Living in Ehime

Driving

Obtaining your own set of wheels in Japan is not really a difficult task. Obtaining a Japanese license however, is sometimes a bit of a pain. Hopefully, the information provided below will ease your licensing woes.

International Driving Permit (IDP)

  • If you obtain an international driver’s license before coming to Japan, it will be valid for one year from the date of issue or one year from your date of entry into Japan, whichever comes earlier. It is not possible to renew the IDP and you’ll have to obtain a Japanese driver’s license instead.
  • Contact your embassy for further details on obtaining an International Driver’s License. Please be aware of any scams. An IDP should cost no more than about $20, or 2500 yen.

Japanese Driver’s License

  • Countries and regions that have a driving agreement with Japan
    • Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France. Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, the UK & the United States (Hawaii, Maryland, Ohio, Virginia, Washington, Indiana*)
    • By submitting the necessary documents shown below, passing a driving history interview as well as a vision and hearing examination, your driver’s license can be switched to a Japanese one without taking the written or road examinations.
    • *For the state of Indiana, only the driving exam is waived. The written exam is still necessary.
    • Source: Ehime Prefectural Police (Japanese)
  • For countries and regions that don’t have a driving agreement with Japan
    • In addition to submitting the necessary documents shown below, the applicant must also take a written and road test conducted on the examination course to obtain a Japanese driver’s license.
    • The written test involves a set of true/false questions and is available in English, Spanish, Farsi, Russian, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, Thai, Tagalog, and Vietnamese (in addition to Japanese).
    • For the driving examination, it is generally recommended to do a few practice sessions prior to the examination.
    • For those undergoing this process at the Matsuyama Licensing Center, utilizing EPIC’s volunteer services can be quite useful.
  • Scooters 50cc and under
    • Only the written test must be taken to obtain a 50cc scooter license. There is no road test required.
    • Having a Japanese Automobile license automatically covers the license for a 50cc scooter.
    • To obtain a license for a scooter and/or motorcycle that is above 50cc, you must take a separate written and road test. A normal automobile license will not cover it.

Necessary Documents Required for a Japanese License

  • License application forms (can be prepared at the center)
  • Identification photo (3cm by 2.4 cm, taken within the last 6 months)
  • Certificate of Residence (住民票, jyuuminhyou)
  • A Japanese driver’s license (if the applicant has previously held one)
  • Residence Card (在留カード, zairyuu kaado)
  • Passport (or something that similarly proves that you were in the country/region for at least 3 months after obtaining license. There may be cases where the passport doesn’t have entry/exit stamps between the issuing country and Japan, so bringing things such as older passports, plane tickets, transcripts, bank statements, or other documents is recommended). For Americans, the center may also request that you provide documentation proving you were in the specific state that issued your license for three months or more.
  • The overseas license (must be valid, must have been issued at least 3 months before arrival in Japan). If you recently renewed your license, bringing in older licenses or a driving record from the country/region that issued your license is recommended.
  • IDP (if you have one)
  • Your personal seal (signature is acceptable)
  • A Japanese translation of all the information that appears on your country’s driver’s license. Translation of your license MUST be done by one of the following:
      – Any Japanese embassy or consulate abroad
      – Any foreign embassy or consulate abroad

    – Japan Automobile Federation (JAF, Nihon Jidosha Renmei)

  • ¥4,600 for the procedure free (¥2,550 for application and ¥2,050 for issuing) in case of the ordinary passenger car license.
  • Applications should be made to:Ehime Driver’s License Center
  • Change of Address
    • If you change your name and/or address, bring proof of this change (amended Certificate of Residence) to the Ehime Driver’s Center.
  • If you’re not comfortable speaking in Japanese, the center asks that you bring someone who can interpret along with you to the appointments (EPIC volunteers can provide such a service).

License Renewal

  • Your Japanese driver’s license is valid until your birthday in the third year after its issue. You can renew your license beginning one month before the expiration date at the Ehime Driver’s License Center.
  • Necessary Documents Required
      – Driver’s License
      – One identification photo (3cm by 2.4cm)
      – Handling Charge ¥2,200
      – Instruction Fee ¥700, ¥1,700
      – If your name or address is changed, please bring the new alien registration.
  • Registration times: 8:00 – 9:30 / 13:00 – 14:00 daily (excluding Saturdays and national holidays)

Failing to Renew Your License

  • You may renew your license within six months after the expiration date at the Ehime Prefectural Driving Test Center by taking the appropriate tests. Bring the following items with you:
      – Expired driver’s license
      – Certificate of Residence
      – One identification photo (3×2.4 cm)
      – Your personal seal (signature is acceptable)
      – Renewal fee (Testing fee 2,550 yen and Handling charge 2,050 yen)
  • If you are seriously ill, are not in the country, or other circumstances prevent you from renewing your license within six months of the expiration date, bring the items listed above and evidence proving why you could not go to the center to renew (passport, doctor’s note, etc.). When you are able to go, you must renew within one month and take the appropriate tests.
  • Registration time: 13:00 – 13:30 daily (excluding Saturdays and national holidays)

 

Owning a Car in Japan

  • Proof of parking (shako shomei)
    • This is only required for white plate cars (普通車, hutsuusha). Before you can buy one, you must provide evidence that you have a parking space near your home. If your residence does not have a garage, you must rent a parking space in your neighborhood.
    • You can get the forms from the local police station (note: not the koban/police box).
    • Wherever you park your car must be within 2 kilometers of your residence. If your parking spot is some distance away from your residence, you can provide a Google Maps image displaying the distance between the spot and your home. In addition, you must also provide an image of the parking area (that displays information such as the dimensions of the entrance, the number of parking spots, and the length and width of your individual parking spot. The length and width must be appropriate for the dimensions of your vehicle or it will not be approved).
  • Automobile Inspection (shaken)
    • Automobiles and motorcycles over 251 cc must be inspected at regular intervals.
    • You must always carry your inspection certificate when driving.
    • Contact the Ehime Office of the Shikoku District Land Transport Bureau (Shikoku Rikuunkyoku Ehime Rikuun Shikyoku).
    • For questions about “K” cars (cars with yellow licence plates) contact the Ehime Management Office of the Compact Car Inspection Association (Keijidousha Kensa Kyokai Ehime Jimusho).
  • Insurance (hoken)
    • Compulsory Insurance (kyosei hoken) – You must enroll in the compulsory automobile insurance plan when purchasing a vehicle or when having your vehicle inspected. Enroll where you purchase your vehicle or at a vehicle maintenance shop
    • Optional Insurance (nin-i hoken) – Compulsory insurance has only limited coverage. Optional insurance plans will cover accidents not included in the compulsory insurance plans. Furthermore, since compulsory insurance may not completely cover increasingly expensive damage awards, some level of optional insurance is recommended. Inquire about optional insurance policies when purchasing a compulsory insurance policy.
  • Vehicle Registration (sharyo toroku)
    • Cars and motorbikes must be registered in the name of the owner and any change in ownership must be reported. Registration usually will be taken care of by the dealer when you buy a vehicle.

Japan Automobile Federation (JAF)

JAF is dedicated to providing auto users in Japan with services that enhance their safety and their sense of security while promoting the importance of road safety. If you have roadside assistance membership in your country (such as, AAA) JAF may work in partnership, please check your membership.
JAF services include:

  • Repairs and roadside assistance. 
    If you plan on driving often in Japan and/or taking trips; it may be in your best interest to sign up for JAF membership. Pricing varies depending on how long you sign up for but generally around ¥5,000 a year. With membership, if you run out of gas, get a flat tire, or are in an accident, JAF will come to assist you at anytime with no extra charge (only for the repairs/gas, etc). Especially in a country where many have a language barrier JAF can serve as a security net.
    DO NOT be like a group of ALTs from Ehime some years back who got a flat tire late at night on the way back from a road trip. Instead of waiting for assistance, and explaining why they were late, they decided to steal a tire! Just DONT! You are responsible for your actions. Either wait for assistance and call your supervisor or join JAF.
  • Japanese translation of foreign driver’s licenses.
    • This is available for English, Chinese, Portuguese, Spanish, French and German. Bring your Certificate of Alien Registration, passport and driver’s license.
    • For driver’s licences written in Persian, the applicant should take them to respective embassies for translation into Japanese. For more information, contact JAF personnel or Driver’s License Center.
  • Publication of “Rules of the Road
    • Available in English, Chinese, Korea, Portuguese and Spanish for 1000 yen.

Drinking and Driving

  • 0% TOLERANCE!
  • Even if you have only one drink, it is ILLEGAL to get behind the wheel of any motorised vehicle. This also includes scooters as well as bicycles. DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE!
  • Daiko is a special taxi service that brings you, your friends, and your car back to your residence at the cost of just over a taxi fare. Ask the local JETs for the Daiko number in your area.

Maintenance

  • Gas
    Many gas stations in Japan are full service, meaning you do not need to leave your car and they will pump your gas, clean your windows, collect any trash, and check your fluids and tires for you.  You just need to pull up and tell them  either “Mantan onegaishimasu” (fill up my tank please) or say, “# + sen en onegaishimasu” (# thousand yen please).
    They may ask if you will pay by “genkin” (cash) or “kaado” (credit card).

    There are self service stations, which usually offer gas a little cheaper They will have a sign by the road that says セルフ “serufu” (i.e. Self Service). Here you will pump the gas by yourself. Notice that fuel in Japan is color coordinated.

        • ⬛︎ Gas レギュラー (regyuraa)
                     This will most in likely be what you will use, its just regular gas.
        • ⬛︎ High Octane Gas ハイオク(haioku)
                     This is used mostly for luxury/sports cars. 
        • ⬛︎ Diesel 軽油 (keiyu)
                     ?WARNING? Many JETs who buy cars buy a type called Kei cars (light cars) It uses the same character as in diesel. That does not mean that you use keiyu (diesel) to fuel up. If your vehicle requires diesel you will be informed. Several JETs have made this mistake and ruined their engines.
        • ⬛︎ Kerosene 灯油 (touyu)
                     Usually those living in the countryside will make use of this more. As many buildings in Japan do not have great insulation you may need to use kerosene heaters to warm up your house. Kerosene will be labeled with blue.

 

Useful resources and communities for the LGBTQ+ people living in Ehime. Click Here

Information regarding churches and mosques in the prefecture. Click Here

Vegetarian & Vegan🌿

Being vegetarian in Japan can be a daily challenge. The concept is not commonplace and some people may not understand your restrictions or convictions. Even seemingly innocuous veggie dishes may contain dashi (a type of fish stock) or meat-based roux, and the Japanese person you are asking may not consider this meat. As a general rule, even if meat is an invisible ingredient and not a feature, the Japanese will probably call it “vegetarian”. However, with careful diligence and patient explanation, it is possible to remain a successful vegetarian or vegan in Japan.

General Tips
  • Bring your own dashi (soup stock/dipping sauce for noodles) to restaurants.
  • Local farmer’s markets are a great source of organic or low-pesticide produce. And the farmers selling them are a good source of information about how to cook what you’ve bought.
  • Onigiri (rice balls) are sold at the local convenience stores(conbini) and come in vegetarian flavours, such as ume (pickled plum).
  • “Kanten” is a natural jelly made from seaweed used in sweets. But be careful not to mix it up with gelatin, which is an animal product.
  • Rennet-less cheeses are mostly only available through Tengu.

School lunch in Japan is a fixed meal prepared in bulk for the entire school. Meat will be a daily, unavoidable staple and the menu cannot be altered to accommodate your diet. Establish as soon as you arrive that you will be bringing a bento (lunch box) to school instead, and start curating a selection of recipes you can prepare in the mornings or the evening before. Please note that some schools may not allow you to eat with your students if you bring in your own lunch.

Restaurants

  •  Matsuyama
    • Fumikaden
    • Kanjirushi
    • Vegrecar
  • Ozu
    • Sosaku Italian Restaurant
  • Imabari
    • Magnolia
  • Yoshida
    • Tandoor Indian Restaurant (Tandoru)

Online Shopping

  • iHerb
  • Yoyo Market
  • Tengu Natural Food
  • FBC
  • The Flying Pig
  • Warabe Mura – Located in Gifu-ken, this company specialises in natural whole foods without artificial additives, colourings or flavourings. All their products are completely dairy, egg, fish, and meat free. They also carry other products such as aromatherapy oils, toiletries, books, etc.
  •  
  • Japan Vegan Restaurant Pocketguide – a good guide to eating out as a vegan in the larger cities of Japan. When you are traveling this is well worth the money. It can be used it in Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Tokyo, and even the one listing in Shikoku for Magnolia. Great recommendations and the maps are actually useable.
  • VegJET – an AJET Special Interest Group of vegan, vegetarian, and veg-curious JETs. They support one another by sharing helpful resources, advice, recipe ideas, event postings, and more on their Facebook page.
  • Happy Cow  – A good way to search for vegetarian and vegan friendly restaurants, they also have an app for when you are on the go.  They include restaurant opening times, contact information, locations and reviews. Here’s the Matsuyama page.
  • “I am a vegetarian. I do not eat pork, beef, or chicken.”
    •  Watashi wa bejitarian desu. Butaniku ya gyuniku ya toriniku o taberaremasen.
      (To add more, ‘sakana’ means fish, ‘ebi’ means shrimp, etc etc…)
  • “What do you recommend from this menu?”
    • Kono menyu de o-susume wa nan desu ka?
  • “Does this have X meat in it?”
    • Kore wa X niku ga haite imasu ka?
  • “Can you make it without meat?”
    • Niku o irenai de tsukuremasu ka?
  • “Can I substitute X for Y?”
    • X no kawari ni Y o koukan dekimasu ka?
  • “Without X”
    • X nashi de

*This section is currently being updated. Please use the information here only as a guide. Did you choose to come to Japan partly because you love the Japanese Pop Culture scene? Want to geek out over your favorite manga or Japanese bands? Know aboslutely nothing about it? Whether you`re a self-described “otaku” or a newbie, there are plenty of ways to explore Japan`s Pop Culture. Hopefully this page will provide some inspiration, and you can ask your fellow JETs for recommendations, too.

Jpop / Jrock Concerts

With so many idol bands, rock groups, and singers out there in the industry, there is bound to be concert by your favoirte group playing at any given time. To help organize everything, Lawson’s convenience store puts out a free monthly “Ticket” magazine that lists all the concerts for the upcoming several months, where the groups are playing, how to purchase tickets, and when they go on sale. Most of the venues are centered around the major cities like Tokyo and Osaka, but occasionally you’ll find high profile bands performing in Matsuyama. You can pick up the magazine in any Lawson’s conbini. Alternatively, you can visit Lawson’s ticket website and search by group instead (Japanese only).

Purchase via Lawson’s Loppi

Once you’ve found the concert you want in the Lawson’s magazine, you can purchase concert tickets directly from Lawson’s website or from their dedicated Loppi machines which can be found in most Lawson’s combinis (look for the red ATM-like machine). Here`s an English guide for how to use the machines.

Purchase via Yahoo! Auctions

You may find very quickly that it is diffuclt to get tickets for high-profile bands (like Arashi or Exile) because the fan club will purchase most of the tickets before the general public can buy them. Another option is to get the tickets second-hand via Yahoo! Auctions. Instructions only in Japanese and you need a Japanese credit card.  

Major Music Festivals

Music festivals usually feature multiple days of rocking music, major label bands, and all-in-all great fun! In addition to Japanese bands, many foreign bands also perform here. These are just a couple to get you started. Tickets for these events can also be purchased through the Lawson’s Loppi machine.

Fuji Rock

http://www.fujirockfestival.com// Japan’s largest outdoor music event is a 3-day event that is held at Naeba Ski Resort, Niigata prefecture and features over 200 Japanese and international artists! This event is held annually at the end of July.

Summer Sonic

http://www.summersonic.com/2017/ Another of Japan’s major music events is a two-day event that takes place in both Osaka and Tokyo simultaneously at the beginning of August.

Tokyo Game Show

You’re a gamer. And you’re not just any gamer, you’re one of those hardcore gamers that always wanted to go a major video game expo and get your hands on the latest shiny console or be the first to test out that new stellar game with the eye-bleeding graphics that everyone is talking about. Well fortunately for you, you now live in Japan, the home of SquareEnix and Nintendo! Tokyo Game Show (TGS) is the third largest video game expo in the world. It is held annually in mid-September at Makuhari Messe in Chiba prefecture (just outside Tokyo proper and near Tokyo Disneyland). The first two days are for industry only, but the final two days allows the general public to attend. In addition to seeing promos and trailers for the new games, you’ll also be able to demo them! Of course, as you may expect, everything is in Japanese but that shouldn’t deter you in the slightest. All major video game companies attend TGS with the exception of Nintendo, which has its own exclusive convention. TGS is also a great place to check-out first hand Japanese cosplay at its finest! http://expo.nikkeibp.co.jp/tgs/2016/public/en/ (English)  

Anime / Manga Events

Comic Market (Comiket)

http://www.comiket.co.jp/ (Japanese) If you are a fan of “doujinshi” (fan manga) then this is the event for you. Comiket is not only Japan’s largest manga event, but the largest comic event in the world. It’s held biannually at Big Sight Tokyo, Odaiba. The Summer Comiket is by far the bigger event, with 35,000 artists and half a million attendees every year. Many of Japan’s well known mangaka had their humble beginnings here at Comiket. Due to its massive size, all artists selling works are listed in a telephone-sized guidebook (also known as the “Comiket Bible”) which also includes maps. This book can be preordered from your local manga store, like Animate. Expect to see some impressive cosplay at Comiket as well!

Anime Japan

http://www.anime-japan.jp/en/ Held annualy in March at Tokyo Big Sight in Odaiba. Like TGS, the first two days are for industry, and the last two days for the public. It’s one of the largest anime trade faires and is the best place to check out what`s new and upcoming.

Jump Festa

http://www.jumpfesta.com/ An anime/manga festival for all things Jump (as in Weekly Jump, the magazine that publishes Japan’s top manga like Bleach, Naruto, One Piece, etc.). It is a one-day event held in Tokyo in December. Manga artists are typically on hand to answer questions at panels, as well as preview new merchandise, animes, or even games.

Themed Cafes

Welcome to Japan, the country that has perfected specialized cafes to an artform.

Maid Cafes

Maid cafes feature cute waitresses dressed as maids and serving equally cute food (think of rice balls shaped into hearts or happy faces drawn from ketchup on omelets). The food at maid cafes can be slightly on the expensive side and usually consists of izukaya-style dishes. They are geared for the male populance though it is commonplace to see girls going too. You can find numerous maid cafes in most major cities, the most famous ones of course being in Akihabara, Tokyo. However, even Matsuyama has its own maid cafe called the “Merry Maid.” It is located on the 6th floor in the building across from Junkudo bookstore, near the end of Gintengai.

Cat Cafes

A place where you can enjoy a drink surrounded by adorable purebred furry friends. All cats at cat cafes are tame and you can play and cuddle them to your heart’s content. Usually you purchase 30-min blocks plus a drink. Again, cat cafes are most frequent in major cities, but there is one in Matsuyama! Neko Cafe RonRon is in Okaido.

Whether you are ending your JET tenure and wondering what to do with your plethora of wonderful goods or seeking to send care packages home, shipping might seem like a dauting task. Here we’ve gathered information on the most popular shipping services that you can utilize. Note: It’s very important that you check your home country’s shipping limitations. Even if the parcel is acceptable from Japanese shores, it may still be refused in foreign post offices due to violations in weight or size.

Things to Consider Before Shipping

Although your items are usually insured, as a general note, it`s best to send the less-precious belongings ahead and carry the very valuable with you as you never know what might happen along the way. Shop around a bit, as prices can vary considerably! Some companies charge a minimum fee for shipping, so check on this ahead of time.

  • The shipping companies like to have at least one month advance notice, as calculations on weight and shipping schedules need to be arranged. Start planning early so you don’t spend a fortune sending everything home by regular mail.
  • Packing your items in a cardboard box is generally sufficient…but don’t forget to select a STURDY box. Cardboard tears easily when wet, so think ahead to possible disasters that could arise en-route from Japan to home. If you’re sending something especially fragile or bulky, ask the company if a cardboard box is adequate protection. Ask ahead of time about size restriction…you don’t want to pack up everything nicely only to find that it won’t fit into the crate!
  • Buy an ample supply of bubble wrap and duct tape – check out homeware stores like Daiki. Pad everything with the bubble wrap, tape items closed that could open, use plastic bags to wrap the items that you wouldn’t want getting soiled or soggy and pack fragile items in smaller boxes to be placed in the big box. Tape the final box with several layers of duct tape.
  • When shipping items, ask about the insurance policies. Insurance policies can be taken out based on the value of your items and are normally charged at 1.5% of the total value of the contents. Discuss the details thoroughly with the company. It is best to keep a list of what was packed and what condition they were in at the time of packing. This is useful later if you need to claim insurance payments.
  • Remember that each country has its customs requirements as well as restrictions on items that can be brought into the country. As customs fees vary from country to country, you’ll need to inquire about the restrictions ahead of time. Your embassy can provide you with this information.
  • Where to get boxes: Japan Post Office, Daiki, etc. Big stores have an area where unused boxes are thrown away to get recycled. You can peruse them to see if any suit your needs. You could also ask at your school.

Shipping Companies

 

Reschedule Deliveries

If you’re an avid online shopper or are constantly getting care packages from home, you’ve probably encountered the “Notice of Item Non-Delivery” in your mailbox. If the parcel is being delivered through the Japan Post, chances are you’ll just have to go down to the local central post office to retrieve it (don’t forget to bring your notice and your gaijin card!) If you’re getting deliveries from other companies like Sagawa or Yamato Kuroneko though, you’ll probably have to reschedule delivery. Follow the instructions on the card – by phone, email, or company website – to reschedule a delivery time and date to suit you.  

Sending Suitcases to the Airport

When returning to your home country, you will probably wish to travel without heavy luggage. Convenient services are offered by several companies.

 

We know living in a foreign country is a tough experience. Just remember you’re not alone! In this section we’ve put together some guides to help you enjoy your time here in Ehime.

Banking

Whether it’s how to use the ATM or how to send money home, we’ll tell you how to do it!

Study

Japanese study is one of the main reasons people choose the JET Programme. EPIC and CLAIR both put out Japanese study courses, or you can find yourself a private tutor. You also have opportunities to study for TEFL qualifications.

Healthcare

Look here for everything you need to know about proper healtcare in Ehime.