Consultation and Interpretation Services

Consultation services

日本語(Japanese)　やさしい日本語（Simple Japanese）　中文　　한국어　　Tiếng Việt

On Wednesdays,【SAPPORO HELP DESK for Foreign Residents】operates until 7PM!

SAPPORO HELP DESK for Foreign Residents

Foreign residents who live in Sapporo are welcome to come consult about problems that they have encountered in their lives in Japan. Advice and support will be provided so that the consultor can be better prepared to solve problems by themselves.

How to use the service

In-person

Sapporo International Communication Plaza Foundation

Address：3F MN Building, Kita 1-jo Nishi 3-chome, Chuo-Ku, Sapporo

Click here to check the access map

If you come by bicycle, please check this.

Tel

011-211-3678

E-mail

Flyer

MN building, entrance
HELP DESK, entrance

Hours of Operation

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday  9:30 - 17:00
Wednesday 9:30 - 19:00
※Closed on national holidays and during the New Year's break (12/29-1/3).

Multilingual Support

Multilingual staff

We have staff who speak simple Japanese, English, Chinese and Sinhala. (Monday-Friday)

Vietnamese :  Friday 10:00-17:00

Telephone interpretation

Other language support will be provided via telephone interpretation.

Korean, Nepali, Portuguese, Spanish, Vietnamese, Burmese, French, Russian, Thai, Hindi, Mongolian, Tagalog, Indonesian, Persian and Cantonese

*The use of telephone interpretation is for free.

 

 The Help Desk can provide consultation under various occasions such as:

  • Where to learn Japanese?

  • How to respond to letters from the ward office?

  • What do I need to know when my wife is expecting a baby?

  • How to apply for a chld daycare center?

  • How to deal with family issues? etc.

*A representative is acceptable if the person in question cannot come him or herself.

Please understand the following conditions in advance

  • The purpose of the Help Desk is to provide support for the users to solve problems.

  • To provide support, we may share information with relevant organization(s) or professionals.

  • Your case may be shared and handled by more than one consultant.

  • The Help Desk does not lend money/goods to users, and does not provide accommodation.

  • The Help Desk may not provide support in the following cases:

  • if a user is already in the middle of a dispute in court.

  • if the issue may bring undue profits to particular individual or organization.

  • if the issue may put a consultant in danger.

  • Personal information provided will be kept confidential, and it will not be shared with someone/organization that is not involved in the support given to the users

  • Should the use of telephone interpretation be necessary, the call will be recorded. The recording is to ensure that the interpreted content is accurate, and will not be shared with any outside parties.

Organization

SAPPORO HELP DESK is operated by Sapporo International Communication Plaza Foundation(SICPF), entrusted by Sapporo City. SICPF not only provides citizens with opportunities for international exchange but also provides support for foreign residents, attracts and supports MICE such as international events and conferences, fosters international human resources, and conducts programs to promote the attractiveness of Sapporo.

SAPPORO HELP DESK for Foreign Residents Free Professional Consultations 

Gyosei shoshi (Administrative Procedures Specialists), lawyers and tax accountants are available for consultation for foreign nationals living in Hokkaido.

*Consultations are available in Japanese, English and Chinese. Other language support will be provided via telephone interpretation.30 minutes maximum per consultation.

*Your personal information will be kept confidential.

Foreign nationals and their family/friends who lives in Sapporo or other cities in Hokkaido.

Participation fee：Free

Consultations Schedule for FY2025：

2025. Apr. 19 (Sat.) 13:00-16:00

2025. Jun. 21 (Sat.) 13:00-16:00

2025. Aug. 9 (Sat.) 13:00-16:00

2025. Oct. 18(Sat.) 13:00-16:00

2025. Dec. 13 (Sat.) 13:30-16:30

2026. Feb. 14 (Sat.) 13:00-16:00

Sapporo International Communication Plaza (Sapporo MN Bldg. 3F, Kita 1-jo Nishi 3-chome, Chuo-ku)MAP ※Online consultation via zoom is also avaliable

Capacity: First 15 applications

Application: https://plaza.kjpro.ne.jp/?id=18

Flyer（PDF）​​​​​​

［Application/Inquiries: ］
SAPPORO HELP DESK for Foreign Residents (SICPF)
TEL：011-211-3678
E-mail：tabunka (at)plaza-sapporo.or.jp
※Please replace (at) with ＠when sending e-mail to us.

Organizers: City of Sapporo, Sapporo International Communication Plaza Foundation, Legal Service Network for Foreigners in Sapporo, Hokkaido Immigration Procedures Consultation

In cooperation with Hokkaido Certified Public Tax Accountants’ Association

                                       Flyer of Free Professional Consultation FY2025

Consultants

Gyosei shoshi：Hokkaido Immigration Procedures Consultation

Gyosei shoshi (Certified Administrative Procedures Specialists, or Administrative Scriveners) provide consultations relating to procedures when updating and changing resident status, starting a business, and more.

TEL 011-206-4942（Watari Adiministrative Solicitor Office (Secretariat))

Lawyers： Legal Service Network for Foreigners in Sapporo

This is a network of lawyers that supports foreigners on legal matters such as divorce, work-related problems, inheritance, traffic accidents, etc.
If you want to have consultations with them, please contact the Sapporo Help Desk for Foreign Residents.

Tax accountants：Hokkaido Certified Public Tax Accountants' Association

Certified tax accountants provide tax consultations (e.g. tax return procedures, tax registration for founding a company, etc.)
TEL: 011-621-7101
URL：http://www.do-zeirishikai.or.jp/eng/index.html

Tax Return- Seminar ＆Individual Consultation

Filing Income Tax Return- Seminar FY 2025

A certified public tax accountant explains about the basic information on the process of filing an individual income tax return.

Tentative Date & Time: 10:30-12:00, February 14 (Sat)
Target Audience: Foreign nationals and their family/friends who live in Sapporo or other cities in Hokkaido.
Fees: Free of charge
Application: Reservations are required. 
Please sign up from the application form. The application form will be open on Jan.6th.
https://plaza.kjpro.ne.jp/?id=15

Individual tax return consultation FY 2025

Individual consultation sessions are provided.
Date & Time:February 14(Sat) 13:00-16:00
Target Audience: Foreign nationals and their family/friends who live in Sapporo or other cities in Hokkaido.
Capacity: First 16 applications
Fees: Free of charge
Consultation time: Approx. 30 minutes.
*Note that some questions may be too complicated to provide answers for.
Application: Reservations are required. 
Please sign up from the application form.The application form will be open 1 month before the event date.
https://plaza.kjpro.ne.jp/?id=102

Free Professional Seminar for Foreign residents

Inheritance is an important matter that can become a concern for anyone. Although it may seem complicated due to legal terminology and complex procedures, there’s no need to worry!  A lawyer and a tax accountant will provide a clear and accessible explanation, with English interpretation available. Would you like to learn together at our seminar about how you can help create a secure future for your family and loved ones?  You can join the seminar easily online via Zoom.    

Topic: Inheritance Seminar for Foreign Residents

Date & Time: Saturday, December 13, 2025, 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM

Format: Online seminar via Zoom

Target Audience: Foreign residents living in Hokkaido and Japanese residents interested in the topic

Speakers:

Ms. Yoshikawa Yoshie, Attorney (Foreign Residents Legal Support Network)

Mr. Ito Masahiro, Certified Tax Accountant (Hokkaido Certified Tax Accountants’ Association)

Registration: https://plaza.kjpro.ne.jp/?id=15

Inquiries: Sapporo Help Desk for Foreign Residents

Phone: 011-211-3678

Email: tabunka(at)plaza-sapporo.or.jp

※ Please replace “(at)” with “@” when sending an email.

Sapporo City Call Center

The Sapporo City Call Center answers questions on city systems, facilities, events and information on public transportation etc. by phone, fax and e-mail.

Hours

Open year-round from 8:00 - 21:00

Phone/Fax/E-mail

TEL 011-222-4894

FAX 011-221-4894

Email: info4894(at)city.sapporo.jp

*when sending an email, please replace “(at)” with “@”.

Available languages

Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean

Sapporo City Call Center（City of Sapporo）

Others (Facilities/Organizations)

If you are not sure who you should consult with, please contact the SAPPORO HELP DESK.

For open days and hours of the following facilities and organizations, please refer to each website.

City Hall/Ward offices/Odori Certificate Issuance Service Center

Sapporo city-related facilities can basically respond in Japanese. If you need an interpreter, please use the service Sapporo Community Interpreters.

The following facilities have a translation machine.

  • Kita Ward Office

Status of residence

Nationality（Naturalization, Aquisition of Japanese nationality）

Sapporo Legal Affairs Bureau, resident section（by reservation only）Japanese

Address: Sapporo Dai-ichi Godo Chosha 1F, Kita 8-jo Nishi 2-chome, Kitaku

TEL 011-709-2311

Foreign diplomatic and consular offices

Hokkaido Foreign Resident Support Center multilingual support

For foreign nationals residing in Hokkaido, the center provides multilingual consultations regarding residence procedures, employment, medical care, welfare, tax, pensions, childbirth, child care, education, disaster, housing, marriage, divorce, DV and so on.

Legal Services

  • Legal Service Network for Foreigners in Sapporo (Reservations required)

This is a network of lawyers that supports foreign residents of Hokkaido with their problems including employment, housing, resident status, nationality, divorce, etc.
Consultations are provided in Japanese in principle, but English/Chinese-speaking lawyers may be available.
If you want to have consultations with them, please contact the Sapporo Help Desk for Foreign Residents.
After your request has been forwarded, a lawyer will contact you to arrange the date, time and place of consultation.

  • Sapporo Bar Association Legal Consultation Center (Reservations required)

[For those who do not speak Japanese]

"Specific-Fields Lawyer Referral Service for cases involving foreign nationals" is available.
They handle issues related to resident status, nationality, family issues such as divorce, alimony and child custody, employment issues such as dismissal and unpaid wages, etc.
They do not handle criminal cases. The consultations are basically provided in Japanese, but bilingual lawyers may be available.
If you want to have consultations with them, please contact the Sapporo Help Desk for Foreign Residents.

Sapporo Bar Association

[For those who speak Japanese]

Please contact the Leal Consultation Center close to your place of residence.

Japan Legal Support Center (Houterasu)

* To use the consultation service, please make an appointment in advance.  

SAPPORO HELP DESK for Foreign Residents Free Professional Consultations

Gyosei shoshi, lawyers and tax accountants are available for consultation for foreign nationals residing in Hokkaido.

Job, Employment Consultation

Job seeking

  • Hello Work（multilingual telephone support）(Public employment service center)
    *Phone numbers differ by language. For more details, please refer to the website.

  • Hello Work Plaza Sapporo “Employment Service for foreign Workers”,  “Advisory Service for Foreign Students” 

    Adresss: Taijuseimei Sapporokyodo Bldg. Kita 4 Nishi 5, Chuo-ku, 060-8526

    ・Employment Service for foreign Workers(5F)（Languages：Japanese, English, Chinese,and  Korean *Interpretation service available on specific days and time.)

    ・Advisory Service for Foreign Students (9F)（Japanese only）
    TEL 011-242-8689

Job seeking/Employment insurance

Employment Consultation

Technical Intern Training

※Phone numbers and available days differ by language. For more details, please refer to the website.

Counseling/Human rights issues

Consumer Issues

Consultation services for returnees from China, Sakhalin, etc.

Education

Family life

Children

Useful Websites