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| 1. Apartment 2. Car 3. Internet 4. Sanity |
| RENT & GARAGE The rent is relatively inexpensive (it's the cheapest I've ever had to pay for an apartment!), as about half the rent is subsidized by the Toyooka Board of Education. The landlady is Morita-san; her son was my supervisor at the BOE my first year here. I rarely ever see Morita-san, as rent is collected by the BOE, and if there were any problems with the apartment, the BOE would act as go-betweens. Basically, the apartment is managed by the BOE. I usually pay the BOE in person & in cash, on or around payday (the 21st of each month). * If you decide to drive, you will have to pay for a parking space (due to the scarcity of land, all cars in Japan are required by law to have a space to park -- garage or otherwise). Luckily, Kahiro-so comes with a car-port with lockable garage doors. Unfortunately, the monthly fee for the garage space is a bit pricey. This money is also collected by the BOE. If you want to know how much I pay per month for rent and garage, e-mail me. * There's also another monthly charge: the neighborhood fee (I believe it's called kuhi), and this covers management of the neighborhood. The fee is 500 yen/month, and it's usually collected every two months (thus 1000 yen at a time). Yamamoto-san, the woman who runs the small beauty salon downstairs, and who lives in the neighboring building, is in charge of collecting the money. She usually approaches me and asks for the money. * As for key money, deposits, or phone installation, you don't have to pay anything; everything is taken care of for you! |
| THE APARTMENT page 2 |
| BILLS & BANKING You will be responsible for paying for utilities -- gas, electricity, water, and phone. When the BOE and the school help you set up your banking account (I have an account with Tajima Bank; they're really good), you have the option of having your utility bills paid for directly out of your bank account. I found this to be very convenient, and it spared me the hassle of going to the bank or post office every month to pay for all my bills. Long-distance phone bills were the only bills I paid for, in person, at the bank or post office. * Both the bank and Toyooka's main post office are near the apartment; indeed, Kahiro-so is very convenient! The nearest cash machine is located in Co-op; as such, it keeps the same operation hours as Co-op. GARBAGE Every neighborhood in Japan has at least one gomi station, where residents leave their trash to be collected on designated days. My predecessor was extremely helpful, but she forgot to tell me the gomi information, so my first month I was leaving rubbish on random nights at random gomi stations; probably to the dismay of all my neighbors. Here is the sign from the gomi station at which I've been leaving my rubbish (and I do believe this is the correct place): |
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| (4) |
| (1) BURNABLE trash is collected every Tuesday and Friday morning. (2) NON-BURNABLE trash, such as batteries, plastics, electronics, and large objects, such as furniture, are collected once a month, on the fourth Wednesday. (3) CANS & GLASS BOTTLES are collected twice a month, on the first and third Wednesdays. (4) PLASTIC BOTTLES (a.k.a. "PET" bottles) are collected once a month, on the fourth Saturday. * Always take out the trash by 8 a.m. on the designated mornings (don't leave the trash out the night before, or else cats & vermin will make a mess and little old ladies will scold you) * There are special trash bags (each town has their own) that you are supposed to use. I'll leave some for you. |
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