Daily Life

1. Housing
   
2. Electricity
   
3. Gas
   
4. Water service
   
5. Telephone
   
6. Banking
   
7. Post Office
   
8. Public transportation

Public transportation

Buses

To get on a bus, use the back door. When you get on, take a ticket from the machine near the door. Each ticket (seiriken) has a number on it. The number on your ticket corresponds to the numbers on the illuminated panel at the front of the bus. Your fare will be shown beneath that number. Check your fare on the panel before you get off. The fare changes according to the distance you ride.
Each stop is announced. Listen carefully, and when you hear your stop or see a familiar landmark, let the driver know you wish to get off by pushing one of the buttons anywhere on the bus.
Usually you pay when you get off. You will find a fare box at the front of the bus. Deposit only exact change into the box. If you do not have exact change, put a 1,000 yen note, 500 yen coin, 100 yen coin, or 50 yen coin into the appropriate slot. Note: The drivers cannot change 5,000 yen or 10,000 yen notes.

Parking lots

Bicycles: For those who use bicycles, please park your bike at the Public Bicycle Parking Lot. It costs 100 yen per day.
Hours: 6:00a.m. - 9:00p.m.

• Katsuta Station East Exit parking lot (Katsuta eki higashiguchi jitensha chusha-jo)
• Katsuta Station West Exit parking lot (Katsuta eki nishiguchi jitensha chusha-jo)
  
• Motomachi temporary parking lot (Motomachi rinji jitensha chusha-jo)
  
• Sawa Station parking lot (no charge) (Sawa eki jitensha chusha-jo)
  

For more details, consult the Traffic Safety Program Division at City Hall. tel: (273)0111, ext. 3212

Automobiles : There are 24-hour parking lots on either side (east and west) of Katsuta station. Charge: 100yen per hour after the first 30 min.
Public parking lots are open from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Charge:
[Katsuta-Chuo, Motomachi] 100 yen for the first hour and 50 yen
for every additional 30 min.
[Kaimon -cho] 100 yen for the first 4 hours, 210 yen after that.

Railways

Tickets for local trains are purchased from vending machines near the entrance gates. Tickets may also be purchased at windows located near the vending machines. Having purchased your ticket, make sure you hold onto it until the end of the ride. You have to present it again in order to leave the station. There are several types of tickets available. They vary in price depending on how long you stay on the train, the number of people traveling together and whether you take a local or an express train. Please note that reservations are recommended for shin-kan-sen (the bullet trains) and other long distance trains. For details, go to the ticket window at the station.

Taxis

Taxis are easily found near stations or at designated taxi stops. In other areas, it is better to have someone call one for you. They are also available on some street corners. If you see a red light on the dash, the taxi is available.
Taxis can be rather expensive, but they may be your only alternative when buses and trains stop running. The initial rate (about 660 yen) varies by city, company, and by the size of the car.
Increments are usually 70 yen - 80 yen, and both distance and time are metered. Rates increase about 20% after 10p.m. As most taxi drivers don't speak English, it is advisable to have your destination written in Japanese if you can not speak Japanese.