UNIT 8
City Hall, Address & Basic Procedures
City Hall, Address & Basic Procedures
Lesson 1: Going to City Hall
しやくしょにいく — Navigating Your Local Government Office
⏱️ About 25 minutes ／ 📊 Level: Beginner (N5) ／ 🗣️ Speaking + Reading
Before You Start
At some point, almost everyone who lives in Japan needs to visit their local government office — to register their address, change personal records, or request official documents. In this lesson you will learn the essential phrases to find the right place, say what you need, and get started with any procedure.
What you will learn:
- Ask where city hall is — 市役所はどこですか
- Ask where the ward office is — 区役所はどこですか
- Find reception and counters — 受付はどこですか / 窓口はどこですか
- Say you want to do a procedure — 手続きをしたいです
- Request a residence certificate — 住民票がほしいです
- Understand the number ticket system — 番号札を取ってください
1. Key Phrases ／ きほんのフレーズ
市役所はどこですか。
Shiyakusho wa doko desu ka.
Where is city hall?
区役所はどこですか。
Kuyakusho wa doko desu ka.
Where is the ward office?
受付はどこですか。
Uketsuke wa doko desu ka.
Where is reception?
窓口はどこですか。
Madoguchi wa doko desu ka.
Where is the counter?
手続きをしたいです。
Tetsuzuki o shitai desu.
I want to do a procedure.
住民票がほしいです。
Juuminhyoo ga hoshii desu.
I would like a residence certificate.
番号札を取ってください。
Bangoo fuda o totte kudasai.
Please take a number ticket.
2. Phrase Notes ／ ポイント
① 市役所 vs 区役所 — which one do I go to?
市役所 (shiyakusho) is a city hall, serving an entire city like Nagoya or Osaka. 区役所 (kuyakusho) is a ward office — a branch serving one ward (区) within a large city. For daily administrative tasks, most residents use their nearest 区役所 rather than the main 市役所.
② 受付 vs 窓口 — two types of counters
受付 = general reception — where you go first to be directed to the right place. 窓口 = a specific service counter where you actually complete your procedure. Always start at the 受付 if you’re unsure.
③ 住民票 — an essential document
The 住民票 (juuminhyoo) is a certificate of residence listing your name, address, and date of birth. It is required for many procedures in Japan — opening a bank account, signing a lease, enrolling children in school, and more. It costs 300–400 yen and takes about 10 minutes to issue.
④ 番号札 — the number ticket system
Most Japanese government offices use a number ticket system. When you enter, you take a 番号札 (number slip) from a machine, then sit and wait until your number is called or displayed on a screen. This is why you’ll often hear or see: 番号札を取ってください.
⚠️ Common Mistake
Don’t confuse 手続きをしたいです (I want to do a procedure) with 手伝ってください (please help me). They sound similar but have very different meanings. 手続き = procedure / paperwork. 手伝い = help / assistance.
Don’t confuse 手続きをしたいです (I want to do a procedure) with 手伝ってください (please help me). They sound similar but have very different meanings. 手続き = procedure / paperwork. 手伝い = help / assistance.
3. City Hall Words ／ しやくしょのことば
🏛️ Offices & Counters
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 市役所 | shiyakusho | city hall |
| 区役所 | kuyakusho | ward office |
| 受付 | uketsuke | reception |
| 窓口 | madoguchi | service counter |
| 番号札 | bangoo fuda | number ticket |
📄 Common Documents & Procedures
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 手続き | tetsuzuki | procedure / paperwork |
| 住民票 | juuminhyoo | residence certificate |
| 住所変更 | juusho henkoo | address change |
| 在留カード | zairyuu kaado | residence card (for foreign nationals) |
4. Conversation Practice ／ かいわ
💬 Conversation 1 — I Want to Do a Procedure
💬 Conversation 2 — Residence Certificate
💬 Conversation 3 — Where Is the Counter?
💬 Conversation 4 — Finding City Hall
5. Vocabulary ／ たんご
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 市役所 | shiyakusho | city hall |
| 区役所 | kuyakusho | ward office |
| 受付 | uketsuke | reception |
| 窓口 | madoguchi | service counter |
| 手続き | tetsuzuki | procedure / paperwork |
| 住民票 | juuminhyoo | residence certificate |
| 番号札 | bangoo fuda | number ticket |
| 住所変更 | juusho henkoo | address change |
| 在留カード | zairyuu kaado | residence card |
6. Check Your Understanding ／ クイズ
Think about each question first. Answers and explanations are shown below.
Q1. What does 「市役所はどこですか。」 mean?
A. Where is the station? B. Where is city hall? C. Where is the hospital? D. Where is the bank?
Answer: B
市役所はどこですか = “Where is city hall?” 市役所 = city hall. 区役所 = ward office (a branch within a large city).
市役所はどこですか = “Where is city hall?” 市役所 = city hall. 区役所 = ward office (a branch within a large city).
Q2. What is the difference between 受付 and 窓口?
A. They mean the same thing. B. 受付 = general reception; 窓口 = service counter. C. 受付 = counter; 窓口 = reception. D. 受付 = form; 窓口 = certificate.
Answer: B
Go to 受付 first to be directed. Then go to the specific 窓口 for your procedure. Always start at the 受付 if you are unsure where to go.
Go to 受付 first to be directed. Then go to the specific 窓口 for your procedure. Always start at the 受付 if you are unsure where to go.
Q3. How do you say “I want to do a procedure”?
A. 住民票がほしいです。 B. 番号札を取ってください。 C. 手続きをしたいです。 D. 受付はどこですか。
Answer: C
手続きをしたいです = “I want to do a procedure.” Use this as your opening line when you arrive and are directed to explain what you need.
手続きをしたいです = “I want to do a procedure.” Use this as your opening line when you arrive and are directed to explain what you need.
Q4. What is a 住民票?
A. A number ticket. B. A health insurance card. C. A form to fill out. D. A residence certificate.
Answer: D
住民票 = residence certificate. It shows your registered name and address. Required for bank accounts, leases, school enrollment, and many other procedures.
住民票 = residence certificate. It shows your registered name and address. Required for bank accounts, leases, school enrollment, and many other procedures.
Q5. The staff says 「番号札を取ってください。」 What should you do?
A. Fill out the form. B. Go to a different counter. C. Take a number ticket. D. Show your ID.
Answer: C
番号札を取ってください = “Please take a number ticket.” Take one from the machine and sit down. Wait until your number is called or appears on the display.
番号札を取ってください = “Please take a number ticket.” Take one from the machine and sit down. Wait until your number is called or appears on the display.
Q6. How do you say “I would like a residence certificate”?
A. 手続きをしたいです。 B. 窓口はどこですか。 C. 住民票がほしいです。 D. 受付はどこですか。
Answer: C
住民票がほしいです = “I would like a residence certificate.” 〇〇がほしいです = “I would like 〇〇” — a polite way to request something.
住民票がほしいです = “I would like a residence certificate.” 〇〇がほしいです = “I would like 〇〇” — a polite way to request something.
7. Match the Meaning ／ れんしゅう
市役所はどこですか。 → ______
区役所はどこですか。 → ______
受付はどこですか。 → ______
窓口はどこですか。 → ______
手続きをしたいです。 → ______
住民票がほしいです。 → ______
番号札を取ってください。 → ______
Choices: A. Where is the counter? B. I want to do a procedure. C. Where is city hall? D. Please take a number ticket. E. Where is the ward office? F. I would like a residence certificate. G. Where is reception?
Answers: 市役所はどこですか = C ／ 区役所はどこですか = E ／ 受付はどこですか = G ／ 窓口はどこですか = A ／ 手続きをしたいです = B ／ 住民票がほしいです = F ／ 番号札を取ってください = D
🚀 Mini Mission
Today’s mission: Practice the city hall arrival sequence in Japanese.
Practice this sequence with your teacher:
区役所はどこですか。／ 受付はどこですか。／ 手続きをしたいです。／ 住民票がほしいです。／ ありがとうございます。
📘 Review ／ まとめ
In this lesson you learned the key phrases for finding and navigating a Japanese city hall or ward office.
市役所はどこですか。(Where is city hall?)
手続きをしたいです。(I want to do a procedure.)
住民票がほしいです。(I’d like a residence certificate.)
番号札を取ってください。(Please take a number ticket.)
手続きをしたいです。(I want to do a procedure.)
住民票がほしいです。(I’d like a residence certificate.)
番号札を取ってください。(Please take a number ticket.)
💡 Key tip: Always go to 受付 first. Say 手続きをしたいです and then name what you need. Staff will direct you to the right 窓口 and tell you to take a 番号札.
FAQ
Q. Do I need to go to city hall or the ward office?
For everyday administrative tasks — address registration, residence certificates, national health insurance — go to your nearest 区役所 (ward office). It’s smaller and faster than the main 市役所. You can also check your city’s website to find which office handles which procedure.
Q. What documents should I bring to the ward office?
For most procedures, bring your 在留カード (residence card, for foreign nationals) and your マイナンバーカード (My Number card) if you have one. For a 住民票, you just need your residence card. When in doubt, ask: 何が必要ですか (“What do I need?”).
Q. What are typical city hall opening hours?
Most ward offices are open Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:15 PM. Some have extended hours on certain weekdays or offer limited Saturday service. Many procedures can now also be done at convenience store kiosks (コンビニ交付) using your My Number Card — 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
🏛️ Practice with a real teacher
Want to Practice with a Teacher?
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