The Akashi Newsletter (Koho Akashi) is a newsletter published by Akashi City. It releases on the 1st and the 15th of each month. There are many announcements in each issue of the Akashi Newsletter. We have selected five of the most important or useful announcements and translated them into English.
Announcements in the December 1st Issue
Be Sure to Follow the Traffic Laws When Riding a Bicycle
Starting from April 1st, 2026, if you break one of the Road Traffic Laws when riding a bicycle, you will have to pay a fine. This will apply to everyone 16 years of age or older who is riding a bicycle.
There are many different rules that you must follow. In total, there are 113 different rules that you will have to pay a fine if you break. Here are a few examples:
- Riding a bike while talking on the phone
- Riding a bike while looking at your smartphone or phone
- Ignoring traffic lights
For more details, please check the QR code on the right.
Important Traffic Rules for Riding a Bicycle
- In general, you must ride your bicycle on the road instead of on the sidewalk. You must ride on the left side of the road.
- In some cases, you are allowed to ride your bicycle on the sidewalk. The cases are listed below:
◦ When there is a sign saying that bicycles are allowed to ride on the sidewalk. The sign looks like this:
◦ If you are 12 years of age or younger.
◦ If you are 70 years of age or older.
◦ If you have some sort of disability.
Even if you can ride your bicycle on the sidewalk, please be careful not to block or cause issues for people walking on the sidewalk. Ride as closely as possible to the road, and ride at a slow, safe speed.
If you have any questions about this article, please contact the Traffic Safety Division. Their phone number is 078-918-5036. Their fax number is 078-918-5110.
Have You and Your Children Been Vaccinated for Measles and Rubella?
Measles and rubella are two diseases that are very contagious. They can even lead to other, more serious illnesses.
To protect your children from measles and rubella, be sure that they get vaccinated.
The people on the following list are eligible to get free vaccinations this business year (for the rest of 2025 up to March 31st of 2026). Please note that the measles/rubella vaccination requires you to get two separate vaccination shots.
- First period (the 1st shot): Children who are from 12 months old to 24 months old.
- Second period (the 2nd shot): Children who were born from April 2nd, 2019 to April 1st, 2020.
If the eligible period has passed for your child, then you will have to pay about 10,000 to 20,000 yen for a vaccination shot, so please be careful.
◦If you were unable to get the free measles/rubella vaccination during the 2024 business year, the time limit has been extended. You are now eligible to get the vaccination for free up until March 31st of 2027. For more details, please check the QR code below.
If you have any questions about this article, please contact the Children’s Health Division. Their phone number is 078-918-5656. Their fax number is 078-918-6384.
