Yokohama Current Events & Activities

From Feb., onward a parking fee will be charged at City Hall or Ward Offices after one hour. Kohoku Ward office begins in June and Totsuka, Seya, and Nishi Ward Offices will begin after earthquake-proofing construction is completed.
Fee: per 30 min
Mon-Fri, except holidays:
8:00-17:30 \250, 8:45-17:15 (for each portion exceeding 3hrs) \300, 17:30-24:00 \300,
24:00-8:00 \100,
Sat, Sun, Holidays, and Dec.29-Jan.3:
8:00-24:00 \300, 24:00-8:00 \100
Inquiries: City Hall Parking: Administrative Management and Coordination Bureau, General Affairs Division (045) 671-2082 (*J)
http://www.city.yokohama.jp/me/shimin/chiiki/yuryo/
Ward Offices Parking: Civic Engagement Promotion Bureau, Regional Facilities Division (045) 671-2086 (*J)

As an emergency economic measure by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the Women’s Cancer Checkup Promotion Program will be implemented in FY2009 by local governments across Japan. The City of Yokohama sent free cancer checkup coupons to those who were eligible for this program on September 15. With these coupons, you will receive specifically designated cancer checkups arranged by the City free of charge. Please plan ahead and book for checkups as appointments are sometimes difficult to obtain. The coupons are valid until March 31, 2010.
Inquiries: Call Center (045) 664-2631

Scholastic loans, namely: ①loan to enter school ②loans to obtain qualifications such as for driving school, and ③preparation fees are available for children of single-mother and widowed mother households who are planning to enter high school, junior college, university, or technical college.*Recipients will be selected based on results of a screening. *Please inquire regarding maximum loan amounts.
To Apply: Please go directly to your local Ward Office’s Fukushi-Hoken Center. *Bring Certificate for income and withholding tax or a final tax return. (when not available please bring pay slips for the latest 3 months)
Application Period: When applying for ①and③ or ②and③ at the same time: Feb.1-Mar.5
When applying for only③:until Mar.5
When applying ①or② only: after Apr.1
Application &Inquiries: Fukushi-Hoken Center at each ward office or child and Youth Bureau. (045) 671-2395 (*J) Fax (045) 681-0925

Lottery registration will be accepted for the waiting list to enter family units. Income restrictions apply. Financial aid is available is for those who are eligible. For vacant housing units will be provided on a first come first served basis.
To Apply: Fill out an application form available at the Information Services Section (Koho-sodan kakari) of your local Ward Office, the Office of Public Information Access (1F of City Hall) or the Administrative Service Center.
*Application form and Envelope with return address will be available from Jan.15- Jan.29.
Application Period: Jan.15-Jan.29 *Entries are postmarked by Jan.29.
Application& Inquiries: (045) 451-7766 (*J) Fax (045) 451-7707

Please note that City Hall, all ward offices, and administrative service corners will be closed from Dec.29 to Jan.3, 2010 for the New Year holiday.

You can get advice from specialists such as a lawyer for legal matters at the Public Counseling Office. Appointments required. For Consultation during the period from Jan.5, 2010 (Tue) to Jan.8, 2010 (Fri), appointments are available 2 weeks prior to the date of the desired consultation. *We begin taking appointments for Jan.6 (Wed) on Dec.24 (Thu).
Location: Public Counseling Office at City Hall (2 min walk from Kannai Stn)
Fee: Free
Application and Inquiries: (045) 671-2306 (*J), Fax (045) 663-3433
If you need an interpreter, please inquire with YOKE at (045) 222-1209.

Goodwill Ambassadors wanted for participation in promotion activities for Yokohama and other public events.
Eligibility: Those who are 18 yrs or older by April 1, 2010 and live or have foreign registration in Yokohama at the time of application. Participants must be able to attend 40 activities a year, including some overnight trips, and must have basic knowledge of tourism, history of the region and familiarity with the municipal government of Yokohama. Those who can communicate in a foreign language are preferable (foreign-national participants must be able to converse in Japanese).
Limit: 3 persons
Period of Assignment: Apr.1, 2010-Mar.31, 2011
Screening Date & Place: Jan.30, 2010 (Sat), 9:00-17:00 at Yokohama Kaiko KinenKaikan (1 min walk from Nihon Odori Stn of Minatomirai Line)
To Apply: Fill out an application form available at Tourist Information Center, Ward Office Information Service Section (Kuyakusho Koho-Sodan Kakari), or download a form from http://www.welcome.city.yokohama.jp
Application Period:-Jan.12, 2010. *Application must be received by Jan.12, 2010. Please send the application form to 〒231-0023 Naka-ku, Yamashitacho 2 Sanbo Center 1F, Yokohama Convention Bureau, Yokohama Goodwill Ambassador Kakari or bring it directly to the Yokohama Convention Bureau.
Inquiries: (045) 211-1203, Fax (045)641-7485

Municipal Libraries will be closed from Dec.29-Jan.3, 2010 for the New Year Holiday. On Dec.28, they will be closed at 17:00 and open again at noon on Jan.4, 2010. *This includes the temporary window at Kanazawa Library. Kanazawa Library will be closed for quakeproofing until the beginning of April (planned).
Inquiries: (045) 262-7334(*J), Fax (045) 262-0052

All procedures regarding E-Certification at ward offices will stop after 5:00pm on Dec.25 (Fri) and all day on Dec.28 (Mon) for renewal of the Public Certification Service System for Individuals operated by the Local Authorities Satellite Communications Organization. *The period from Dec.29-Jan.3, 2010 is the New Year holiday. For more details, inquire at the Registration Section of your local ward office
Inquiries: (045) 671-4330 (*J), Fax (045) 228-2427

If you are thinking of purchasing an electric compost bin for family-use, half of the cost may be reimbursed (\10,000 maximum)
Limit: 2,000 bins *First come, first served.
Eligibility: Those who live in the City of Yokohama
To Apply: Those who are planning to apply must call the Resource and Waste Recycling Bureau for information at 045-671-3816 (*J)