Useful information for Americans in Nagoya Japan
Driver's license
In order to get a Japanese driver's license, it doesn't help much having a current license from the States. You will still have to go to the Aichi Prefecture Driver's License Examination Center, 2845 Kuroishi, Hirabari, Tenpaku-ku, Tel. No. (052) 801-3211, and pass all tests.
The closest subway stop to the center is Hirabari Station on the Tsurumai Line. From the station, it is about a 5-minute bus/taxi ride to the center. Make sure to call in Japanese in advance. When you do go, make sure you take your passport; Alien Registration Card; and a black or white or color photograph 3 cm x 2.4 cm with plain background (bust-type photo) without headwear or dark glasses. Photos can be purchased at the center as well. To get your license, you must take and pass a written and driver's test. There are fees for both. There are also written and driving tests for motorcycles.
To study for the tests, it is a good idea to obtain Rules of the Road published by the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF), Aichi Jidosha Kaikan, Higashikan, 29-19, Takiko-cho, Showa-ku, Tel. No. (052) 872-3611. Note that JAF, which is the Japanese equivalent of the AAA, offers road side assistance and trip planning services. For annual membership info, call (052) 872-1161. The Driver's License Center is open from 9 am-12 noon and 12:45-1:30 pm, Monday through Friday. If you apply in the afternoon, you may have to wait until the following day to receive your license. You are advised to take an interpreter with you if you cannot speak Japanese.
Finally, international driver's licenses are only valid in Japan for a limited time, and cannot be extended in country. Even so, it is probably a lot easier to obtain one of them back home than obtaining a license inside Japan.
What if you are involved in a traffic accident while in Nagoya? The Nagoya Calendar advises the following:
1. Write down all pertinent information regarding the other party.
2. Report the accident to the police. Traffic laws in Japan stipulate that victims of accidents are obliged to report to the police. A certificate is also necessary to receive any compensation from insurance companies. Upon arrival at the scene of the accident, the police officer will record the circumstances of the accident, which will be filed with the Jidosha Anzen Unten Center (Automobile Driving Safety Center). You can obtain a copy of the certificate by mail by filling in a request form available at the police station. There is a fee. The center may be reached at (052) 954-8930.
3. Have a medical check up.
4. Hold consultations as necessary. Beware if the other party evades responsibility and does not negotiate in good faith, or offers to strike a separate deal. If you encounter such a situation, you can contact (in Japanese) the Nagoya City Traffic Accident Consultation Office at (052) 972-3162, or the Automobile Insurance Claim Consultation Center of the Japan Damage Insurance Association on the 9th floor of the Nagoya International Center. The association can be reached at (052) 583-9755 between 9:30-12:00 and 1-4:40 pm.
International School
Nagoya's only English-speaking school is the Nagoya International School, 2686 Mianamihara, Nakashidami, Moriyama-ku, Tel.# (052)736-2025, Fax. # (052) 736-3883. Founded in 1964 as a private co-educational day school, NIS offers a full American curriculum education program through Grade 12. All instruction is in English, with graduates earning a stadard E.S. secondary school diploma. Students come from 18 countries, with approximately 20 percent from the U.S. NIS is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. The school is located about eight miles northeast of downtown Nagoya. The school year runs from September to June. Financial aid is available for those desiring to sent their children to the school but lacking adequate resources.
Doctors and Dentists
Nagoya has a number of quality physicians. Following is a representative list of area doctors who speak English to some degree. The Consulate cannot endorse doctors, including the ones listed below.
| Dr. Michael Alman | Genral Practitioner | International Clinic 8-3, Irifune 1-chome, Minatoku |
052-651-6496 |
| Dr. Chikako Ariyoshi | General pediatrics and developmental and psychological diseases | Japanese Red Cross, Nagoya First Hospita 3-35, Michishita-cho, Namamura-ku |
052-481-5111 |
| Dr. Takashi Hatano | Internal medicine | Dai Ichi Doctor Group, Sakae Dai Ichi Seimel Bldg. 2-13, Shin Sakae-machi, Naka-ku |
052-951-1432 |
| Dr. Yoshiaki Ito | Internal medicine | 414 Takama-cho, Meito-ku | 052-951-1432 |
| Dr. Shigeaki Kaseki | Infertility | 4-16-16 Sakae, Naka-ku | 052-251-8801 |
| Dr. Hiromi Kawahara | Thoracic and general surgery | AHI Hosipital, 987-31 Minamiyama, Komenoki-cho, Nisshin-shi, Aichi | 05617-3-7721 |
| Dr. Hiroshi Mizuno | Gastric-intestinal | 4-14-3, Imaike, Chikusa-ku | 052-733-0300 |
| Dr. Atsumi Shibata | Endocrinology | Nichimaru Nagoya Building 4th Floor, 1-3, Shin Sakae-machi, Naka-ku |
052-971-5627 |
| Dr. Toshihide Tachino | Internal medicine | International Clinic, Dai Nagoya Building 3rd Floor,
3-28- 12, Meieki, Nakamura-ku |
052-541-9130 |
| Dr. Shinji Takeuchi | Breast Surgery | 2-124-1 Hongo, Meito-ku | 052-771-6111 |
| Dr. Tadashi Taki | Dermatology and Plastic Surgery | Ozone Dai Ichi Seimei Building 2nd Floor, 7-789-1,
Higashi Ozone Hondori, Ozone, Higashi-ku |
052-712-1820 |
| Dr. Kanichiro Tashiro | Gynecological oncology | Nichimaru Nagoya Building 3rd Floor, 1-3, Shin Sakae-machi, Naka-ku |
052-971-0930 |
| Dr. Hajime Togari | Immunizations | Nagoya City Hospital Pediatrics Department, 1 Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuoho-ku |
052-851-5511 |
| Dr. Yasuyuki Yamada | Obstetrics and gynecology | Nagoya Kokusai Sanfujinka Naika, 4-137 Kusunoki, Kita-ku | 052-901-1313 |
| Dr. Noriyuki Yanagita | Ear, nose and throat | Nagoya University Hospital, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku | 052-741-2111 |
Dentists
The following English-speaking dentists practice in Nagoya. The Consulate cannot endorse dentists, including the ones listed below:
| Dr. Ken Matsumoto | Columbia Dental Clinic, 3-20 Omatsu-cho, Higashi-ku | (052) 936-1307 |
| Dr. Kuniaki Miyajima | Miyajima Dentistry, 11-11, Tamanoi-cho, Atsuta-ku | (052) 681-4618 |
Other questions
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