With a view to creating a comfortable living environment for all citizens regardless of nationality and culture, the Sapporo International Communication Plaza Foundation provides non-Japanese residents with support for living in Sapporo, a variety of information and materials and opportunities for cross-cultural exchange with Japanese people.
English-speaking staff provides information on living and sightseeing in Sapporo
The salon is open from 9:00 to 17:30, Monday through Saturday.
Foreign-language pamphlets offering handy information on living in Sapporo (such as leaflets on disaster measures, sightseeing guidebooks and pamphlets on how to use the subway and how to separate garbage) are packed and distributed (free).
Information for foreign nationals living in Sapporo and tourists from overseas, foreign-language pamphlets and What’s on in Sapporo, a free English information magazine, are provided. English maps of Sapporo are also available to purchase. Visitors can view materials on international exchanges and cooperation, foreign-language books, newspapers and magazines. Internet facilities are also available on request – please apply at the counter.
A message board is available for cross-cultural information exchange. Messages from those seeking language exchange lessons, holding sayonara sales (selling usable items before leaving the country), etc. can be posted here.
Youth Hostel membership procedures can be completed here. Accommodation cannot be reserved.
Lawyers from the Legal Service Network for Foreigners in Sapporo provide free legal consultations (e.g., employment, rental contracts, nationality, divorce and inheritance). No reservations are required. Consultations are offered in Japanese; those seeking advice will need to have a Japanese-speaking person with them.
For scheduling, refer to the website
（http://plaza-sapporo.or.jp/citizen_j/salon/salon_event.htmll） (Japanese/English)
Free consultation on extending periods of stay and changing residential status due to international marriage is offered in April and October every year.
For scheduling, refer to the website
（http://plaza-sapporo.or.jp/citizen_j/salon/salon_event.html） (Japanese/English)
In this program, participants can enjoy cross-cultural exchange through free conversation in foreign languages. No fees apply, and reservations are not required. A native speaker of the language serves as the facilitator.
The English/Chinese/Russian/Korean program is conducted once a week, and the German/Japanese program twice a month.
For scheduling, refer to the website
（http://plaza-sapporo.or.jp/citizen_j/lets_talk/lets_talk.html） (Japanese)
（http://plaza-sapporo.or.jp/citizen_e/use/use.html） (English)
Many volunteer groups conduct Japanese classes. For details, please contact the Sapporo International Communication Plaza.