Unlike Singapore, Japan consists of 47 prefectures and in each of these prefectures, many cities. In Singapore, it’s a lot less hassle to switch jobs since you don’t have to move while in Japan, if you’re getting work in another prefecture that’s further than the distance between Gifu and Aichi, chance is you’d be getting a new apartment.
Often, you might be asked when you’d like to start work at your new job (unless you’re gonna be an ALT). In this case, I would suggest that you choose a date that gives you at least a weekday off. This means, if your last day at the current job ends on a Friday, do not start work on the following Monday. Tuesday would be a better bet. Why?
When you move, you have to inform your city’s ward office of your intention to leave the city prior to your departure and when you arrive at the new city, you also have to inform the new city’s ward office of your arrival. The problem is, the opening hours of these ward offices are probably the same, if not shorter, than your working hours and they only open on weekdays. Of course, you could probably ask to leave work a little earlier or arrive a little later to get it settled but, it’s always better and easier to do it at your own time, right?
UPDATE: Thanks to a friend, Beat, I’ve learnt that some ward offices have taken into account the difficulty of working personnels in visiting them on weekdays, they open on certain weekends as well. So, find out more about the city you’re moving to on their website before you ask to leave work early to get things settled. And although the websites state that you have to inform them of your departure 14 days from the date you are leaving, it seems that it is alright to skip this step since the new ward office staff would update the information for you when you register with them.
How about renting an apartment? Do one need to inform the city’s ward office as well?
You’ll actually inform the ward office after you get an apartment. The purpose is to tell them your new address so that they can update it on your registration card and that they know you’ve moved into their area of administration.
Hmm … how do I go about doing that? I will need to visit their ward office personally? Also, about the alien registration card, where will I be able to get one? Not sure if you have mentioned it elsewhere (my memory’s failing me ><), so thanks if you could share! 🙂
Yes, you have to be there personally.
When you first arrive in Japan, you’ll have to go to your city’s ward office to apply for the alien registration card.
Jinhan-san, please continue to share such useful advice on your blog! Is there a way to ask you questions without going through the comments page? I am applying for a language course in Japan and if that is successful, I will probably have tons of questions for you!
Hey!
Well, if you don’t mind I could send a mail to your gmail account and you could send me questions from there.
Hi Jinhan-san, yes please do that ! Thank you!