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Japanese for “Registering your address at city hall”
You've just moved to a new apartment in Tokyo and need to register your change of address at the ward office (区役所). The clerk will ask for your documents and guide you through the process.
Sample dialogue
Clerk
いらっしゃいませ。本日はどのようなご用件ですか？irasshaimase. honjitsu wa dono youna go youken desu ka?
Hello, welcome. What can I help you with today?
You (Resident)
転入届を出したいんですが...tennyuutodoke o dashitai n desu ga...
I'd like to file a moving-in notice.
Clerk
かしこまりました。では、在留カードと新しい住所が分かるもの、例えば賃貸契約書などをお持ちですか？kashikomarimashita. deha, zairyuu kaado to atarashii juusho ga wakaru mono, tatoeba chintai keiyakusho nado o o mochi desu ka?
Understood. Do you have your residence card and a document with your new address, like a rental contract?
You (Resident)
はい、あります。hai, arimasu.
Yes, I have them.
Clerk
ありがとうございます。こちらに新しい住所をご記入ください。arigatougozaimasu. kochira ni atarashii juusho o go kinyuukudasai.
Thank you. Please fill in your new address here.
You (Resident)
分かりました。このフォームですね。wakarimashita. kono foomu desu ne.
Got it. This form, right?
Clerk
そうです。そして、マイナンバーカードと国民健康保険の手続きについてもご説明させていただきます。sou desu. soshite, mainanbaakaado to kokumin kenkou hoken no tetsuzuki nitsuite mo go setsumei saseteitadakimasu.
Yes. And I'll also explain about your My Number card and National Health Insurance enrollment.
You (Resident)
分からないこともありますが、よろしくお願いします。wakaranai koto mo arimasu ga, yoroshiku onegai shimasu.
I might have some questions, but thank you for your help.
Phrases you can use
転入届を出したいんですがてんにゅうとどけをだしたいんですがtennyuutodoke o dashitai n desu ga
I'd like to file a moving-in notice
Use this when you arrive at the ward office and need to register your move.
引越しをしたので、転入届を出したいんですが。hikkoshi o shita node, tennyuutodoke o dashitai n desu ga.
I just moved, so I'd like to file a moving-in notice.
在留カードざいりゅうかーどzairyuu kaado
Residence card (for foreign nationals)
This is the official ID card required for residence registration at Japanese ward offices.
在留カードを持ってきました。zairyuu kaado o mottekimashita.
I brought my residence card.
新しい住所が分かるものあたらしいじゅうしょがわかるものatarashii juusho ga wakaru mono
A document showing your new address
Use this phrase when the clerk asks for proof of your new address.
賃貸契約書が新しい住所が分かるものです。chintai keiyakusho ga atarashii juusho ga wakaru mono desu.
My rental contract shows my new address.
こちらに〜をご記入くださいこちらに〜をごきにゅうください
Casual vs polite
Casual在留カード持ってますか？zairyuu kaado mottemasu ka?
Polite在留カードはお持ちですか？zairyuu kaado wa o mochi desu ka?
The polite version uses the respectful form 'お〜ですか' (do you have?). Use the polite version with staff or people you don't know well.
Casualここに住所を書いてください。koko ni juusho o kaitekudasai.
Politeこちらに住所をご記入ください。kochira ni juusho o go kinyuukudasai.
The polite version uses 'ご記入ください' (please fill in) which is more formal. Use polite in official settings; casual with friends.
Politeマイナンバーカードについてご説明させていただきます。mainanbaakaado nitsuite go setsumei saseteitadakimasu.
The polite version includes 'させていただきます' (I humbly explain). Staff use this; customers rarely need to.
Culture tip
In Japanese ward offices, staff are very polite and use humble forms. Always say 'ありがとうございます' (thank you very much) and avoid rushing. It's normal to ask 'すみません、もう一度説明してもらえますか？' (Sorry, could you explain that one more time?) if you don't understand—staff expect this from foreign residents.
Ready to say it out loud?
On Tuned you can practice this scene in 3 steps: copy the model, build it up bit by bit, then role-play with an AI partner — at your level.