Finding a funeral venue for foreigners around Saitama Shintoshin | The role of Hikari Kaikan and crematoriums

When you start looking for a funeral venue for a family member or close friend in or around Saitama Shintoshin, you may feel anxious about where to begin due to language barriers, contacting relatives overseas, and unfamiliar procedures. Even for funerals of foreign nationals, it's important to calmly separate the necessary notifications in Japan from the question of where to say goodbye to the deceased.

In Chuo Ward, Saitama City, there is the Saitama City Hikari Kaikan, which serves as a funeral facility. However, Hikari Kaikan is not a cremation venue. Cremation will be carried out at either Urawa Crematorium or Omiya Seien, so when searching for a venue, you should check the "place for the farewell ceremony" and the "place for cremation" separately. Understanding this difference from the beginning will make it easier to organize travel, reservations, and inform family members overseas.

The venue and the crematorium each have different roles.

Hikari Kaikan is a funeral facility where family and attendees gather for wakes, funeral services, and farewells. It's a good idea to consider travel from Saitama Shintoshin, the number of attendees, the type of service, the desired time slot, and whether a waiting room is needed. Eligibility requirements, availability, and facility details may change, so it's necessary to check directly with the facility.

A crematorium is a facility where cremation takes place. In Saitama City, even if the ceremony is held at Hikari Kaikan, the cremation will be performed at either Urawa Crematorium or Omiya Seien. The name of the crematorium is written on the cremation permit, so it is also related to the procedure for submitting the death certificate. It is important to plan not just the venue first, but also to include the reservation of the crematorium and transportation on the day of the cremation.

For example, a family living in Omiya Ward, Saitama City, might be concerned about transportation to Omiya Seien, while a family living in Urawa Ward, Saitama City, might be concerned about transportation to Urawa Funeral Hall. However, it is necessary to check individually which facility is available and whether there is availability on the desired date and time. Do not assume that the facility or reservation is possible based solely on the address; consult with the relevant parties depending on your situation.

First, I'd like to clarify my wishes regarding the farewell.

Before searching for a venue, it's helpful to share a brief idea within the family of "how you want to say goodbye" to the deceased. This will make the discussion process easier. The required venue size and the method of guidance will vary depending on whether you plan a large ceremony or a small family funeral centered around close relatives. While family funerals are often chosen to limit the number of attendees, the specific details should be decided according to the family's wishes.

• Where are the family members and relatives who plan to attend the ceremony located?
• When and in what language should I contact my family overseas?
• Of the wake, funeral service, and farewell time, is there one you would prefer?
• Are there any wishes related to the deceased's cultural background or beliefs?
• Is there anything you'd like to confirm regarding traditional clothing, music, photography, prayers, etc.?
• How would you like the cremated remains to be handled after cremation?

Religious ceremonies, attire, and the participation of overseas relatives will vary depending on the facility's operations, the religious leader's schedule, and the decisions of those involved. There is no need to hesitate to express your wishes, but it is best not to assume that they can be implemented. It is reassuring to communicate and confirm with the venue and relevant parties in advance. If necessary, it is a good idea to list your wishes and share them in a language that your family is comfortable with.

We will proceed with reservations and notifications with an awareness of the connection between them.

In Japan, cremation requires filing a death notification and obtaining a cremation permit. Saitama City advises submitting a death notification, along with a doctor's death certificate or post-mortem examination report, within seven days of learning of the death. Since the cremation permit will include the name of the crematorium, a reservation at the crematorium is necessary.

Therefore, when deciding on the funeral date, check not only the venue's availability but also the crematorium's reservation status. If you are unsure about the notification office, required documents, or how to write the deceased's name, do not proceed on your own, but check with the city office. For foreign nationals, there may be matters to confirm regarding nationality, notification in their home country, and handling of passports, etc. It is also a good idea to check with the relevant office whether it is necessary to contact the embassy or consulate.

If relatives living overseas are involved in the decision-making process, it's important to consider the time difference when deciding on the order of communication. Summarizing potential venues and crematoriums, preferred dates, and necessary confirmations on a single sheet will make discussions with distant family members easier. Even in situations where a decision needs to be made quickly, deciding who will be the final point of contact will help prevent misunderstandings.

Things to mention during the consultation will help the process of confirmation go more smoothly.

Seikatsu Funeral Service Center offers telephone support in Japanese, and email support for multilingual consultations. If you have concerns about language barriers, you can also write a brief explanation of your situation and specify the points you would like to confirm. Individual interpretation, transportation, placement, and religious ceremonies, as well as their costs, vary depending on the situation, so please confirm these details during your initial consultation.

1. Where the deceased is currently located and any difficulties you are facing regarding their repose.
2. Areas where you would like to find a venue, such as Saitama Shintoshin or Saitama City Chuo Ward.
3. The desired size of the funeral and whether or not you wish to have a family funeral.
4. I would like to check the reservation status of the crematorium.
5. The language you wish to use and circumstances regarding contacting family overseas.
6. Religious and cultural preferences, and the content you would like to confirm.
7. Things that haven't been decided yet, things that need to be discussed with family

You don't need to decide everything from the start. Even at the stage where you're thinking, "We're considering a ceremony at Hikari Kaikan, but I want to know the difference between that and a crematorium," or "I want to organize the schedule so that my family abroad can understand," you can still organize the order in which you need to confirm things. It's important not to leave anything you don't understand unresolved, but to ask the appropriate person or agency, such as the venue, crematorium, or government office.

We will also check with the insurance provider regarding funeral expenses.

If the deceased was enrolled in Saitama City's National Health Insurance, there is a system in place to provide funeral expense reimbursement to the person who conducted the funeral. According to the city's guidelines, the reimbursement amount is 50,000 yen, and the application period is within two years from the day after the funeral. However, eligibility cannot be determined solely by nationality. Please check with the Insurance and Pension Division of your local ward office regarding the insurance the deceased was enrolled in, who actually conducted the funeral, and the necessary documents for application.

If you were enrolled in a health insurance plan other than the National Health Insurance, check with your respective insurer regarding the availability of a system and the necessary procedures. Even if you are considering using such a system, it is best to first ensure that funeral and cremation arrangements are made safely, and then organize documents and receipts according to the instructions of the relevant insurer.

You don't need to handle the venue, cremation, procedures, and contacting family overseas all at once. Remember that Hikari Kaikan is a facility for ceremonies and farewells, while Urawa Crematorium or Omiya Seien are facilities for cremation. Let's go through each step one by one. Separating your wishes from the things you need to confirm will help make this important time for your family as peaceful as possible, and this is the first step towards a dignified farewell.