Getting to the Tōkyō Legal Affairs Bureau

This is a web version of the map that 東京入国管理局 {Tōkyō nyūkoku kanri kyoku} (Tōkyō Immigration) in 品川 {Shinagawa} will give you when you ask about naturalization.

名称 {meishō}東京法務局 {Tōkyō hōmukyoku}
所在地 {shozaichi}〒102-8225　千代田区 {Chiyoda-ku} 九段南 {Kudanshita-minami} １−１−１５
九段 {Kudanshita} 第２ {dai-ni} 合同庁舎 {gōdō chōsha}

電話番号 {denwabangō}03 (5213) 1234 （代表 {daihyō}）
案内図 {annaizu}

交通手段 {kōtsū shudan}営団 {eidan}地下鉄 {chikatetsu}東西線 {Tōzai-sen}「九段下 {Kudanshita}」駅 {eki}
営団 {eidan}地下鉄 {chikatetsu}半蔵門線 {Hanzōmon-sen}「九段下 {Kudanshita}」駅 {eki}
都営 {toei}地下鉄 {chikatetsu}新宿線 {Shinjuku-sen}「九段下 {Kudanshita}」駅 {eki}　　６番 {roku-ban}出口から {deguchi kara}徒歩５分 {toho go-fun}
取扱事務 {toriatsukai jimu}登記 {tōki}、供託 {kyōtaku}、戸籍 {koseki}、国籍 {kokuseki}、後見登録 {kōken tōroku}
不動産登記管轄区域 {fudōsan tōki kankatsu kuiki}千代田区 {Chiyoda-ku}、中央区 {Chūō-ku}、文京区 {Bunkyō-ku}、小笠原村 {Ogasawara-mura}
業務法人登記管轄区域 {gyōmu hōjin tōki kankatsu kuiki}千代田区 {Chiyoda-ku}、中央区 {Chūō-ku}、文京区 {Bunkyō-ku}、小笠原村 {Ogasawara-mura}

There are three things you need to take away from this map (two are written down, one is not):

  1. You can go to any Legal Affairs Bureau in Japan (not the case for matters of real estate, which have areas of jurisdiction), but it must be equipped with a 国籍課 {kokuseki-ka} (Nationality Section). This usually means the branch offices (including the ones located in Tōkyō) are no good.
  2. Unlike Immigration where you usually just show up and take a number for most things, visiting the Nationality Section and talking with (your assigned) case worker is by appointment, made by phone, only. After your first appointment, you will be given your case workers "number" and/or name and you'll ask for the same person (by name or number; my case worker gave me his name) for your subsequent appointments.

    In my particular case, the earliest they could see me for each appointment was about three to four weeks from the time of each call.

    Don't be even five minutes late, or you will be bumped.
  3. Unlike some matters in Immigration and at the 区役所 {kuyakusho} (Ward Office / City Hall), most of the matters require you to show up in person. Even if you have an assistant or lawyer. Later documentation will also stress this point.
Once you're there, you fill out an additional sheet of paper, writing down your name, the amount of times you've been there, who's expecting you, and the time of your appointment, then put it face down (for privacy) in an inbox and have a seat in the waiting area.

They will call your name. You will then sit in a tiny partitioned area with a desk, a light, and a lot of law and procedure books on one side (where the case worker will sit).
    If you arrive early, they do have a nice traditional cafeteria as well as a convenience store in the basement.

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