For Your Reference

TEL: 072-228-7499

Email: kokusai@city.sakai.lg.jp

Address: 2-1 Minamikawara-machi, Sakai-ku (5F Sakai City General Welfare Hall).

Opening Hours: Sunday to Friday 9:00-17:30 (closed on public holidays and New Year’s break 29 December to 3 January).

General Consultations for Foreign Residents

Please drop by in person or call during these hours if you have any queries regarding daily life.

Mon to Fri 10:00-12:00 & 13:00-16:00.

Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Portuguese, Spanish, and Thai.

*Tagalog, Indonesian and Nepali is only available for in person consultations.

*Languages other than Japanese/English will be conducted through a 3-way call or through the use of translation devices and interpreting services.

Free Confidential Consultation

October 16th & November 20th, 14:00-17:00.

Consultations on naturalizations and immigrations with an administrative procedure specialists are available for discussing the status of or changes to applications. Three slots available (Reservations required). Those that require an interpreter must apply at least 10 days before the date of the consultation.

Online Consultation

The Plaza of Multicultural Exchange Sakai are offering free online consultations using Zoom for foreign residents living, working or studying in Sakai City, in 13 languages. Get advice from immigration and law experts. Please make an appointment by phone or e-mail one week in advance of your consultation day.

Labour: November 18th (Mon) 13:30-16:30.

Law: November 22nd (Fri) 18:00-21:00.

Immigration: November 24th (Sun) 13:30-16:30.

Daily Life: November 26th (Tue) & 28th (Thur) 13:30-16:30.

Volunteer Interpreter Service

Those who need interpretation can apply for a volunteer interpreter using the form available for download here. Please make sure to hand it in via post, fax or email at least 10 days in advance.

やさしい日本語 Facebook Page

POME Sakai has started a Facebook page which posts about emergencies, disaster warnings, upcoming events, etc., in Easy Japanese. This is a great resource for those who want to attain information in Japanese.

If you do not make payments from pension, the deadline for national health insurance payments (June through to March 2025) is the last day of every month, aside from December which is the 25th. The deadline for elderly person health insurance payments is the last day of every month between July and March 2025, aside from December which is January 4th, 2025 (December 28th for account transfer). Please make sure to pay by the due dates below:

October: October 31st (Thur)
November: December 2nd (Mon)

Download the official Sakai City Waterworks and Sewage Bureau app for these convenient features!

● Get notices about checkups and view up to 2 years of past water usage and bills

● Get digital bills delivered through the app and pay using PayPay or by showing the barcode at your local 7-Eleven or Ministop.

● Get confirmations of bank transfer payments

● Apply for temporary stop and start of water pipes

● Pay bills with your credit card (registration required)

October will be the third appointed time for the City and Prefectural Resident Tax and Forest Environment Tax. The deadline is October 31st (Thur). Please pay at the nearest banking facility, convenience store etc. Payment can also be made using pay-easy, mobile payment methods and credit card. For those that use the automatic transfer, the payment will automatically be deducted on October 31st (Thur), so please check that you have sufficient funds.

This is run by yours truly! I mainly post information on what’s happening in Sakai, from upcoming events to emergencies & disaster warnings. It’s operated completely in English.
Instagram & Facebook