Moving into a new apartment in Japan involves a specific sequence of utility registrations, address changes, and service setups that residents should complete within the first weeks of occupancy — most are straightforward once the process is known.
Domestic Moving Services
Japan’s domestic moving industry is extraordinarily well-developed — professional, efficient, and competitively priced. Major moving companies: Yamato Home Convenience (ヤマトホームコンビニエンス) — Yamato Transport’s moving arm; the most recognized brand with English service options; 宅急便 (takkyubin) small-item express delivery nationwide. Sakai Moving Service (サカイ引越センター) — Japan’s largest by revenue; strong on customer service and competitive pricing. Art Moving Center (アート引越センター) — well-known for younger generation marketing; competitive pricing. Nippon Express (日本通運, Nittsu) — also handles international moves. Pricing factors: distance, volume (number of truckloads), date (weekends, end of month, and late March–early April [繁忙期, peak season] are significantly more expensive), and floor level. Typical costs: local (within 50km), 1K apartment: ¥30,000–80,000 off-peak; ¥60,000–150,000 during peak season (March–April). Get quotes from 3+ companies via comparison sites: 引越し侍 (Hikkoshi Samurai) and SUUMO引越し見積もり aggregate competing quotes. International moves: Nippon Express, Kuroneko International, and international specialists handle sea and air freight overseas.
Change of Address Procedures
Japanese residency registration requires updating your address at multiple institutions. Municipal registration (住民票の移転届け): notify the new ward/city office within 14 days of moving — submit a move-out notification (転出届, ten-shutsu todoke) at the old municipality and a move-in notification (転入届, ten-nyū todoke) at the new one; foreign residents also update their residence card address simultaneously. Required documents: residence card; passport; stamp (if applicable). Online procedures available in some major municipalities. Post office mail forwarding (転送届, tensō todoke): submit a Japan Post mail forwarding request at any post office or online (e.g-post.japanpost.jp) — mail forwarded for 1 year at no charge. Financial institutions: update address at all bank accounts, credit cards, and investment accounts — each requires separate notification; most can be done online or by phone. NHK: update NHK address at nhk.or.jp/jushinryo or by calling 0120-151-515 — failure to update results in continued billing at old address. Insurance: notify all insurance providers (health, auto, renters) within the required notification window — typically 14–30 days. Driver’s license: update at the nearest police station’s traffic license section — bring the license, residence card, and new address proof. My Number: address automatically updates when municipal registration is updated — no separate My Number notification required.
Electricity, Gas & Water Setup
Three utility registrations are required when moving into an unfurnished apartment. Electricity: contact the local electricity provider — in Tokyo, Tokyo Electric Power (東京電力, TEPCO); in Osaka, Kansai Electric (関西電力, Kepco); in Nagoya, Chūbu Electric (中部電力, Chudenco). Since 2016 energy liberalization, competitive providers (楽天でんき, Looopでんき, etc.) often undercut incumbent prices. Register via phone (English lines available at major providers) or online — provide your meter number (メーター番号) from the electricity meter at the apartment; service begins on move-in day or next business day. Gas: for apartments with gas stoves and gas water heating (ガス給湯器, gas hot water heater), contact the gas provider listed on the contract — a technician inspection appointment is required to turn on gas safely (typically half-day wait at your apartment). Tokyo Gas (東京ガス), Osaka Gas (大阪ガス), and Toho Gas (東邦ガス, Nagoya) are the major regional providers. English phone service available at Tokyo Gas and Osaka Gas. Alternatively, many modern apartments use all-electric (オール電化) — no gas connection needed. Water: managed by the municipality’s waterworks bureau — typically automatically connected; the first bill arrives approximately 2 months after move-in; no registration action required in most cases. First month costs: budget ¥5,000–10,000 for utilities in the first month (lower due to partial month billing); ¥10,000–20,000/month for all utilities in a 1LDK.
Internet Connection Setup
Japan’s fiber internet is among the world’s fastest and most affordable — setup process requires some planning. Check building compatibility: confirm whether the building is served by NTT Flets Hikari fiber — most post-2000 buildings are; older buildings may require VDSL (slower) or cable modem. The building manager (管理会社) or your real estate agent can confirm. Provider structure: Japan separates the physical line provider (NTT Flets Hikari) from the ISP (OCN, So-net, Biglobe, Plala, etc.) — you contract with an ISP that bundles the NTT line; monthly cost approximately ¥4,000–6,000 for 1Gbps symmetric fiber. Alternative networks: NuroHikari and docomo Hikari offer competitive pricing via alternative infrastructure. Setup timeline: 1–4 weeks from application to installation — a technician visit is required for the initial fiber line installation; this is the main delay. Apply immediately on or before moving in. Temporary internet during wait: mobile data SIM or pocket Wi-Fi rental (see earlier guide) provides internet during the setup waiting period. Router: most ISPs provide or rent a router; compatible Wi-Fi 6 routers purchased independently provide better performance for multiple-device households. NHK fee (NHK受信料, NHK jushōryō): NHK (Japan’s public broadcaster) charges a reception fee (approximately ¥2,000/month or ¥1,300/month for terrestrial only) for anyone with a TV, computer capable of receiving NHK+ streaming, or smartphone — NHK representatives frequently visit new residents; legally you are obligated to contract if you have a receiving device. Paying by annual bank transfer reduces the fee slightly.
Garbage Collection Rules
Garbage disposal rules in Japan are among the first practical challenges new residents encounter — the system is strict and specific. Garbage separation: Japanese municipalities require waste separation (ゴミ分別, gomi bunbetsu) into categories that vary by city — minimum categories: 燃えるゴミ (moeru gomi, burnable waste — food, paper, wood); 燃えないゴミ (moenai gomi, non-burnable — small metals, ceramics, glass, rubber); 資源ゴミ (shigen gomi, recyclables — plastic, cans, glass bottles, newspapers, cardboard). Collection schedule: each category has specific collection days — typically 2× weekly for burnable, 1–2× monthly for non-burnable and recyclables. The schedule is distributed by the building manager or municipality (most city websites have multilingual PDF garbage guides). Designated garbage bags: many municipalities require waste to be put in official designated garbage bags (指定ゴミ袋, shitei gomi-bukuro) sold at supermarkets and convenience stores — check local rules. Large items (粗大ゴミ, sodai gomi): furniture, appliances, and large items cannot be put in regular garbage — require advance appointment and a disposal fee (¥300–1,500 depending on size); book via the municipal website or phone 30 days before move-out if disposing of furniture. Collection location: most apartments have a designated garbage drop-off point (ゴミ捨て場, gomi sute-ba) in the building or on the street — only deposit garbage on the morning of collection (not the night before, in most areas, to prevent crow damage and complaints).
Japan’s moving and utilities setup process is systematic and, once the sequence is understood, efficiently executable — the strictness around garbage sorting and address registration reflects Japan’s broader civic orderliness, and residents who engage with these systems find neighborhood life significantly smoother as a result.