I would like to complete a procedure
手続きをしたいです。
Tetsuzuki o shitai desu.
I would like to complete a procedure.
A safe opening phrase at almost any counter.
Life Japanese
City Hall Japanese: forms, residence cards, health insurance, and calm counter language.
City hall is where life in Japan becomes paperwork. You may need to register an address, show your residence card, join health insurance, request certificates, ask about taxes, or confirm which document is missing.
This page teaches practical language. City procedures vary by municipality. Always confirm requirements with the local city, ward, town, or village office.
City hall rule: Do not guess. Ask what document is needed, confirm the procedure, and write down the next step.
Start here
The safest city hall phrases
These phrases are useful at municipal offices, ward offices, city halls, immigration-adjacent counters, insurance counters, tax counters, and certificate windows.
What is needed?
何が必要ですか。
Nani ga hitsuyou desu ka.
What is needed?
Use this when you are unsure about documents.
Please let me confirm
確認させてください。
Kakunin sasete kudasai.
Please let me confirm.
Useful before leaving the counter.
Could you write it down?
書いていただけますか。
Kaite itadakemasu ka.
Could you write it down?
Very useful when the instructions are too fast.
One more time, please
もう一度お願いします。
Mou ichido onegai shimasu.
One more time, please.
Use this when you missed part of the explanation.
Slowly, please
ゆっくりお願いします。
Yukkuri onegai shimasu.
Slowly, please.
A practical phrase for real counter stress.
City hall flow
A safe counter conversation
Most city hall visits follow a pattern: explain the purpose, show documents, fill out a form, confirm what is missing, and ask what happens next.
01
Address registration
Moving in, moving out, address change, and residence registration.
02
Documents
Residence card, passport, forms, certificates, and missing documents.
03
Insurance and pension
National health insurance, pension questions, premiums, and notices.
04
Certificates and taxes
Residence certificate, tax certificates, payment notices, and official copies.
Address registration
Moving in, moving out, or changing address
Address procedures are among the most common city hall tasks. Learn these phrases before going.
Address change
住所変更の手続きをしたいです。
Jūsho henkō no tetsuzuki o shitai desu.
I would like to complete the address-change procedure.
Moving in
転入届を出したいです。
Tennyū todoke o dashitai desu.
I would like to submit a moving-in notification.
Moving out
転出届を出したいです。
Tenshutsu todoke o dashitai desu.
I would like to submit a moving-out notification.
Moving within the city
転居届を出したいです。
Tenkyo todoke o dashitai desu.
I would like to submit a change-of-address notification within the city.
Documents
Ask what is needed before waiting in the wrong line.
City hall procedures often require identification and specific forms. Learn to ask clearly.
Residence card
在留カードを持っています。
Zairyū kādo o motte imasu.
I have my residence card.
Passport
パスポートも必要ですか。
Pasupōto mo hitsuyō desu ka.
Is my passport also needed?
Missing document
足りない書類は何ですか。
Tarinai shorui wa nan desu ka.
What document is missing?
Form
この用紙に記入すればいいですか。
Kono yōshi ni kinyū sureba ii desu ka.
Should I fill out this form?
Where to submit?
どこに提出すればいいですか。
Doko ni teishutsu sureba ii desu ka.
Where should I submit it?
Copy
コピーが必要ですか。
Kopī ga hitsuyō desu ka.
Is a copy needed?
Health insurance and pension
Insurance language is city hall survival language.
Foreign residents may need to ask about national health insurance, pension, premiums, payment slips, exemptions, notices, or changes. The exact rules depend on your situation, so language for asking is essential.
国民健康保険について聞きたいです。
Kokumin kenkō hoken ni tsuite kikitai desu.
I would like to ask about National Health Insurance.
This phrase gets you to the right topic without needing a complicated explanation.
Certificates and taxes
Requesting official documents
Many procedures require certificates. Learn the names and simple request phrases.
Residence certificate
住民票を取りたいです。
Jūminhyō o toritai desu.
I would like to get a residence certificate.
Tax certificate
課税証明書が必要です。
Kazei shōmeisho ga hitsuyō desu.
I need a tax certificate.
How many copies?
一通お願いします。
Ittsū onegai shimasu.
One copy, please.
Fee
手数料はいくらですか。
Tesūryō wa ikura desu ka.
How much is the fee?
Tax notice
この通知について確認したいです。
Kono tsūchi ni tsuite kakunin shitai desu.
I would like to confirm about this notice.
Payment
どこで支払えばいいですか。
Doko de shiharaeba ii desu ka.
Where should I pay?
Counter conversation
Model city hall conversation
This is a simple pattern you can adapt for many city hall visits.
すみません。住所変更の手続きをしたいです。
在留カードを持っています。
他に必要な書類はありますか。
この用紙に記入すればいいですか。
最後に、確認させてください。
在留カードを持っています。
他に必要な書類はありますか。
この用紙に記入すればいいですか。
最後に、確認させてください。
Sumimasen. Jūsho henkō no tetsuzuki o shitai desu.
Zairyū kādo o motte imasu.
Hoka ni hitsuyō na shorui wa arimasu ka.
Kono yōshi ni kinyū sureba ii desu ka.
Saigo ni, kakunin sasete kudasai.
Zairyū kādo o motte imasu.
Hoka ni hitsuyō na shorui wa arimasu ka.
Kono yōshi ni kinyū sureba ii desu ka.
Saigo ni, kakunin sasete kudasai.
Excuse me. I would like to complete an address-change procedure.
I have my residence card.
Are there any other documents needed?
Should I fill out this form?
Finally, please let me confirm.
I have my residence card.
Are there any other documents needed?
Should I fill out this form?
Finally, please let me confirm.
When you are confused
Recovery phrases for city hall
City hall explanations can be fast. These phrases help you slow the moment down.
I do not understand well
すみません、よく分かりません。
Sumimasen, yoku wakarimasen.
Sorry, I do not understand well.
Could you say it again?
もう一度言っていただけますか。
Mō ichido itte itadakemasu ka.
Could you please say it one more time?
Could you explain simply?
簡単に説明していただけますか。
Kantan ni setsumei shite itadakemasu ka.
Could you explain simply?
Can I come back later?
後日また来てもいいですか。
Gojitsu mata kite mo ii desu ka.
May I come back another day?
Resident philosophy
City hall Japanese is dignity language.
At city hall, language becomes practical independence. You are not studying for elegance. You are trying to understand what document is needed, what form to fill out, what fee to pay, and what happens next.
A few calm phrases can change the experience: “What is needed?” “Could you write it down?” “Please let me confirm.” These are small sentences, but they help you stand on your own.
Practice path
What to practice next
Remember this
Before you leave the counter, confirm the next step.
Ask what is needed. Ask where to submit it. Ask when to return. Ask them to write it down if necessary.