The center was established in 1984 and is known locally as the "NIC." The center's facilities are located on the third to fifth floors of the Nagoya International Center Building, a 7-minute walk or a 2-minute subway ride from Nagoya Station. Kokusai Center Station, on the Nagoya City Subway, is linked to the Nagoya International Center at the basement level. The facilities that are open to the public free-of-charge include an information corner and a library with an extensive collection of foreign books. The center organizes activities that promote multi-cultural exchange between the local communities and the somewhat transient foreigner population of the area. It also provides information and hosts free consultations (health, tax, legal, personal counseling, etc.) services for foreign residents in 7 languages (English, Filipino, Spanish, Portuguese, Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese). It publishes monthly newsletters in English and Portuguese (The Nagoya Calendar); content includes event listings, classifieds section, advice column, and daily living information. The Center also runs Japanese language classes for foreign residents, a home-stay program, a taiko drumming class, a children's soccer school, and a school visit program.
