3-1．Making Friends
When you first come to Joetsu, two of the things that will make your
life easier and more enjoyable are learning Japanese and meeting new
friends you can talk to. Won’t you consider taking part in Japanese
lessons? There are several organizations which support foreign
residents and international exchange. If you take part in some of the
events they sponsor, you will surely make new contacts and meet new
friends.
１ Japanese Lessons
Classes in Japanese language and culture are offered for foreign
nationals living in Joetsu. There are many classes offered, from
beginning level to advanced. People from many countries who have the
same interest in Japanese study together.
（１）Joetsu International Network（JOIN）sponsored
①Advanced Japanese Class (childcare not provided）
Place:
Joetsu Shimin Plaza（Tsuchihashi 1914-3）
Class Fee:
\750 per lesson
Dates and Time: Mondays 9:30～11:00 a.m.
②Everyday Japanese Seminar Level: Beginning ・ Intermediate
★Citizens Plaza Class
Place:
Joetsu Shimin Plaza (Tsuchihashi 1914-3）
Class Fee:
\500 a year materials fee
Dates and Time: Wednesdays 9:30-11:00 a.m. (childcare offered)
Fridays
9:30-11:00 a.m. (childcare offered)
Saturdays 10:00-11:30 a.m. (childcare not provided)
★Takada Public Hall Class
Place:
Takada Public Hall（Otemachi 5-40）
Class Fee:
\500 a year materials fee
Dates and Time: Mondays 19:00～20:30（childcare not provided）
③Private
Class
Those who
at Joetsu
Lessons
Fee:Varies
wish to learn privately on a one-on-one basis should check
International Network for teachers, schedules and fees.
Inquiries
Advanced Japanese, Everyday Japanese Seminar, Private Lessons
○Joetsu International Network（JOIN）☎：025-527-3615
（2）“October” Club (sponsored)
Place:
Joetsu Shimin Plaza（Tsuchihashi 1914-3）
Class Fee:
1000 yen per month
Dates and Time:
Tuesdays 17:30～19:00
Inquiries
○October Club
☎：025-526-7902(Mrs.Yoshida)
)
（3）Takada Catholic Church (Sponsored)
Place:
Takada Catholic Church（Nishishiro-cho 2-3-12）
Class Fee:
200 yen per visit
Dates and Time:
Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays 9:00-10:30, 10:30-12:00
Sundays 13:00～14:30
Inquiries
○Catholic Takada Church
☎：025-523-5348
3-2．Communicating with Joetsu Citizens
1
International Exchange groups and clubs
There are a large number of groups and clubs actively promoting
international exchange in Joetsu. Join in and participate!
Group Name
Joetsu International
Network（JOIN）
activities and contact information
A clearinghouse for all international activities in the Joetsu area
Exchange student support, international understanding
seminars, Japanese and foreign language classes, foreign
resident consulting and counseling.
（front desk： 025-527-3615）
Friendship Joetsu
Japanese language instruction for non-native speakers,
exchange between foreign residents and exchange student
support
（Hiromi Sawai： 025-532-2153）
Joetsu Japan-Australia Promotes exchange between Japan and Australia. Events
Association
center on Peace Memorial Park in Naoetsu
（Yoshikazu Kondo:025-523-6671）
AFS Japan Association, Providing host families for visiting exchange students as well as
Joetsu chapter
finding Japanese candidates for study abroad
（Masako Mikami：025-543-8269）
Kakehashi
(Bridges) Promotes exchange and support of foreign residents
Club
（Rieko Odake： 025-522-5068）
Friends
Around the Exchange with visiting exchange students and homestay
World Club
programs
（head office：025-592-2004）
Yoshikawa
Development of friendly ties between Japan and China through
Japanese-Chinese
exchange
Friendship Club
（head office：025-548-2808）
Sanwa
International Promotes international understanding through information and
Exchange Association
exchange activities
（head office：025-532-2192）
２
Websites of International Organizations in the Joetsu Area
Please access the following sites for international information
Joetsu City http://www.city.joetsu.niigata.jp/（Japanese and English）
Joetsu Education University http://www.juen.ac.jp/（Japanese and English）
Niigata Prefecture International Exchange Association http://www.niigata-ia.or.jp/
（several languages）
Joetsu International Exchange Association (JOIN) http://www.join-web.net/ (several
languages）
3―3．Facilities in Joetsu
１ Culture・Meetings・Research
Joetsu Aquarium
Nishi-honcho 4-19-27
☎：025-543-2449
Joetsu Aquarium is one of the major aquariums on the Sea of Japan
Coast, featuring more than 400 species of 10,000 sea creatures.
Dolphin show in summer.
Joetsu Cultural Hall
Shinko-cho 1-9-1
☎：025-525-4103
A 1500-seat hall for live stage and musical performances, large
and medium halls, and meeting rooms for concerts and performances
Region Plaza Joetsu
Shimo-monzen 446-2 ☎：025-544-2122
Indoor Stadium, Concert Hall, Pool and Ice Arena; attached to
Niigata Prefectural Science Museum
Joetsu Shimin Plaza
Tsuchihashi 1914-3
☎：025-527-3611
Multi-purpose facility
Meeting rooms, music studio, cooking rooms, International
Exchange Center, NPO Volunteer Center, Children’s Center, Gender
Equality Center, Environmental Information Center, Ombudsperson
bureau
Gangidori Plaza
Honcho 3-2-26
☎：025-525-4150
City Office Southern Branch, FM Joetsu Radio, Multipurpose room,
tatami rooms, Citizen Salon
Rainbow Center
Chuo 1-16-1
☎：025-544-2112
City Office Northern Branch, meeting rooms, tatami rooms, hall,
cooking facilities
Workpal Joetsu
Shimo-monzen 477
☎：025-545-5111
Multipurpose room, meting rooms, cooking rooms, audio visual
rooms
Working Youth Home
Takada Area Public Hall
Motoshiro-cho 8-1
☎：025-523-2440
Ote-machi 5-40
☎：025-524-3106
Culture Center Kasuga-shinden 2-19-1
☎：025-543-7188
Gymnasium, Tennis Courts, music rooms, meeting rooms, cooking
facilities
Heart-topia Nakago
Nakago-ku, Nihongi 1763
☎：0255-74-2338
Music Hall, Meeting Rooms
Kiyosato Planetarium Kiyosato-ku, Aoyagi 3436-2 ☎：025-528-7227
Giant telescope, planetarium, study rooms
Kibou Kan （Kubiki Area Public Hall）
Hyakken-machi 716
☎：025-530-2360
Multi-purpose hall, multi-purpose rooms, training rooms, cooking
rooms, pottery, sewing, computer and craft rooms.
Ogata Public Hall Ogata-ku, Dosokohama 1079-1 ☎：025-534-4367
Kakizaki Public Hall Kakizaki-ku, Kakizaki 6406：025-536-6716
Yoshikawa Public Hall Yoshikawa-ku, Hara-no-machi 1819-1
☎：025-548-2177
Sanwa Public Hall Sanwa-ku, Ino-kuchi 329-1 ☎：025-532-4538
Itakura
Agricultural
Environment
（Itakura Public Hall）
Improvement
Center
Itakura-ku, Hari 986 ☎：0255-78-2325
Maki Working Improvement Center（Maki Public Hall）
Maki-ku, Tajima 705-10 ☎：025-533-5130
Uragawara Public Hall Uragawara, Kamabuchi5 ☎：025-599-2104
Oshima Working Improvement Center （ Oshima Public Hall ）
Oshima-ku, Oka 3388-1 ☎：025-594-3201
Nadachi Public Hall Nadachi-ku, Nadachi Omachi 205
☎：025-537-2004
２
Libraries
Residents of Joetsu can have a library card made and borrow books
from the library.
Fill out the application and bring some
identification (driver’s license, foreign resident card) to the
library counter.
Takada Public Library
Motoshiro-cho 8-30 ☎:025-523-2603
Naoetsu Public Library Nishihoncho 4-17-5 ☎025-545-3232
In addition there is an annex and reading room.
Joetsu also has many other tourist and relaxation facilities.
For more information ask Kanko Shinkou Ka(Tourist Information).