Formal guide · updated June 11, 2026
How to Register Your Address at City Hall
A formal guide to the Hiroshima City address-registration workflow, including how to choose the correct ward office, what to prepare, what to ask at the counter, and what to do after your address is recorded.
Why this matters
Address registration connects many other parts of life in Japan: resident record, health insurance procedures, My Number notices, bank screening, mobile contracts, school/employer paperwork, and official mail. Treat it as the base layer of your Hiroshima life setup.
Find the correct ward office
Hiroshima City is divided into wards. Use the ward where your residence is located. If your address is near a ward boundary, confirm the ward from the full Japanese address before going. The official Ward Offices page links to address registration, moving-in notification, moving-out notification, ward changes, citizen affairs divisions, resident records, and related forms.
What to prepare
Final requirements depend on your case, but the practical preparation list is:
- Residence card.
- Passport.
- Move-out certificate if you moved from another municipality in Japan and received one.
- Full new address in Japanese.
- Lease, dormitory confirmation, or housing details if available.
- Documents for family members if you are registering a household together.
- A Japanese phone number if you already have one.
At the counter
Tell the staff your situation clearly: new arrival from overseas, moving into Hiroshima City from another municipality, moving between wards, or moving within the same ward. Ask which related procedures should be handled on the same visit, such as National Health Insurance, pension, My Number, child allowance, school, or resident record certificates.
After registration
Check the spelling of your name, address, date of birth, and household members on any paperwork. If you need proof of address for a bank, phone contract, school, employer, or landlord, ask which certificate is appropriate and whether there is a fee.
Common mistakes
These are the avoidable friction points:
- Going to a ward office that does not serve your address.
- Forgetting move-out paperwork from your previous municipality.
- Using an unofficial romanized address when the form needs Japanese address details.
- Leaving before asking which health insurance or My Number steps apply next.
- Assuming a friend’s procedure applies to your visa, job, school, or household.
Related HiroshimaHub pages
Official sources
- Ward Offices and Resident Registration
- Important Paperwork
- Hiroshima City Procedure Guide
- Hiroshima City English Portal
Last checked: June 11, 2026. Always confirm office hours, eligibility, fees, and required documents on the official page before visiting.