City Services and Notices

The Plaza of Multicultural Exchange Sakai (POME Sakai) can help you with language assistance for any of the processes in the city notices listed here.

May will be the appointed time for payment for the light vehicle tax (portion by type) and also the start of the first appointed time for the fixed property and city planning taxes. The deadline is June 2nd. Please pay at the nearest banking facility, convenience store, by mobile apps such as Pay-easy or by credit card through the regional tax payment site (eLTAX). For those that use the automatic transfer, payment will automatically be deducted on June 2nd so please check that you have sufficient funds.
Only in the case of payment of the light vehicle tax (portion by type) by account transfer, a tax payment certificate for the vehicle model subject to vehicle inspection will be sent around mid-June for the continuation inspection.
Furthermore, if you are taking a light vehicle inspection with either of the payment methods, the tax payment is linked to the ‘light vehicle tax payment confirmation system (kei JNKS)’, so you basically don’t need to show a tax payment certificate at the counter when you receive your vehicle inspection.

Every ward office will have special holiday counters on April 5th and 6th from 9:00-12:00 to accommodate for the influx of people changing residences at this time of year. Major services you can receive are shown below. You can also pick up your My Number card.

Civic Affairs Division:
Procedures for changing residence (excluding cases where school enrollment consultations are necessary), name seal (inkan) registration, notification of family registration, issuance of copies of residence certificate etc., receiving My Number Card.

Health Insurance & Pension Division:
Qualification/disqualification for National Health Insurance, qualification/disqualification for Medical Expense Subsidies for Childcare etc.

Child-raising Support Division:
Application for Child Allowance

Please beware of the following points if you are applying:
● When requesting a certificate or submitting a notification, you need documents to prove your identity (such as a driver's license, passport, health insurance card, etc.) and depending on the process a name seal (inkan) too.
● Depending on the contents of the notification or application, you may have to enquire with other municipalities or receive attachments from them so it may not be possible to complete the procedures on the day. Please enquire beforehand.
● You can issue documents such as a copy of your residence certificate, name seal (inkan) registration certificate, city or prefectural tax certificate at the convenience store using your My Number card.

Sakai City offers financial assistance to families with children in public elementary and junior high schools that are experiencing financial difficulties, to cover elementary school lunch fees and partial expenses for school supplies etc. Eligible families will fall into one of the following groups based on their total household income from 2024 (please note the amount of income may vary depending on household members’ ages):
・2 person households – 2.16 million yen or less
・3 person households – 2.59 million yen or less
・4 person households – 2.89 million yen or less
・5 person households – 3.23 million yen or less
・6 person households – 3.66 million yen or less
The application process must be completed between April 15th to 30th (excluding weekends and public holidays). Apply either at the school your child is enrolled at (excluding prefectural schools) or bring your name seal (inkan) and documentation for your bank account to your local ward office’s application counter. Online applications (until April 30th) and by post (postmark deadline April 30th) are also accepted.
Applications can still be made after this period until the end of February next year (2026), however in that instance, subsidies will be calculated from the month you apply.
Please note that the school expense subsidy does not roll over automatically and must be reapplied for each year.
More detailed information will be delivered through schools at the start of April and will be available in English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Portuguese, Vietnamese and Tagalog upon request.

When constructing a house or building, prior application must be made to receive confirmation from the city. In addition, depending on the area, buildings with certain purposes cannot be built, or any building may not be allowed to be built in the first place. When you want to construct a house or a building, please consult with a professional and adhere to the rules while planning.

The free screening tests for Sakai City residents are offered as part of the campaign to promote people to take them more often will be continued till March 31st, 2026. Let’s get checked regularly!

Cancer screening and target ages
Stomach cancer – even number ages *50 and over
Lung cancer – ages 40 and over
Colorectal cancer – ages 40 and over
Cervical cancer – women of even number ages *20 and over
Breast cancer – women of even number ages *40 and over
Stomach cancer risk check-up – once between ages 35-49
Prostate cancer – men of even number ages *50-69 (simultaneous implementation with stomach, lung or colorectal cancer screenings, or the specified health checkups for Sakai City National Health Insurance)

● *Those at an odd numbered age who didn’t get tested the previous year are eligible for testing if they apply in advance at a Public Health center or Sakai City e-application system
● When you get tested, please bring a document that can confirm your identification (health insurance card or driver’s license, etc.)
● All checkups available at individual medical institutions. Please make an appointment directly at a participating medical institution. For more details visit the city’s general health check-up (kenshin sogo) website (Japanese only).

There will be a Spring National Traffic Safety Campaign from April 6th to 15th.
Let’s keep the following road rules.
・When riding a bike, always wear a helmet
・When driving a car, give way to pedestrians, wear seat belts and use child seats and avoid distracted driving