(Test version) Amagasaki City Newsletter, latest issue
Second half of March 2026 issue
▷ Temporary holiday counters will be opened at City Hall
For inquiries, please contact the Citizen Affairs Division. ☎ 6489-6408
On Saturday, March 28th and Saturday, April 4th, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, a temporary holiday counter will be open at City Hall. As this is a temporary counter, procedures other than resident change notifications such as moving in, moving out, and change of address, seal registration, and issuance of certificates such as copies of resident registration certificates will not be available. Also, as is typical in March and April, City Hall and the Hankyu Tsukaguchi Service Center are extremely crowded. Please also use the Hanshin Amagasaki and JR Amagasaki Service Centers. Moving out notifications can also be submitted online or by mail .
Click here for details
◆ My Number Card counter at city hall will also be open on Saturday, April 4th. The My Number Card counter at city hall will be open on Saturday, April 4th (normally it is open on days other than the first Saturday of the month). Please note that the Tsukaguchi counter for My Number Cards will not be open on Saturdays.
For inquiries: My Number dedicated hotline. ☎ 4400-5256
Web streaming service for waiting room status
We are providing updates on the waiting times at the citizen services counters at the city hall and each service center.
Issuing certificates is convenient and cost-effective when you use your My Number Card!
Those who possess this card can obtain copies of their resident registration certificate and other documents at convenience stores . Online applications are also available for copies of resident registration certificates, family registers, seal certificates, and tax certificates.
You can complete the procedure at our service center every Saturday!
From Monday to Saturday, 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM, some services are available at each service center. Please note that the issuance of family registers across different regions is not available on Saturdays.
▷Some sick child care rooms will be closed
For inquiries, please contact the Children's Welfare Division. ☎ 6489-6349
On March 31st, the Takahara Clinic sick child care room will close. Please use the Horiuchi Pediatric Clinic Mukonosou sick child care room or our in-home sick child care service.
▷ An exhibition tracing the history of the General Cultural Center
For inquiries, please contact the Cultural Promotion Foundation. ☎ 6487-0800
From March 21st to 31st, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM (until 7:00 PM on the 31st), the Cultural Center will be exhibiting posters from art exhibitions and concerts, looking back on the past 50 years. Live painting, tea ceremonies, mini-concerts, and talk events will also be held.
Application: Not required
Closure of the Cultural Center
The Center's Cultural Building and Hall Building will be closed from April. However, Amashin Archaic Hall Octo will remain open.
▷ Cherry Blossom Canal Cruise
For inquiries, please contact the Amagasaki Tourism Bureau. ☎ 6409-4946
From late March to April 5th, from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM, we will be holding a cherry blossom viewing canal cruise departing from the fishing park and cruising along the Amagasaki Canal. You can also enjoy the experience of passing through the Amagasaki Lock (Amagasaki Lock) and enjoy original crepes and drinks on board. The dates of the cruise may change depending on the cherry blossom blooming status.
Price: 3800 yen for high school students and older, 2800 yen for children aged 3 to junior high school students. Reservations: From March 5th, make a reservation by phone with Mukogawa Ferry. ☎︎ 6430-6519
▷Mayor Matsumoto announces his policy
For inquiries, please contact the Policy Secretary. ☎ 6 4 8 9 – 6 4 7 4
At the fourth regular session of the City Council, Mayor Matsumoto announced his policy statement for fiscal year 2026.
The policy statement outlines the mayor's basic approach to city administration, the budget proposal, and major policies. Please take a look.
The full text of the policy statement can be found here.
▷Key points of major projects for fiscal year 2026
For inquiries, please contact the Policy Promotion Division. ☎ 6489 – 6124
In Amagasaki City, we are working to create a city where people want to live and continue to live, by enhancing support for children and childcare, promoting area branding to increase the value of the city, and revitalizing the local economy. We will now introduce some of the priority items from the 2026 budget proposal that we have compiled. Please note that the budget proposal, including the major projects introduced here, is currently being deliberated at the regular session of the city council.
The main business activities are as follows:
Creating an environment where people can work and raise children with peace of mind and enhancing support for child development
◆ Significant reduction in school lunch fees: Parents will be responsible for 0 yen per meal for elementary school students and half price for junior high school students in fiscal year 2026. ◆ Establishment of co-working spaces with childcare facilities. ◆ Strengthening of inclusive childcare and education systems. ◆ Strengthening of efforts to expand junior high school club activities into local communities. ◆ Installation of air conditioning in school gymnasiums, etc. ◆ Expansion of measures to address and support for truancy.
Promoting the creation of a good living environment that enhances the value of the town and promoting area branding.
◆Station Front Update Project◆Significant expansion of subsidies for installing security cameras in local areas
Supporting the challenges of local businesses and revitalizing the local economy where diverse talents can thrive.
◆Supporting innovation in the local community◆Introduction of a sweet vegetable vending machine with a refrigerated function
Strengthening the foundations for creating an inclusive society where everyone can live in peace
◆ Introduction of in-home respite care for children receiving medical care ◆ Expansion of support for crime victims, etc. ◆ Creation of an online space for people who are withdrawn
Promoting co-creative DX to enhance citizen convenience and satisfaction.
◆Digitalization of communication methods for parents and guardians ◆Implementation of online consultations regarding the use of childcare facilities ◆Introduction of digital pre-vaccination questionnaires for infants and toddlers ◆Introduction of a "procedure navigation" system to help visitors get lost.
In addition to these, we will also carry out maintenance projects in preparation for future urban development.
Furthermore, as part of the 110th anniversary of the city's founding, we plan to implement various initiatives, including appointing Mitsuho Fukutome as a PR ambassador and holding a commemorative ceremony in October.
Details of our main business can be found here.
Viewing the publication of public comment results
The public comment period was from December 19th to January 8th. We received 55 opinions from 15 people. The opinions received and the city's responses will be made public until March 31st.
▷Continuing to implement measures to combat rising prices seamlessly into FY2026
For inquiries, please contact the Policy Promotion Division. ☎ 6 4 8 9 – 6 1 2 4
In Amagasaki City, we have implemented various forms of support to help those facing rising prices for food and other goods. In fiscal year 2026, we will continue to alleviate the burden on citizens and businesses and implement continuous and swift measures to address rising prices. Please note that the information presented here is currently being deliberated in the ongoing regular session of the city council (the rice vouchers and subsidies for the introduction of labor-saving and productivity-enhancing equipment were deliberated in the December session).
Distribution of rice coupons
To support citizens facing rising prices for food and other items, we are distributing rice coupons that can be used at supermarkets, drugstores, etc.
While it varies by store, many stores accept the rice vouchers for items other than rice. For details on what you can purchase, please check the flyer enclosed with the rice voucher or visit the website .
Amazaki Coin Premium Campaign
We will be running a special campaign for Amazaki Coins, which can be used at affiliated stores in the city (approximately 1,500 stores), with 1 point worth 1 yen, to promote the revitalization of the local economy.
Full exemption from basic water and sewage charges
For citizens and businesses, the basic water charge and basic sewage usage fee (2,417 yen for two months for general households) will be fully waived for meter readings taken in June or July. The amount of the waiver will depend on the size of the water meter. No application is required.
Reducing the burden of school lunch fees for elementary and junior high schools
Even amidst the continuing rise in food costs, in order to continue providing nutritionally balanced school lunches as before, the public has been covering the increased costs of school lunches at elementary and junior high schools.
Furthermore, starting from fiscal 2026, we will fully subsidize the cost of elementary school lunches and half the cost of junior high school lunches, reducing the burden on parents.
Subsidies to support the introduction of labor-saving and productivity-improving equipment
To support small and medium-sized enterprises in manufacturing, food service, construction, transportation, and other industries in expanding sales and improving productivity, we will subsidize a portion of the costs of introducing equipment and other measures to save labor and improve productivity.
Subsidies for credit guarantee fees
To facilitate cash flow for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and reduce business risks, Hyogo Prefecture will subsidize a portion of the credit guarantee fees for its special collaborative loan program for SMEs.
Providing temporary support funds to social welfare facilities, etc.
The city will provide subsidies to social welfare facilities, education and childcare facilities, etc. in order to provide stable services to users.
▷A traffic violation notification system (blue ticket) for bicycles will be introduced from April 1st.
For inquiries, please contact the Public Safety Division. ☎ 6 4 8 9 – 6 5 0 2
Starting April 1st, a new traffic violation notification system (blue ticket) will be introduced for cyclists who violate traffic laws. This system will impose fines for cyclists who commit traffic violations.
When the police confirm or discover a traffic violation by a cyclist, they will, in principle, issue guidance and warnings (such as verbal warnings) on the spot. However, in cases where the violation is particularly serious and dangerous, posing a high risk to pedestrians or other vehicles, and could cause a traffic accident, a blue ticket and a payment slip for the fine will be issued on the spot.
▷Sonoda Nishi-Muko Line (Mogawa section) opens
For inquiries, please contact the Road Maintenance Department. ☎ 6 4 8 9 – 6 4 9 3
On Friday, March 20th, at approximately 3:00 PM, the Sonoda-Nishimuko Line (Mogawa section), a major east-west arterial road in the northern part of the city, will open. This will shorten traffic travel time in surrounding areas, which previously required detours, by about five minutes, and will also strengthen the road's disaster prevention function as an evacuation route during emergencies.
With the opening of the new line, Hanshin Bus plans to extend its AD3 route (from Hankyu Sonoda to Amagasaki Drive School) to JR Inadera Station around May. This will further improve convenience in the northeastern part of the city.
▷The damage caused by crows is increasing.
◆Be careful of crows raising their young. Crows begin building nests and breeding around March. During the breeding season from April to June, parent birds can become aggressive and may threaten or attack people, so please do not approach nests or chicks.
◆Crows are omnivores, so they won't rummage through food waste . It's said that 70-80% of urban crows' food comes from food waste. Please keep the following in mind.
▷Use up all your food ingredients. ▷Drain water from food waste and take steps to reduce it. ▷Put out your garbage on the collection day and adhere to the collection time. ▷Use a fine-mesh bird netting and attach weights to the netting to prevent it from being blown away by the wind. ▷Put garbage in a trash can or surround it with boards or similar material. However, if you put garbage in a trash can, be sure to consult with the operations department (Household Waste Information Center ☎ 6374-9999) in advance.
◆Consultations regarding capture and nest removal: Since crows are wild birds, as a general rule, it is not permitted to capture them or remove nests containing eggs or chicks. However, if harm to people is anticipated or damage to the living environment occurs, we may grant permission for capture, so please consult with the operations department.
◆Lending of crow-repellent boxes In the future, we plan to temporarily lend crow-repellent boxes to apartment buildings and garbage collection points in designated areas where crows are causing damage by scattering garbage, along with providing guidance and awareness-raising on proper garbage disposal methods.
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Amagasaki City holds a variety of events and courses that citizens can participate in.
Please see the event calendar for details.