsuta Pool (Atsuta-ku) – 052-882-8091
Shinpo Pool (Chikusa-ku) – 052-721-9184
Higashi Pool (Higashi-ku) – 052-935-9581
Meijo Pool (Kita-ku) – 052-912-0499
Kodama Pool (Nishi-ku) – 052-522-9960
Yamada Pool (Nishi-ku) – 052-503-9977
Inabaji Pool (Nakamura-ku) – 052-413-0779
Oi Pool (Naka-ku) – 052-321-9081
Nakagawa Pool (Nakagawa-ku) – 052-362-9131
Tomita Pool (Nakagawa-ku) – 052-301-0390
Minato Pool (Minato-ku) – 052-384-5587
Moriyama Pool (Moriyama-ku) – 052-794-1319
Midori Pool (Midori-ku) – 052-892-9986
Meito Pool (Meito-ku) – 052-701-4986
Tenpaku Pool (Tenpaku-ku) – 052-804-6045
Sun Beach Nikkogawa (Minato-ku) – 052-302-6200
Ryusenji Water Park (Moriyama-ku) – 052-795-0579
Odaka Ryokuchi Pool (Midori-ku) – 052-622-2281
Shippo-cho Pool (Ama-gun) – 052-441-5001
Jimokuji Pool (Ama-gun) – 052-443-1685
Ichinomiya Pool (Ichinomiya) – 0586-77-0500
Okazaki Pool (Okazaki) – 0564-46-2221
Hekinan Community Pool (Hekinana) – 0587-55-4120
Toyota Pools (Toyota) – 0565-88-0664 & 0565-32-9735
Tsushima Pool (Tsushima) – 0567-28-2556
Owariasahi Shimin Pool (Owariasahi) – 0561-53-0606
Miwa Pool (Ama-gun) 052-443-2030
Toyoyama Sky Pool (near the old airport in Toyoyama/Komaki) – 0568-29-1626
Kasugai B&G Kaiyou Centre (Nishi-Kasugai-gun) – 052-400-2651
Laguna Gamagori (Gamagori) – 0533-58-2700
Asahi Koen Pool (Kasugai) – 0568-84-4991

My recommendations from the above are: Shidami Pool near NIS, Toyoyama Sky Pool near the old airport in Komaki, Komaki Pool (heated, open all year round), Laguna Gamagori.  Some of the above pools are completely public, and cheaper, while some of them, like Ryusenji Water Park, are privately owned and more expensive.


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  6. Fireworks Displays in Nagoya

One of the things that makes summer special in Japan is the fireworks displays.  There is a Japanese website that is easy to navigate even for people who can't read Japanese.

http://www.jalan.net/jalan/doc/theme/hanabi/23.html

This is a map of the Nagoya area, with the various fireworks displays marked with little red numbers.  You can then match the red numbers to the list of fireworks below, to get a date for that particular fireworks display.  The number that appears with the name of the fireworks display is the number of fireworks that are set off, so the bigger the number, the more gorgeous the display.  The top 3 fireworks displays, in terms of number of fireworks, are listed to the right of the map.  They are:

50th Annual Nagaragawa Fireworks (Gifu) - 29th July
Day Festival 9:00〜19:10  Night Festival 19:15〜20:45
30000 fireworks
400000 people came in 2005
Will change to 19th of August if it rains
10 toilet blocks
Place: Gifu City, along the banks of Nagara River
For more info: 052-221-0671（Mon-Fri 10:00〜18:00）
No Parking, please come by public transport
Transport Restrictions enforced

58th Annual Okazaki Fireworks (Okazaki) - 5th August
19:00〜21:20
20000 fireworks
480000 people came in 2005
Will change to the next day if it rains
toilets available
Place: Okazaki, follow the crowd from Okazaki Station
For more info: 0564-23-6217
No Parking, please come by public transport

38th Annual Oiden Festival (Toyota) - 30th July
19:10〜21:10
15000 fireworks
350000 people came in 2005
Will change to the next day if it rains
toilets available
Place: Toyota, Shirahama-cho
For more info: 0565-34-6642
5000 parking spots, some free
Transport Restrictions enforced

The other listings for the other fireworks displays around Nagoya all follow the same layout for their information, so you can easily work out what you need to know.  A basic rule of thumb on any given fireworks night, is to head in the general direction of the display, and from the train stations, follow the girls in yukata (traditional dress).  They will lead you straight to where you need to go!

1.  60th "Umi no Hi" (Day of the Sea) Nagoya Port Fireworks - 17th July
2.  Toyohashi Festival (fireworks on the 21st and 22nd of July)
3.  30th Annual Kasugai Festival - 22nd  July
4.  50th Annual Nagaragawa Fireworks (see above) - 29th July
5.  2006 Gamagori Festival Fireworks - 30th July
6. 38th Annual Oiden Festival in Toyota - 30th July
7.  58th Annual Okazaki Fireworks - 5th August
8.  37th Annual Tokai City Fireworks - 12th August
9.  Shinshiro City Fireworks - 13th August
10. Nobi Fireworks (Ichinomiya) - 14th August
11. 58th Annual Komezu Fireworks - 15th August
12. Kariya Wansaka Festival 2006 - 20th August
13. Ichinomiya City Fireworks - 26th August
14. 19th Annual Toyokawa Festival - 26th August
15. Tahara Festival - 17th September

One festival that seems not to be listed is the Nagakute Fireworks display which is always the 3rd Saturday in August.

Still not convinced that it is worth braving the crowds?  Take a look at: http://www.japan-fireworks.com/eindex.html.
The Japanese are serious about their fireworks, and have some of the best displays in the world.  The crowds are all just part of the cultural experience, like the yukata, the street stands, the chilled beer on the hot steamy night, and the lines for the restroom!


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  7. Newspapers and Magazines - Print Media in Japan

Do you like to get the news of the world around you online, or do you like to sit with the morning newspaper and a cup of coffee?  Either way, your journey starts here with these links which will help you decide what to add to your favourites, or subscribe to the print version.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/

http://www.asahi.com/english/english.html

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news.htm

http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/

http://www.newsonjapan.com/

http://metropolis.japantoday.com/default.asp

http://kyotojournal.org/

http://www.glocom.org/



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  8.  Meet & Greet Lunch

 Are you new to town?  Do you want to get out and meet new people?  Or do you just want a nice lunch in a quiet, relaxing atmosphere where you can chat with new friends and old friends?  The Meet & Greet lunch is held on the second Tuesday of the month at Shooters Sports Bar and Grill in Fushimi. 

 Date:  Tuesday, 11th of July
 Time: 11:30am -
 Place: http://www.shooters-nagoya.com/
 Price: 1500 yen for buffet lunch and a drink
 RSVP:  Please RSVP by Saturday the 8th of July.  RSVP to Sue Conolly at conolly@p-cafe.net or 090-4186-9459

 Shooters has a relaxed atmosphere and is closed during the day except for our event, so we have the run of the place.  This means that it is a VERY easy event for mothers with  babies or small children.  It also means, however, that I must ask for an RSVP so that Shooters can cater for the correct number of people.  Since they are opening the restaurant especially for us, I want to keep these Meet & Greet lunches well attended as they are a valuable resource for newcomers to the area.  Please mark it on your calendar - every month on the second Tuesday, and let me know if you can come this time.

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  9. Weather Forecast

The link below is the English page of the Japan Weather Association (JWA), which provides hourly updates of Satellite pictures for Japan and World Weather, as well as the weather forecast for Japan.

http://www.jwa.or.jp/english/index.html


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  10. Falling Down - Sue Conolly


A Daruma is a hollow and round Japanese wish doll with no arms and legs.  Because of the low center of gravity, the daruma doll will return to its upright position after being tilted to the side. As such, it has become sybmolic for optimism, persistence, and strong determination.

Yesterday I went to the Osu Kannon Markets (held in the temple grounds on the 18th and the 28th of each month, rain or shine) and I found a Japanese scroll with a picture of several Daruma, and the inscription "Life has meaning only with feeling.  Fall down seven times, get up eight".  As human beings, we have to know that life is only worth living if you can really feel it.  It's not always going to be easy, but no matter how many times you fall down, you have to remember to pop back up again.

It is always easy to blame circumstances for where we are in our lives.  "If only", are the two saddest, and most defeating words in the English language.  However, when we take hold of the wheel again and sit in the drivers seat of our lives, we make it possible to be our own Daruma, our very own personal wish doll that pops up again after life's knocks.

http://www.sueconolly.net/

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  That`s it for this edition of the newsletter. We hope you found it informative - please let us know what you would like to see in future editions, and we will attempt to address your issues.

  A disclaimer - While we do try to check submissions when they come to me, we do not take responsibility for the accuracy of any donated information.  Nor do we take responsibility if your experience of places and services you find through this newsletter are not as rewarding as they were for the person who originally sent in the information. Obviously everyone`s experience is different.

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