LIVING IN KANAZAWA

Banks and Postal Services

BANKS

With a bank account, you can make deposits and withdrawals, and use the bank’s ATMs to withdraw/deposit money. If you need a cash card, you should apply for it when you open an account.
In order to open an account, you will need your Alien Registration Card (or other form of ID) and your seal (hanko). Some banks let foreign customers open an
account with their signature instead of a seal.

Generally bank hours are as follows:
Bank : 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. on weekdays
(closed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays)
ATM machine: 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
--- Most ATMs are available on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays though some fee may be charged depending on the day and time.

Your utility bills (electricity, gas, water, NHK subscription fee, etc.) can be paid by automatic withdrawal from your bank account. Procedures for this service can be done through each agency when or after you start to receive service.

Post Offices also offer a savings account system, also with automatic payment options and cash cards. ATMs are available at each post office and many other places as bank ATMs.

You can change money in banks. The following banks are close to the campuses:
Kakuma Campus: Asahi-machi branch, Hokkoku Bank
Takara-machi Campus or Kodatsuno Campus:
Kodatsuno branch, Hokkoku bank or Kodatsuno branch, Hokuriku bank

POSTAL SERVICES / HOME DELIVERY SERVICES

The Post Office (Parcel Post)

Letters can be posted at the red post boxes around town. Look for the

mark, which signifies a post office, a post box, or a shop which sells stamps.
To send parcels or money, you should go to a post office. There is a post office in Kakuma, next to the Co-op store.

For domestic delivery of packages, the home delivery service (takuhaibin) is useful. You can drop off a package at a delivery service agent or a convenience store. A service man will even come and pick up your package if you phone a delivery company.

Major companies providing home delivery service are:
Pelican-bin: Nippon Express Co. Ltd. (TEL: 0120-41-0202)
Kuroneko-Yamato: Morinosato Branch of Yamato Transport Co. Ltd. (TEL: 263-8510)

International Mail rates vary according to the destination. Please check at your local post office. The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications provides information about postal services in English by telephone. (Tel: 262-2325, Hours: 9:30 - 16.30, Monday through Friday) They also provide various information about their services on the Web site (Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications [Japanese]/[English]).

Most post offices are open 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays (closed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays) The Central Post Office (1-1 Sanja, Kanazawa) is open 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on weekdays, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays, and 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Sundays and public holidays (Express mail and registered mail services are available 24 hours a day). In addition to being sold at the post office, stamps are available at convenience stores.