Burnable household waste is collected twice a week on fixed day of the week, except holidays in principle.
Unburnable waste is once a month, bottles and empty cans are twice a month, PET bottles are once a month. They are collected on fixed day respectively. You should use exclusive waste bags to dispose bottles, empty cans and PET bottles. The bags are distributed to each home. You should punch a hole in spray cans.
Harmful waste is collected 4 times a year. You should use exclusive waste bags to dispose harmful waste. And, you should also use exclusive waste bags to dispose dry-cell batteries. Burnable bulky waste is collected 3 times a year.
For further information, please check ‘How to separate and put your domestic waste’, ‘Calendar of waste collecting’. Or, please inquire to ‘Environmental Improvement Division’. Any waste should be disposed on fixed day and place.
About year-ends and New-year-holidays, you can get information of collecting waste from Municipal PR Paper (Koho Ikoma).
(Inquiries) Environmental Improvement Division

We provide financial assistance within our budgetary constraints for the purchase of electric garbage disposal units, composting equipment, and sealed equipment. This assistance requires advance application. For details, inquire before purchase at the Environmental Improvement Division.
(Inquiries) Environmental Improvement Division

The Eco-Heart stores have been authorized by Ikoma City to handle environmentally friendly items with the objective of reducing waste and promoting recycling. They actively sell refillable products to enable the voluntary restraint of the use and sale of simple product packaging and disposable products. They also provide product repair services, strive to limit the use of paper in advertisements, accept empty cans for recycling, separate packaging material for disposal, and actively use and sell recycled products.
(Inquiries) Environmental Improvement Division

Ikoma has a scheme for preventing the improper disposal of empty cans and for reusing resources in which citizens can collect empty cans thrown away in the streets and rivers, place them in empty can recovery machines at community centers and stations, and receive stickers. When stickers for the equivalent of 500 cans have been collected and are presented at the Environmental Improvement Division, they can be exchanged for Eco-Heart vouchers. These vouchers can be used for 500 yen discounts at the roughly 100 Eco-Heart stores in Ikoma.

• The empty cans that can be recovered at empty can recovery machines
  Only empty beverage cans can be recovered. Do not insert any cans that are not empty. Do not bring empty cans from home. Dispose of these cans during the twice-monthly garbage collection for bottles and cans.
• Locations of empty can recovery machines
  The south exit of the Kintetsu Ikoma Station, the Kintetsu Higashi-Ikoma Station, the rotary at the Kintetsu Minami-Ikoma Station, the Minami Community Center, the Kita Community Center, the Ikoma City Public Hall Annex, the Shikanodai Public Hall

(Inquiries) Environmental Improvement Division

As a rule, we collect excreta once a month. You can get information of the schedule from Municipal PR Paper (Koho Ikoma).
When making a new application due to a move into the area, canceling due to moving away from the area, or there is a change in the number of recipients, bring your seal to the Environmental Improvement Division for notification.
If you need extra collecting, please contact ‘Environmental Improvement Division’.
(Inquiries) Environmental Improvement Division

Being different with kinds of digestor chamber, it should be inspected more than one time in three months or four months. And, it is required prefecture’s examination of water’s quality once a year. If you need a cleaning (more than once a year), contact ‘Waste Company of Ikoma City’ (Ikoma-shi Seisou-sha) (TEL 0743-74-0845).
(Inquiries) Environmental Improvement Division

Sewage treatment tanks are for the processing of kitchen waste water, laundry waste water and other household waste water. In addition to urine, these degrade river water quality. The city will provide financial assistance for the purchase of these tanks in households within our budgetary constraints. The areas receiving subsidies are those which are not anticipated to have this equipment for the present, either inside or outside of sewage planning districts. Homes built for sale and apartment houses do not qualify for subsidies. Those who would like to receive a subsidy must present an application before installation. Inquire at the Environmental Improvement Division in advance for details.
Amount of subsidy(fiscal 2007)
for five---¥332,000
for seven---¥414,000
for ten---¥548,000
(Inquiries) Environmental Improvement Division

All pet dogs at the age of 3 months or older must be registered one time in the lifetime. And they must be vaccinated against rabies once a year. You can get further information from Municipal PR Paper (Koho Ikoma).
(Inquiries) Environmental Management Division

Open: Every Friday, 8:30~10:30am (if it is holiday, it is next Friday)
You can take your dogs or cats to ‘Environment Management Division’. About the other pets, please ask the Public Health Center for advice.

• Place
  Nara-ken Koriyama Public Health Center (3-16, Uetsuki-cho, Yamato-koriyama City) TEL 0743-53-2701, FAX 0743-52-6095

(Inquiries) Environmental Management Division

We accept and cremate deceased pets for disposal. Bring them directly to City Hall. A fee of 500 yen will be charged.
(Inquiries) Environmental Management Division

We cannot live without equipment of Water Supply in our urban life. In order to supply‘Safe and delicious water’ constantly, we always inspect the water quality of all facilities such as a Water Purification Plant.
(Inquiries) Waterworks Bureau, General Affairs Division (TEL 0743-79-2800)

Water rates are the sum of basic charge and additional charge. Basic charge should be paid regardless of water-amount. Additional charge should be paid according to water-amount. Because of every-other-month measure system, you have to pay charge bimonthly.

List of rates Basic charge （per a month）

meter aperture	water-amount	sum of money
13 millimeters	until 8 cubic meters(basic water-amount)	¥890
20 millimeters		¥1,290
25 millimeters		¥1,930

Additional charge (per cubic meter)

water-amount	sum of money
9〜20 cubic meters	¥180
21〜50 cubic meters	¥205
51〜100 cubic meters	¥280
101〜500 cubic meters	¥340
501 cubic meters or more	¥380

N.B.1: Water rates are charged consumption tax extra.
N.B.2: If meter aperture is over 25 millimeters, please inquire to Waterworks Bureau.
(Inquiries) Waterworks Bureau, General Affairs Division, Business Section (in City Office,8-38, Higashi-Shinmachi, Ikoma City) TEL 0743-74- 2211

1. Payment using account transfer
   Payment by account transfer is extremely convenient. You do not have to go to a financial institution or convenience store to make a payment, and forgetting to make payments is not a problem. To perform the procedures for account transfer, apply directly at a financial institution that handles these transfers. When you do, bring the following.
• Required for applications
• Forms with the customer number, such as the water usage notification
• The account number
• Your personal seal for the financial institution
• Financial institutions handling account transfers
  Nanto Bank, Kansai Urban Bank, Bank of Kyoto, Kinki Osaka Bank, Mizuho Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Bank, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Resona Bank, Kyoto Chuo Shinkin Bank, Nara Shinkin Bank, Yamato Shinkin Bank, Nara Prefecture Agricultural Cooperatives, Post Offices
2. Payment using a payment slip
   Pay the amount written on the payment slip that has been sent to you by the payment date at financial institutions or convenience stores that handle payment, or the Ikoma Waterworks Bureau.
• Financial institutions handling payments
  Nanto Bank, Kansai Urban Bank, Bank of Kyoto, Kinki Osaka Bank, Mizuho Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Bank, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Resona Bank, Kyoto Chuo Shinkin Bank, Nara Shinkin Bank, Yamato Shinkin Bank, Nara Prefecture Agricultural Cooperatives
• Convenience stores handling payments
  am/pm, Cocostore, Community Store, Circle K, Sunkus, Three F, Save On, 7-Eleven, Daily Yamazaki, Yamazaki Daily Stores, Family Mart, Hot Spar, Poplar, Ministop, Lawson, Seikatsu Saika, Kurashi House, Every One, Spar Kyushu, Seicomart, Spar Hokkaido
• Ikoma Waterworks Bureau
• General Affairs Division, Business Section (City Hall, 3rd floor, Window #27)
• Mayumi Office (Mayumi Water Treatment Plant, 2-13-1 Mayumi, Ikoma)

1. Customer number
2. Year and month
3. Water rates
4. Sewerage system fee
5. Total amount
6. Due date for payment or date of transfer

(Inquiries) Waterworks Bureau, General Affairs Division, Business Section (in City Office,8-38, Higashi-Shinmachi, Ikoma City) TEL 0743-74- 2211

When starting or stopping the use of the water supply system, bring your seal (and the shutoff tag, when starting service) to the Waterworks Bureau General Affairs Division, Business Section (City Hall, 3rd floor, Window #27). Please be advised that condominiums and other similar buildings have single contracts for the entire building and not for each unit. Inquire at the Waterworks Bureau for details.
(Inquiries) Waterworks Bureau, General Affairs Division, Business Section (in City Office, 8-38, Higashi-Shinmachi, Ikoma City) TEL 0743-74- 2211

• Please shut stop-cock or valve of Meter-box and stop the water immediately.
• Please ask authorized waterworks undertaker for mending.

(Inquiries) Waterworks Bureau, Engineering Division, Management Section (13-1,Mayumi 2-chome, Ikoma City) TEL 0743-79-2800

Feed-water equipment include such equipment as the water pipes used to supply water to your house from the water supply pipes buried under the roads, and the devices attached to those water lines, including faucets, toilet fixtures, and water heaters.
The Waterworks Bureau owns and manages the water supply pipes buried under the roads. The feed-water equipment are your assets, so you are responsible for the expenses to modify or repair them. If there are any leakages on the roads, shutoff valves, or meter boxes, notify the Waterworks Bureau.
(Inquiries) Waterworks Bureau, General Affairs Division, Business Section (13-1,Mayumi 2-chome, Ikoma City) TEL 0743-79-2800

Recently, people impersonating Waterworks Bureau employees have approached households. They are very convincing in their impersonations, and clean the water pipes. They later demand large sums of money for this work. This has become a national problem. The Waterworks Bureau does not require or advise that the water pipes should be cleaned. It also does not clean water pipes inside the home at all. Additionally, if the water supply pipes do not emit dirt or foreign matter during the course of daily usage, inspections or cleaning are not required.
If you have any doubts, ask the person for identification as an Ikoma municipal employee, or contact the Waterworks Bureau.
(Inquiries) Waterworks Bureau, Engineering Division, Management Section (13-1,Mayumi 2-chome, Ikoma City) TEL 0743-79-2800

About Starting and stopping the use of Water Supply, water-amount, Water rates.
Waterworks Bureau, General Affairs Division, Business Section (in City Office, 13-1,Mayumi 2-chome, Ikoma City) TEL 0743-79-2800
About housing development
Waterworks Bureau, Engineering Division, Planning Section (in Mayumi Purification Plants, 13-1,Mayumi 2-chome, Ikoma City) TEL0743-79-2800
About Water main works
Waterworks Bureau, Engineering Division, Engineering Section (in Mayumi Purification Plants, 13-1,Mayumi 2-chome, Ikoma City) TEL 0743-79-2800
About water leak on the road, turbid water, low water pressure, repair and work of feed-water equipment, alloted charge for Water Supply
Waterworks Bureau, Engineering Division, Management Section (in Mayumi Purification Plants, 13-1,Mayumi 2-chome, Ikoma City) TEL 0743-79-2800
About water quality
Yamasaki Purification Plants (18-7, Yamasaki-cho, Ikoma City)TEL 0743-74-2216

The sewerage system is a basic part for keeping comfortable environment and nature beauty. We are promoting the spread and maintenance of a sewerage system in this city.
(Inquiries) Sewerage Works Division

Those who can use sewerage system should pay 400 yen per 1㎡ in proportion to the area as a part of building cost of sewerage system.
Paid land will not be required the fees.
(Inquiries) Sewerage Works Division

The expenses for maintaining and managing the sewer system to ensure the proper functioning of the sewer facilities are included in the sewage system usage fees. If you use the water supply system only, the volume of usage is considered waste water and the fees are calculated accordingly. The general usage fee for waste water is 100 yen per cubic meter, tax included.
(Inquiries) Sewerage Works Division

In Ikoma City, the voltage is 100V and the frequency is 60Hz. When you start or stop using, you must contact the Electric Power Company.

The Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc. -Homepage(Website)
( A Guide To Electricity– in English)
http://www.kepco.co.jp/english/guide/index.html

(Inquiries) Kansai Electric Power Co.,inc, Nara Branch (TEL 0742-36-1201)

There are public gas areas and liquefied petroleum (LP) gas areas. You cannot open the main valve of gas meter by yourself. When you start or stop using, you must call the Gas Company in advance.
And, you must check that your gas appliances match the gas type.

Osaka Gas Co.,Ltd. -Homepage(Website)
( Gus Safety Guide – in English)
http://www.osakagas.co.jp/safety/en/indexe.html

(Inquiries) Public Gas: Osaka Gas, the Northeast headquarters
TEL(toll-free-call) 0120-594817 (start and stop)
(Inquiries) Liquefied Petroleum (LP) gas: Agency nearby (If you live in an apartment house, you should contact the lessor.)

Private telephones are those connected to homes and companies. As in other countries public telephones are to be found near railway stations, in front of shops, etc. and require ¥10 or ¥100 coins. Telephone cards can also be used.
Ikoma City’s area code number is ‘0743’.
If you want to install or cancel a fixed telephone, call to ‘116’ (toll-free).
(Inquiries)NTT Nishi-Nihon

NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE WEST CORPORATION -Homepage(Website)
(Service Guide – in English)

With English language, NTT guides telephone numbers and the way of using telephone.
(Toll-free-call) 0120-364463
(Inquiries)NTT Nishi-Nihon

NTT Directory Services Co. -Homepage(Website)
(i Town Page – in English)
http://english.itp.ne.jp/

If you wish to apply to a company other than NTT, enquiries should be made to that company.
At present, mobile phones and PHS can be used in most areas. Since there are a number of mobile and PHS telephone companies, enquiries should be made directly to the company of your choice.

Japanese postal services are generally provided by post offices.
Besides post offices, post cards and stamps can be bought at shops displaying the post office symbol.
Post offices are located in every city, ward, town and village in Japan including sparsely populated areas.
In Japan, a 7-digit postal code is used. When sending mail within Japan use the postal code in order to have the mail delivered quickly and accurately to the addressee.

Postal Services Website
http://www.post.japanpost.jp/english/fee/index.html

• Services
  International/ Domestic mail, Savings, Sending money overseas, Payment of public utility charges, etc.
• Business hours
  (Weekday) 9am ~ 7pm,(Saturdays) 9am ~ 3pm,(Closed on Sundays and holidays)
  N.B.1: Business hours differ at each post office.
  N.B.2: ATM and CD operating hours are different from business hours.

(Inquiries)Ikoma Post Office(1234-1, Tanida-cho, Ikoma City)
Over all Mail Services TEL 0743-75-0053
Savings TEL 0743-75-0054

With English language, Post Office informs the services for foreigners.
(Osaka) TEL 06-6944-6245 (Everyday, 9:30am~4:30pm. Excepting national holidays.)

Personal identification such as a passport, driver’s license, certificate of alien registration etc. is required when opening a bank account.
There are several different kinds of savings (accounts); Futsu (Sogo) Yokin - Ordinary (General) Savings, Teiki Yokin - Fixed-Term Deposits, Toza Furikae Yokin - Checking (Savings), Tsumitate Yokin - Accumulative Savings.
If you open a bank account you can obtain a bankcard (cashing card). With a bankcard and a registered PIN (Personal Identity Number), you can withdraw cash, deposit cash, make a bank transfer, check your account balance, etc. at an ATM (Automatic Teller Machine).

• Services: Savings, Foreign exchange (sending money overseas, foreign money changing, traveler’s check, cash card), Payment of public utility charges, etc.
• Business hours
  (Weekday) 9am ~ 3pm
  Closed on Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays
  N.B.: ATM and CD operating hours differ at each bank.

Besides ordinary postal services, the post office also provides monetary services such as savings and (monetary) exchange.
The post offers Tsujo (Sogo) Chokin - Ordinary (General) Savings, Teikaku Chokin - Fixed-Sum Deposit Savings, Teiki Chokin - Fixed-Term Savings, Tsumitake Chokin - Accumulative Savings. These services are almost the same as those of the bank.
The limit an individual can deposit, the total sum of all accounts, is ¥10,000,000.

Postal Services Website
http://www.post.japanpost.jp/english/fee/index.html

In Japan, there are organizations in each district that are generally referred to as chonai-kai or jichi-kai. The chonai-kai or jichi-kai organize or supervise the kairanban (a file containing notices from public offices or the community attached to a clipboard, etc), and also organize festivals and disaster prevention activities.
Membership fees collected from each resident cover expenses incurred in running these activities.
In order to make a comfortable city that anyone will want to live in, we encourage the citizens to join the ‘Jichikai (neighbourhood association)’ that is an independent organization of citizens.
There are 119 associations as of April 1, 2006. To make their comfortable city, they cooperate at disasters or daily troubles. And they enjoy playing sports or cultural activities together in order to be their hometown warm-hearted.
(Inquiries) Community Promotion Division

We inform the citizen of various municipal information with Public information paper, municipal-office PR program, etc.
Inquiries: Public Relations Division

We publish ‘Koho Ikoma’ twice a month, on the 1st and the 15th. Our neighborhood community associations help by delivering them to each household. You can also view a PDF edition of Koho Ikoma on our website. Copies are also available at the primary public facilities in the city, as well as all train stations and post offices.
Inquiries: Public Relations Division

When someone close to you dies, it is usual to attend either the wake (tsuya) or the funeral (kokubetsushiki). Black clothing should be worn as a display of mourning. Men should wear a black tie.
Money should be enclosed in special envelopes for the occasion (fushugi bukuro) (sold at stationary shops) and brought to the wake or funeral.
When a member of the family dies, the type of funeral will depend on the religion of the individual or family. In Japan cremation is usual. Undertakers (sogiya) carry out funeral services. Since fees vary according to the type of funeral, it is important to check with the undertaker.

To use the crematorium, make a reservation in advance to obtain a crematorium use permit at the Environmental Management Division. Submit a death certificate at the Citizen's Affairs Division, and you will be issued a cremation authorization certificate and a crematorium use permit. After receiving authorization, take the certificate and the permit to the crematorium right away.
(Inquiries) Environmental Management Division

We provide consultation for any problems involving door-to-door sales contracts, or problems involving personal consumption, such products, shopping, or services.

• Reception hours
  Reception is held from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on weekdays. It is not held on Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, and the period from December 29 to January 3.

(Inquiries) Ikoma Consumers' Center (in Ikoma Seisei Building, 6-12,Moto-machi 1-chome Ikoma City)TEL 0743-73-0550

• Type of consultation: Consultation for problems that must be resolved with legal expertise
• Location: Life Security Division
• Days: 1:00 p.m. to 4:10 p.m. every Friday and the fourth Tuesday of every month.
• Persons in charge: Attorneys affiliated with the Nara Bar Association

(Inquiries) Life Security Division

• Type of consultation: Consultation regarding such matters as threats from criminal gangs and injuries incurred due to violence
• Location: Life Security Division
• Days: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the month
• Persons in charge: Personnel sent from the Police Department

N.B.: Consultations are for 20 minutes and are by appointment. Make an appointment one week in advance.
(Inquiries) Life Security Division