A guide to getting your personal seal in Japan

Posted on by

Instead of using a signature, Japanese people use hanko/inkan (personal seal) in many different circumstances, such as when renting a house, buying a car/house, opening a bank account, and more.

  1. Types of hanko/personal seal
  2. Purchasing a hanko
  3. Here are some hanko stores around Hakata and Tenjin.

inkan 03 photock Photo credit: https://www.photock.jp/detail/office_item/5995/

I. Types of hanko/personal seal

There are three types of hanko: jitsu-in, ginko-in and mitome-in.

  • Mitome-in (“認印” in Japanese) is a seal of approval. It’s your regular, everyday hanko which you use for daily things like receiving parcels. A mitome-in is not registered anywhere, nor does it have any legal standing.
  • Ginko-in (“銀行印“ in Japanese) is a hanko for bank/financial transactions. You simply need to register your ginko-in with your bank(s). (OPTIONAL) Your mitome-in may also double as a ginko-in.
  • Jitsu-in (“実印” in Japanese) has the strongest legal power of the three. They generally take longer to make and must be registered at your city/ward office. You would use a jitsu-in when you buy a house/car, set up a company; or when you sign a legally binding contract.

 

II. Purchasing a hanko

To purchase your personal seal, there are two ways of getting it: ordering through the internet or going to a seal store.

If you are a foreign citizen and your name is not Japanese, your personal seal must have your first name, last name, or full name engraved in either Katakana or Roman characters.

For more details about hanko, click here!

You can order your hanko from these links:

III. Here are some hanko stores around Hakata and Tenjin.

Hankoyasan21 (はんこ屋さん21)
Address: 2-1-18 Toko, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka
Tel.: 092-477-7744
Hours: (Mon. to Fri.) 10:00-19:00, (Sat.) 10:00-17:00
Closed: Sun., holidays, before/after New Year
Price: Akane (a common wood used for Inkan) 10.5 mm: \3,099~
Access: 9 min. on foot from Hakata Sta.
Website: https://hanko21hakatatoko.com/?utm_source=hanko21official&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=shop

Inoue Kansai Do (井上関西堂)
Address: 2-11-19 Hakataeki-minami, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka
Tel.: 092-473-6866
Hours: 9:30-19:00
Closed: Sat., Sun. and holidays
Access: 12 min. on foot from Hakata Sta.

MISTER MINIT (Yodobashi Camera)
Address: 1F Yodobashi Hakata Bldg., 6-12 Hakataeki-chuogai, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka
Tel.: 092-292-6520
Hours: 10:00-20:00
Closed: Some holidays
Payment: Cash, credit card, e-money
Access: Near Otoha Park exit
Website: https://www.minit.co.jp/shopsearch/detail/1066/
*Same-day orders okay!

MISTER MINIT (Hakata Sta.)
Address: 1-1 Hakataeki-chuogai, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka
Tel.: 092-483-4350
Hours: (Mon. to Fri.) 10:00-20:00, (Sat.) 10:00-19:00, (Sun. & hol.) 10:00-18:00
Closed: Some holidays
Payment: Cash, credit card, e-money
Access: City subway ticket gate area in Hakata-guchi Exit
Website: https://www.minit.co.jp/shopsearch/detail/831/
*Same-day orders okay!

Yasuda Inshoten (安田印章店)
Address: 4-8-12 Hakata-ekimae, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka
Tel.: 092-474-1710
Hours: (Mon. to Fri.) 10:00 – 18:30, (Sat.) 10:00 – 17:00
Closed: Sundays
Access: 8 min. on foot from Hakata Sta.

—

Return to Japan Life Hacks main page.