Informational Newsletter for English-Speaking Residents “Hiroshima NOW” November 2025 (English No. 43)
Informational Newsletter for English Speaking Residents
The latest volume of Hiroshima NOW is here! ➡ PDF [4.64MB]
Articles in Hiroshima NOW are excerpts from Hiroshima Shimin to Shisei, a free newspaper produced by the City of Hiroshima. This monthly newsletter is published in English, Chinese, Portuguese, Spanish, Vietnamese and Simplified Japanese.
Hiroshima Shimin to Shisei is available to view on the city’s website. It can also be translated via an automatic translation app into various languages.
🎡 Table of Contents
1. Seasonal events information
2. Change to elementary school enrollment
3. Support for households with children
4. Getting the needed support to young carers
5. Influenza, Coronavirus fixed term inoculation aid
6. Holiday trash collection schedule in November and during new year
1. Seasonal events information
Chrysanthemum Exhibition at Hiroshima Castle
😊 1,500 potted chrysanthemum will be displayed.
Date & Time：Saturday, October 25–Sunday, November 9 10 am–4:30 pm
★ 10 am–3:30 pm on November 9
Venue：Hiroshima Castle Ninomaru (21-1 Moto-machi, Naka-ku)
Access：Hiroshima Tourism Route Bus “Meipuru-pu” (via the Orange route or the Lemon route)
6 minutes walk from the Hiroshima Castle (Gokoku Jinja Mae) bus stop
Fee: Free
Inquiries：Hiroshima Matsuri Iinkai Tel. 082-554-1813
Day of Sister & Friendship Cities Events: Honolulu Day
Date & Time：Saturday, November 8 1:30 pm–4 pm
Venue：JR Hiroshima Station South Exit underground event space
Access：1 minute walk for JR Hiroshima Station South Exit
Fee：Free
Programs：Learn about Honolulu city, stage performances of hula dance and Ukulele, etc.
Inquires：Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation, City Diversity & Inclusion Division Tel. 082-242-8879 URL: https://h-ircd.jp/
International Festival 2025
Date & Time：Sunday, November 16 10 am-4 pm
Venue：International Conference Center Hiroshima & Peace Boulevard Green Zone
Access：Get off at Heiwa Kinen Koen Mae bus stop
Program：Stage performance, culture and information exchange meetings, workshops, international food stalls,
and more!
Consultations for non-Japanese residents such as issues regarding residency status will be available
for free
★Some activities at the festival require reservations. For further information,
please check the website.
Inquiries：Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation, City Diversity & Inclusion Division
Tel. 082-242-8879 Email: internat@pcf.city.hiroshima.jp
URL: https://h-ircd.jp/
Momiji (Maple leaves-viewing) Tea Ceremony
Date & Time：Sunday, November 16 9:30 am-3 pm (Reception closed)
Venue：Shukkeien Garden（2-11 Kami-nobori-cho, Naka-ku）
Access：3 minutes walk from Shukkeien-mae streetcar stop
Fee：800 yen (Nodate, Open-air tea ceremony)
▶ Admission fee for the garden is required separately.
【Admission fee】
Adults: 350 yen
University students: 150 yen
High school students and younger: Free
Inquires：Shukkeien Tel. 082-221-3620
Hiroshima Dreamination 2025
😊 Trees along Peace Boulevard and shopping streets will be decorated with various colored lights.
Date & Time：Monday, November 17, 2025–Saturday, January 3, 2026 5:30 pm–10:30 pm
☆ Due to the opening ceremony held on November 17, illumination lighting starts at 6 pm on that day.
Venue：Peace Boulevard, shopping streets, around JR Hiroshima Station and other places in the center of Hiroshima City
Inquires：Hiroshima Light-up Project Executive Committee Tel. 082-554-1813 (Monday–Friday 9 am – 5:45 pm)
URL: http://www.dreamination.com/
Ebisu-taisai Festival (Ebessan)
😊 Ebisu-taisai Festival is one of the biggest festivals in Hiroshima and it celebrates the god of commerce, Ebisu. Many stalls selling food and goods are set up every year.
Date & Time：Tuesday, November 18–Thursday, November 20 10 am–10 pm
Venue：Ebisu Shrine（5-14 Ebisu-cho, Naka-ku）
Access：Take a streetcar or a bus for the center of Hiroshima City and get off at Ebisu-cho or Hatchobori stop
Inquiries：Ebisu Shrine Tel. 082-241-6268
Hiroshima International Film Festival
Date & Time：Friday, November 28 – Sunday, November 30
Venue：NTT Cred Hall, Yokogawa Cinema, etc.
Access：
NTT Cred Hall (11th Floor at the Pacela shopping mall)
3 minutes walk from Kamiya-cho-higashi or Kamiya-cho-nishi streetcar stop
Yokogawa Cinema
3 minutes walk from JR Yokogawa Station or Yokogawa streetcar stop
Tickets：For information about tickets, please see the official website.
Inquiries：Hiroshima International Film Festival Office Tel. 082-228-5226
URL: http://hiff.jp
Hiroshima Urban Sports Festival 2025
Date & Time：Saturday, November 29 10 am–4 pm
★The event will be postponed till the following day, November 30 if it rains. If it’s still raining on the 30th, the event will be called off.
Venue：Hiroshima Gate Park (5 Moto-machi, Naka-ku)
Access：Get off at Kamiya-cho-nishi or Heiwa Kinen Koen Mae streetcar stop
Performance：Skate board, BMX Flatland, Pakour, 3X3, Kendama, Boccia, esports
Inquiries：Hiroshima Television Corporation, Event Information Center
Tel. 082-567-2500 (Monday–Friday, 10 am–6 pm)
URL: https://www/htv.jp/husf2025/
2. Changes to elementary school enrollment
Future students whose assigned elementary school has too many students enrolled already are allowed to change to a different school in their area. For more information, please refer to the City of Hiroshima website for further information.
City of Hiroshima website (Japanese)
https://www.city.hiroshima.lg.jp/education/school/1026018/1009287.html
Inquires: School Affairs Division of the Municipal Board of Education (Kyōiku Iinkai, Gakuji Ka) Tel: 082-504-2975
Who is eligible?
First year students who are set to enroll in one of the schools outlined below as of April 1, 2026
How do I apply?
Bring your city-issued Enrollment Notice 入学通知書 (Nyūgaku Tsūchisho) to the Municipal Board of Education, or go directly to the school where you wish to have your children enroll. If you prefer to apply at the school directly, please contact them first before you visit.
★You will be sent an Enrollment Notice 入学通知書 (Nyūgaku Tsūchisho) for 2026 at the end of January.
Application period
From end of January until March 31, 2026 (Preferably by mid-February)
Note: Please note that it is possible that seats may fill quickly, or that applications will no longer be accepted in some cases. Therefore, it is recommended that application should be done by mid-February.
Schools:
| Ward | Assigned Elementary School | Available Schools |
| Naka | Senda Elementary School | – Takeya Elementary School – Nakajima Elementary School – Yoshijima-higashi Elementary School |
| Higashi | Ushita Elementary School | – Waseda Elementary School – Ushita-shinmachi Elementary School – Onaga Elementary School – Hakushima Elementary School |
| Minami | Ujina Elementary School | – Ujina-higashi Elementary School – Midori-machi Elementary School – Moto-ujina Elementary School |
| Nishi | Inokuchi Elementary School | – Suzugamine Elementary School – Inokuchi-myojin Elementary School – Inokuchi-dai Elementary School – Itsukaichi-higashi Elementary School – Itsukaichi-minami Elementary School |
| Asaminami | Kawauchi Elementary School | – Midorii Elementary School – Nakasuji Elementary School – Furuichi Elementary School – Bairin Elementary School – Kuchita-higashi Elementary School – Kuchita Elementary School |
| Tomo Elementary School | – Yasu-kita Elementary School – Yasu-nishi Elementary School – Tomo-higashi Elementary School – Ōzuka Elementary School – Tomo-minami Elementary School – Kuchi-minami Elementary School |
|
| Gion Elementary School Yamamoto Elementary School Kasugano Elementary School |
– Furuichi Elementary School – Ōmachi Elementary School – Nagatsuka Elementary School – Hara Elementary School – Hara-minami Elementary School – Nagatsuka-nishi Elementary School |
|
| Saeki | Rakurakuen Elementary School | – Itsukaichi-chuō Elementary School – Itsukaichi-minami Elementary School |
| Ishiuchi-kita Elementary School | – Ōzuka Elementary School – Tomo-minami Elementary School |
3. Support for households with children
The City of Hiroshima is offering a space where children and parents can comfortably spend time together without stress. Regional staff and volunteers help so that children can live and learn properly. By connecting those that need support with the appropriate entities, we can fulfill our goal to protect and watch over children living in our community.
Inquiries: Child and Youth Support Department (Kodomo Seishōnen Ikusei Bu) Tel. 082-504-2161
Targets
Children living in Hiroshima City from elementary school through to university graduation age, including younger siblings not yet of school age, and their parents
Support to offer
● Food support, including offers of balanced meals
● Learning support, to develop good study habits
● Consultation to support the reduction of stress through discussion of worries
● Support with mingling by providing play opportunities
● General support such as providing stationery and more!
Applications
Please apply directly with the body offering the support you would like.
| Location | Hours | Telephone |
| Sodachi no Mori (Eba Community Center, 1-7 Eba-minami, Naka-ku) |
Every 2nd and 4th Friday 3 pm – 5 pm |
082-559-2323 |
| Hesaka Niko Niko Kodomo Shokudo (2-6-15 Hesaka-senzoku Higashi-ku or 5-4-16 Hesaka-sakuraue-machi, Higashi-ku) |
Every 2nd and 4th Saturday 11:30 am – 2:30 pm |
082-220-0551 |
| Hiroshima prefectural mutual support foundation, DOHEN (Maison Cuore, 1-4-23 Dambara-yamasaki, Minami-ku) |
Every 1st and 3rd Saturday Noon – 2 pm |
082-209-2633 |
| Hiroshima Christian Society Building, Space Komugi (1-13-3 Ogawachi-machi, Nishi-ku) |
Mondays & Wednesday 7 am – 9 pm Fridays 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm |
082-232-4274 |
| Terakoya (2-15-6-101 Furuichi, Asaminami-ku) | Tuesdays 3 pm – 7 pm |
080-3888-8507 |
| Young People’s activity support center, Aozora “donguri no ki” (4-10-8-201 Kabe, Asakita-ku) | Wednesdays & Thursdays 4 pm – 7 pm |
082-562-2451 |
| Rakurakuen Panipani Shokudou (Rakurakuen Community Center, 5-8-32 Rakurakuen, Saeki-ku) |
Every 1st Friday 5 pm – 7:30 pm Every 3rd Thursday 3 pm – 5:30 pm |
090-9060-8077 |
4. Getting the needed support to young carers
Young Carers are defined in law as “children or young people who are recognized as being excessively engaged in family care and other daily living support.” We have prepared a special service for supporting these young carers.
What sort of situations are young carers placed in?
● For some with disabled or ailing family members, young carers do household chores and work, which makes it hard for them to attend school properly.
● Instead of family, some young carers are the ones who must look after their younger siblings et cetera
In this way, young carers are often left without much time to themselves, and this gets in the way of them experiencing their own childhood.
Consultation service for young carers
Children`s Consultation Service Center, Wakakusa (support center for children and families)
Tel. 082-298-0581
Consultation hours: 10 am – 7 pm
Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays
Closed: Wednesdays and new year holidays（December 29 to January 3）
⭐Consultation is not limited to the young carer themselves, and is available for their family, those around them, etc.
5. Influenza, Coronavirus fixed term inoculation aid
Period
Until Saturday, January 31, 2026 *Limited to one vaccination
Vaccination Method
Proceed to a medical institution with proof you are in the target categories below (such as your My Number Card).
🌸For those exempt from cost, bring with you documents to prove your status as exempt from payment on the day of your vaccination.
| Target | Cost borne |
| ● Those aged 65 years or above at time of vaccination ●Those aged 60-64 at time of vaccination who suffer from an impairment of the heart, kidneys, or respiratory organs (similar to condition of a person with Grade 1 of the Physical Disability Certificate (Shintai Shōgaisha Techō) |
Influenza: 1,600 yen Novel Coronavirus: 11,800 yen |
| Those in the above categories that are additionally receiving public welfare (Seikatsu Hogo) or exempt from the income-based Shotoku-wari (rate based on your income from the previous year) resident tax | Free ⭐You must bring documents to prove your status as exempt from payment on the day of your vaccination. |
🚩 For those who are not eligible for the above, or those who are eligible but the period of availability has ended, you will have to receive your vaccination via an optional vaccination service, and will be charged the full amount.
Inquiries:
| Ward | Tel | Ward | Tel |
| Naka | 082-504-2528 | Asaminami | 082-831-4942 |
| Higashi | 082-568-7729 | Asakita | 082-819-0586 |
| Minami | 082-250-4108 | Aki | 082-821-2809 |
| Nishi | 082-294-6235 | Saeki | 082-943-9731 |
6. Holiday trash collection schedule in November and during new year’s holiday seasons (12/31 to 1/4)
○・・・Garbage collected ✖・・・Garbage is NOT collected
| National Holiday | Burnable Trash/Plastic Bottles/Recyclable Plastics in your local ward | Recyclable & Harmful Waste/ Non-burnable/Non-recyclable Plastics in your local ward |
| November 3 (Monday) (Substitute holiday for Culture Day) | ✖ | ○ |
| November 24 (Monday) (Substitute holiday for Labor Thanksgiving Day) | ✖ | ○ |
| December 31 (Wednesday) to January 4 (Sunday) | ✖ | ✖ |
📢 Certain wards have changed their trash collection days for recyclable & harmful waste, non-burnable waste and non-recyclable plastics for January. Please be mindful when taking out the trash.
🖐For more information about waste disposal guidelines, please visit the City of Hiroshima’s official website:
https://www.city.hiroshima.lg.jp/site/kateigomi/363649.html
Inquiries: City Office Environmental Bureau, Operation Division I
(Kankyō Kyoku Gyōmu Dai-ichi Ka) Tel: 082-504-2220
