【The 23rd International Exchange Festa in Kure】
There will be a big international exchange event in Kure City. Japanese and foreigners can interact, learn about, and experience the cultures of various countries. Please come and join us!
●Date and time: February 8th (Sun) 1:00pm-4:00pm
●Place: Kure City Hall 1st floor
●Contents
・Stage Programs: Dance, Musical Instrument Performances, Speech Presentations, etc.
・Multicultural Experience Booths: Crafts, Kimono and Traditional Costume Try-Ons, Calligraphy, etc.
・Safety Support Booths: firefighting corner, disaster prevention corner, life consultation
●Participation fee: Free (Some areas have fees; sales available)
For more information, please see the Kure International Exchange Association’s website↓
▼Contact
Kure International Exchange Association TEL：0823-25-5607
【City/Prefectural Tax, Income Tax Return Declaration】
Anyone who has an address in the city as of January 1st and earned income during the previous year (January 1st to December 31st of the previous year) is required to submit a city/prefectural tax return by March 16th, stating their income and earnings for the previous year.
Those whose income is only employment income and city/prefectural tax and income tax are not deducted from employment income must file a tax return.
Those who have income from business, agriculture, real estate, etc. in addition to employment income or public pension income, or those who wish to receive social insurance premium deductions or medical expense deductions other than those withheld at source, are required to file a return.
However, those who have filed an income tax return do not need to file a city/prefectural tax return.
(1) Applications will be accepted at the tax return venues using numbered tags.
The application hours will be printed on the numbered tags distributed at the tax return venues.
①City Hall Main Venue
●Period: February 16th (Mon) – March 16th (Mon) 8:45 AM – 12:00 PM, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays)
※Only the off-site venues will be open on February 25th (Wed), March 3rd (Tue), and March 10th (Tue). Applications will be accepted until 4:00 PM on the final day.
●Location: Kure City Hall, 3rd Floor, Municipal Tax Division
② Off-site venues (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM)
●Period and Location: Varies by off-site venues. Please check the Kure City website below↓
https://www.city.kure.lg.jp/soshiki/42/sizei-27sinkoku.html
(2) You can make a reservation for your tax return filing appointment via the official Kure City LINE account.
●Eligible Reservation Period: Tax return filing dates from Monday, February 2nd to Monday, March 16th.
●Reservation Acceptance Period: From 10:00 AM on Monday, January 26th until 5:00 PM, two days before the reservation date (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays).
●How to make a reservation:
①Add as a friend: Search for “@kurecity” from “Add as a friend”
②Reservation procedures: From the LINE menu tab “Procedures, etc.” → “Consultation, Event, and Seminar Reservations” → “City and Prefectural Tax Return Filing Reservation”
※On the day of declaration, please arrive at the venue 10 minutes before your reserved time.
※You can cancel your reservation by clicking the cancel button on the reservation completion screen up until 5:00p.m., two days before the reservation date and time (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays).
If you want to change your reservation, please cancel it and make a new reservation.
For more information, please see this link↓
https://www.city.kure.lg.jp/soshiki/42/yoyaku.html
(3) Electronic filing of city and prefectural tax (Individual Inhabitant Tax) will begin.
You can file city and prefectural tax (Individual Inhabitant Tax) using your My Number Card from your smartphone or computer. This applies to tax return for 2026 (covering income earned in 2025) and later.
《What you need to file electronically》
●Smartphone (with IC card reader) or computer
Separate communication charges apply. The My Number Portal app must be installed on your smartphone. (If using a computer only, an IC card reader is required.)
●My Number Card ※Two types of passwords are required
Password (4-digit number and 6-16 alphanumeric characters)
●Documents verifying the contents of your return (such as a withholding slip)
●A valid email address to receive confirmation when return is completed
For more information, please see the following link:
https://www.city.kure.lg.jp/soshiki/42/denshishinkoku.html
(4) We also accept returns submitted by mail.
●To avoid overcrowding at the filing locations, we accept city and prefectural tax returns by mail. When submitting by mail, please enclose a copy of your My Number Card and a document that can verify your identity.
Submit your return to: 〒737-8501 [Address not required] Kure City Hall, Municipal Tax Division
●Stamps are not required if you submit your tax return at the dedicated tax return mailbox located at each tax return venue, Municipal Tax Division, or at each civic center counter.
●In late-January, you will be able to prepare city and prefectural tax returns from the city website, so please take advantage of this.
https://www.city.kure.lg.jp/soshiki/42/shinkokushosakusei.html
▼Contact
Shimin-zei-ka Municipal Tax Division TEL：0823-25-3193
Kure International Exchange Association TEL：0823-25-5607
【2025 New Artists Concert – A Refreshing Gift of Music】
This is a fresh concert featuring music-related school graduates from 2024 and 2025.
●Date and Time: Sunday, February 22nd, 2:00 PM (Doors open at 1:30 PM)
●Location: Kure Shinyou Kinko Hall
●Contents: Flute, piano performances, and more
●Admission: Free
※Admission tickets are required. Tickets will be distributed starting Tuesday, January 13th at Kure Shinyou Kinko Hall, Shin Nippon Machinery Hall, each Machi-Zukuri Center, and the International Exchange Center.
▼Contact Information
Kure Shinyou Kinko Hall, Tel: 0823-25-7878
Kure International Exchange Association, Tel: 0823-25-5607
【A multilingual life guidebook has been published】
Even if you leave a company, you are still required to be covered by health insurance in case of illness or injury. If you are no longer eligible for health insurance, please follow one of the following procedures:
“The Kure Life Guidebook for Foreigners” has been published in English, Chinese, Portuguese, and Vietnamese. It contains a lot of useful information for foreigners about life and administrative procedures.
It is distributed free of charge at the International Exchange Center on the 1st floor of the Kure City Hall, Tobu Chiku Foreign Resident Comprehensive Consultation Counter in Hiro Shimin Center, and every local Civic Center.
You can also download it from the Kure International Exchange Association’s website.
【Kure City Promotional Magazine “市政だより くれ” Available in English.】
1 Scan the QR Code.
2 Download and install the “Catalog Pocket” app.
3 Scan the QR Code again.