Announcements in the  January 1st Issue

“30% Bonus!  Akashi Special Gift Certificates” On Sale

Akashi City is selling “30% Bonus!  Akashi Special Gift Certificates”.  These are special tickets that can be used just like money.  There are two types of Special Gift Certificates:  paper and digital.  Both types of certificate cost 5000 yen for one set of tickets.  Each set contains tickets worth a total of 6,500 yen.

Time Limit to Apply

For paper certificates: Until January 10th.

For digital certificates: Until January 20th.

Amount You Can Order

For paper certificates:  3 books of tickets per 1 person

For digital certificates:  3 sets of tickets per 1 person

You can apply for both paper and digital certificates.

Where Certificates Can Be Used

For paper certificates: At roughly 1,200 stores in Akashi

For digital certificates: At roughly 600 stores in Akashi

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Time Period When Certificates Can Be Used

From Wednesday, February 1st until Friday, March 31st.

[Paper Gift Certificates]

One book of certificates has 12 tickets. Each ticket is worth 500 yen.  *Please note that when you use these tickets, you will not receive any change for leftover money.

(1) How to apply

① Send in an application postcard (these postcards will arrive at your home by January 6th)

② Apply on the Akashi City website.

There are 7 places where you can purchase the Akashi Special Gift Certificates.  Please choose the place you want to purchase them from and make your application.

The deadline for the application is January 10th.  If you are sending an application postcard, be sure to put it in the mail by January 9th.

(2) If many people apply for the tickets, it will be determined by a lottery.  The winners will be sent a letter saying how many ticket books they are able to purchase.  (These letters will start to be sent out on January 26th.)

(3) Please purchase the ticket books from February 1st until February 5th.  If you look at the letter sent out by Akashi City, you will be able to see where you can purchase the tickets.

[Digital Gift Certificates]

(1) How to apply

Please apply on the website from Tuesday, January 10th until Friday, January 20th.

(2) If too many people apply for the tickets, it will be determined by a lottery.  The winners will be sent an e-mail saying how many ticket sets they are able to purchase.  (These e-mails will be sent out around January 26th.)  The e-mail will contain information about the price and the ID needed to register.

(3) Use the ID provided in the email and register.  Then you can pay to purchase the certificates at a convenience store or using your credit card.  Please purchase them from Wednesday, February 1st until Friday, February 10th.

*The digital gift certificates can be purchased by anyone, regardless of their age.  However, the person purchasing them must have their own smartphone e-mail address and telephone number.

[Warning When Buying the Certificates]

① The book of paper certificates can only be bought with cash.  It is not possible to purchase it with a credit card.

② The set of digital certificates can be bought either by paying for it at the convenience store, or by using a credit card.

[What You Can’t Use the Certificates to Buy]

• There are some things the gift certificates cannot be used for.  For instance, they can’t be used to pay taxes.  They cannot be used to pay bills for electricity, gas, water, etc.  They also cannot be used to purchase things like cigarettes.

If you have any questions, please contact the “30% Bonus!  Akashi Special Gift Certificates Call Center.”  Their phone number is 078-918-5334.  Their fax number is 078-918-5136.  They are available to call on Monday to Friday, from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm.  However, the phone line will be closed from January 1st until January 3rd.  You cannot apply for the gift certificates over the phone or with a fax.

Announcement from the Akashi Planetarium

1. The Akashi Planetarium will be having an event where you can use a telescope to see the night sky.

The event is called “Stargazing Event.”

Dates: From Friday, February 10th until Saturday, February 25th.

Time: From 7:00 pm until 8:15 pm.

The maximum number of participants is 30 people per viewing.  The cost per person is 300 yen.

Please apply on the internet by 5:00 pm, two weeks in advance of the day you want to attend.

If too many people apply for the event, it will be decided by a lottery.

An Upcoming Classical Music Concert

The students at a music academy will be performing classical music.  The name of the performance will be “Akashi Fresh Concert.”

Date and Time:  Saturday, February 18th from 2:00 pm.

Place:  Meridian Hall (Aspia Akashi north building, 9th floor)

The maximum number of participants is 293 people.  The cost per person is 500 yen.

You can apply for the event here:

Applications will be processed in the order that they are received.

“Talking About the World” Event at Akashi Public Library

The foreign guest speaker Alla Doll will be talking about Ukraine.  The event will take place on Sunday, February 5th from 2:00 pm until 3:30 pm.  Anyone is welcome to apply to join.  Applications will begin on January 22nd.  The first 15 people who apply will be able to join.  Please apply either by going to the help desk at the public library, or by phone.

The Akashi Public Library is located in Akashi City, Ooakashi-cho 1-6-1, on the 4th floor of Papios Akashi.  Their telephone number is 078-918-5800.

Please Help Conserve Electricity

This winter, all over Japan there will not be enough electricity to meet everyone’s needs.  That’s why we need to work together to try and conserve energy.

• When buying electronics, try to buy those that are labelled as “energy-saving”.  These products are designed to use less electricity.
• When using a heater, heat the room to about 20 degrees Celsius.  While heating the room, also be sure to ventilate it occasionally.

If you have any questions about this article, please contact the Environmental Planning Division.  Their phone number is 078-918-5786.  Their fax number is 078-918-5586.

Notifications about the Coronavirus Vaccine

The last day that you can get the Coronavirus vaccine is on March 31^st, 2023.

1.　The Omicron vaccine

(1) The following people are eligible to receive the Omicron vaccine:

•Anyone who is 12 years old or older, received the 1st and 2nd vaccinations, and had their last vaccination over 3 months ago can receive the Omicron vaccination.

*You can only receive the Omicron vaccination one time.

(2)Where to get vaccinated
•You can receive the vaccination at 110 hospitals and clinics all over Akashi.  You can also receive it at the Akashi Book Mark Square or the Akashi Public Health Center.  Check this internet site to see where you can be vaccinated.

(3) Ticket to receive vaccination

•   Please use the ticket that you have now.

• If you have not yet received the Omicron vaccination and you have no ticket, please call 0120-712-160 and apply to receive a ticket.

2.　For Those Who Are Over 12 Years Old and Haven’t Gotten Their 1st or 2nd Vaccinations

• You can get the vaccine at the Akashi Public Health Center on Sunday, January 15th.
• Please call 0120-712-160 to make a reservation.

3.　Vaccinations for Infants and Children

•    Children from 6 months to 11 years old are eligible to receive the vaccine.

• You must call 0120-712-160 and apply for a vaccination ticket first.
• Please call a hospital or clinic that gives Coronavirus vaccinations and make a reservation.  If you check this internet site, then you will be able to see which hospitals and clinics can give Coronavirus vaccinations:

• In order to be vaccinated, children need permission from their parent or guardian.  In addition, a parent or guardian must be present when they receive the vaccination.

• In order to be vaccinated, children need permission from their parent or guardian.  In addition, a parent or guardian must be present when they receive the vaccination.

4. For People Who Just Moved to Akashi

If you want to receive the Omicron vaccine, the please call 0120-712-160 and apply for a ticket.

5. Akashi Coronavirus Vaccine Telephone Number

The number to call to reserve a Coronavirus vaccination in Akashi is 0120-227-710.  You can also make a reservation over the internet.

To apply for a vaccination ticket, please call 0120-712-160.  If you can’t talk over the phone, then you can send a fax instead.  Their fax number is 0120-655-695.

*The phone number is available every day from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm. 

 What to Do If You Think You Might Have the Coronavirus

If you have a high fever, a cough, a very sore throat, a serious headache, or you feel extremely tired, please follow the steps below:

1. For children of elementary school age or younger, those who are 65 years old or older, those who suffer from some serious ailment, or those who are pregnant

(For anyone else, please look at “2. For those from junior high school age to 64 years old, those who are not pregnant, and those who are not suffering from any serious ailments”)

(1)  Please consult one of the following three options:

① Call the doctor who you normally use.

② Call a fever clinic (a clinic that specializes in patients with fevers) and make an appointment.

③ Call the Coronavirus Consultation Hotline and talk with them.

Their phone number is 078-918-5439.  They are open every day from 9:00 am until 6:00 pm.  If you want to consult them from 6:00 pm until 9:00 am the following day, please call 078-912-1111.)

(2)  If you take a PCR test and you get a positive result for Coronavirus:

①  The following people will be contacted by the Akashi Public Health Center:

・Those 65 years old and older

・People who need to be hospitalized

・Pregnant women

・Those who have an ailment that could get worse, or those who need to take medicine

The Public Health Center will help take care of getting you into a hospital and checking up on your health status.

② For anyone else, you will not be contacted by the Public Health Center.

If you want to go to a special hotel while you recover, or if you want someone to check up on your health status, please make an application. 
Check the internet site below for more detailed information:

2.For those from junior high school age to 64 years old, those who are not pregnant, and those who are not suffering from any serious ailments

* If your high fever continues for some time or your symptoms don’t improve, then please go to a hospital or clinic.

(1) Please buy a Coronavirus testing kit and test yourself.  You can buy these testing kits at a drugstore or online.  Please buy a testing kit that is labeled with either体外診断用医薬品 (which means “in-vitro diagnostic kit, or IVD kit) or 第一類医薬品 (which means “Class 1 over-the-counter medical product”) If you use this internet site, you can apply to Hyogo prefecture and receive a free testing kit:

(2) If the test results are positive and you have the Coronavirus:

① Please register for the Self-Recuperation System (meaning you will be recovering on your own without going to a hospital or clinic).

You can register for it at this internet site:

② You will not be contacted by the Health Center.

If you want to go to a special hotel while you recover, or if you want someone to check up on your health status, please make an application.  Check the internet site below for more detailed information:

If you have any questions about this article, please contact the Akashi Public Health Center, Disease Prevention Department.  Their phone number is 078-918-5421.  Their fax number is 078-918-5441.