City Notices and Services

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 is the first payment period for Fixed Property Tax and City Planning Tax and the payment deadline is June 1st. Please make your payment by the deadline at your nearest financial institution, convenience store, etc. Payment can also be made using Pay-easy, mobile payment methods, and credit cards via the regional tax payment website (eLTAX). Click here for the English user’s guide on the website (eLTAX). For those using automatic withdrawal, the first payment period for Fixed Property Tax and City Planning Tax will be withdrawn on June 1st. Please ensure you have sufficient funds in your account.

In Japan, everyone is required to enroll in public health insurance to ensure access to medical care with peace of mind. Programmes such as National Health Insurance and the Medical Care System for the Elderly are part of this framework. These systems are based on mutual support, with all insured individuals contributing to help one another. Let’s support each other to protect healthy living for everyone.
For more information click the links below.
・Those under 74 years
National Health Insurance
・Those aged 75 and older
Medical Care System for the Elderly (Japanese only)

Every ward office will have special holiday counters on April 4th and 5th 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.
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, My Number card or residence card) and depending on the process a seal (inkan), too.
• Depending on the contents of the notification or application, inquiry with other municipalities or documents from them may be necessary so it may not be possible to complete the procedures on the day. Please enquire beforehand.
• You can obtain documents such as a copy of your residence certificate, seal (inkan) registration certificate, city or prefectural tax certificate at the convenience store using your My Number card.

Civic Affairs Division:
Procedures for changing residence (excluding cases requiring school enrollment consultation), change of address notification for foreign residents, seal (inkan) registration, family registry notifications, issuance of certificates such as copies of the resident record, and issuance of My Number cards and renewal of electronic certificates.
Health Insurance and Pension Division:
Notification of acquisition or loss of eligibility for National Health Insurance and for Medical Expense Subsidies for children’s medical care etc.

Sakai City offers financial assistance to families with children enrolled in public elementary and junior high schools who are experiencing financial difficulties, to help cover part of the cost of school supplies and other necessary expenses. Eligible households are those whose total household income in 2025 falls below the following thresholds (please note the amount varies depending on the ages of household members):
・2 person households – 217 million yen or less
・3 person households – 260 million yen or less
・4 person households – 291 million yen or less
・5 person households – 326 million yen or less
・6 person households – 368 million yen or less
The application process must be submitted between April 15th and 30th (excluding weekends and public holidays). Submit the required documents to the relevant school (excluding prefectural schools) or bring a seal (inkan) and documentation of the guardian’s bank account information to the 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 (2027), however in that instance, subsidies will be calculated from the month applied. Please note that the school expense subsidy does not roll over automatically and must be reapplied for each year. 　
For more details, please refer to the “notice on the school expense subsidy system” that will be distributed to students through schools in early April. Translated versions of the notice and the sample application form are available upon request through schools in English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Portuguese, Vietnamese, and Tagalog.
Click here for the relevant documents.

―The history connecting Sakai and bicycles for over 1600 years―
The roots of Sakai’s bicycle industry can be traced back to the Kofun period around 1600 years ago when World Heritage Site ‘Mozu Furuichi Kofun Group’ was constructed. The ironworking technology necessary for constructing these kofun were developed in Sakai and expanded over the centuries. By the Sengoku period the city had become a prominent gun manufacturing center in Japan. From the Meiji period onwards, this technology was passed down to the bicycle-parts manufacturing industry which grew into one of Sakai’s important local industries.
'Yamatogawa Riverside Cycling Road’ was developed in March 2025, where riders can enjoy nature and scenic views. Along the route, you’ll also find ‘Kai’, the Yamatogawa Cycle Monument featuring a bicycle motif.
Why not commemorate this occasion by taking a photo with your bicycle and the monument?
For details about the cycling road click here (Japanese only).

・*1Those 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.
For more details visit the Free Cancer Screening Tests page.

As of April 1st, the traffic violation notification system, commonly known as the blue ticket, has been applied to more than 100 types of bicycle violations, such as using a smartphone while riding and ignoring traffic lights. Under this system, offenders who pay the fine will not be subject to criminal penalties. The applicable age is 16 years and above. To ensure safe and comfortable bicycle use, take this opportunity to deepen your understanding of proper traffic rules and be careful to avoid both causing accidents and being involved in them.

Major bicycle traffic violations and penalty amounts
・Using a smartphone while riding (distracted driving): 12,000 yen
・Entering a closed railroad crossing: 7,000 yen
・Ignoring a traffic light signal: 6,000 yen
・Riding on the right side of the road: 6,000 yen
・Failure to stop at a stop sign: 5,000 yen