Sunday, June 12, 2011

Osaka to hold information day for foreigners

An information service day for foreign residents will be held June 26 by Osaka International House Foundation in Tennoji Ward.

Experts on legal issues, medicine and education will offer advice to foreign residents experiencing difficulties in everyday life. Volunteers will provide interpretation in nine languages — English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Portuguese, Indonesian, Thai, Tagalog and Vietnamese.

There will also be brochures and displays regarding services for non-Japanese residents. No advance applications are required.

The hours are from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The reception will close at 4:30 p.m. The venue is International House, Osaka, also known as i-house, which is about a 10-minute walk from Tanimachi 9-chome Station on the Tanimachi subway line. For more information, contact the foundation at (06) 6773-8989.

Kids Plaza Osaka hosting picture book event

Kids Plaza Osaka, a children's museum in Kita Ward, is presenting picture books featuring rainy days and indoor games at its fourth floor library until June 30.

On June 15, there will be special reading sessions by Kansai Television announcers from 2 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.

Admission is ¥1,200 for adults, ¥600 for elementary and junior high school students, and ¥300 for children older than 3.

The museum is near Exit 2 of Ogimachi Station on the Sakaisuji subway line, or a three-minute walk west of Tenma Station on the JR Osaka Loop Line. The museum is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekends and holidays. It is closed Mondays.

For details and an access map, visit www.kidsplaza.or.jp (in Japanese) or call (06) 6311-6601.

Enjoy drinks, food at Ramada Beer Garden

Ramada Osaka, a hotel in Kita Ward, is staging Ramada Beer Garden 2011 on the 17th floor rooftop until Oct. 10.

In addition to all-you-can-drink beer, wine and soft drinks, which are included in the ticket price, there will be snacks, appetizers, salads, pasta, pizza and more on sale, with prices ranging from ¥300 to around ¥3,000.

On stage, there will be belly dancing from 7:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays, samba from 7:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesdays, and salsa twice, at 7:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., on Thursdays.

Tickets are ¥2,500 at the door. Until June 30 and from Oct. 1 to Oct. 10 the hours are from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., and on Sundays and holidays from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. From July 1 to Sept. 30, the hours will be from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., and on Sundays and holidays from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The beer garden will be closed in the event of rain and Aug. 6, the day of the Naniwa Yodo River Fireworks Festival. The hotel is connected to Exit 3 of Nakatsu Station on the Midosuji subway line. For an access map, go to www.ramada-osaka.com (in Japanese, English, Chinese and Korean). For reservations and further information, contact the hotel at (06) 6372-8181.

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