You have the keys to your new apartment in Japan. Before move-in day, check one more thing: who will start the electricity, gas and water, and when? These are often separate arrangements. Your lease or management company may handle some of them, so check that first rather than signing up twice.
The steps below work as a planning checklist across Japan. Application channels, lead times and available providers depend on the building and region. The Tokyo links at the end show concrete official examples.
First, ask the agent or building manager
- Are electricity, gas or water already included in rent or managed by the building?
- Which suppliers serve this address? Is the gas city gas (都市ガス) or LP gas (LPガス・プロパンガス)?
- Can I choose a supplier, or does the building specify one?
- Is there a meter number, customer number or building information I need to apply?
- Who should I contact if a service does not work on move-in day?
Save the exact Japanese address, apartment number, your move-in date, contact number and any supplier details before starting applications.
Electricity: arrange a start date
Apply to the electricity supplier for your new address and specify the day you want service to begin (使用開始). If you are leaving another home, arrange its end date (使用停止) as well; a start at the new address does not necessarily cancel the old contract. Ask whether the building has a special supply arrangement.
On move-in day, if the lights do not turn on, follow your supplier’s instructions for checking the breaker. Do not tamper with the meter. For reference, TEPCO’s English FAQ discusses moving and ending service, while its moving page provides current application guidance for its customers. These are examples for a particular supplier, not a national application portal.
Gas: reserve a time for opening
Ask whether your apartment uses city gas or LP gas, and contact the provider identified for the address. Gas opening (開栓) commonly involves a scheduled visit to check equipment and explain safe use. In Tokyo Gas’s procedure, someone must be present; a representative can attend if arrangements permit. Reserve a slot as soon as the move date is known, especially around busy moving periods. An electricity application alone does not book a gas visit.
Check which appliances match the property’s gas type before buying or connecting a stove. If you smell gas, follow the provider’s emergency guidance and contact it immediately; do not try to open or repair equipment yourself. Tokyo Gas’s English moving guide and detailed Japanese moving guidance show how its process works.
Water: check the local water office
Water arrangements are local. Your municipality or water bureau may ask you to file a start-of-use notice, even if water already comes from the tap. Confirm whether the building manager handles this, and arrange a stop notice for the old address where applicable.
For example, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Bureau of Waterworks offers an English mode for start and stop applications in its service area. Its moving FAQ recommends applying a few days before the move. If you live outside its service area, use your local water authority instead.
Japanese terms on the forms
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 使用開始 | shiyō kaishi | Start using the service |
| 使用停止 / 使用中止 | shiyō teishi / shiyō chūshi | Stop using the service |
| 開栓 | kaisen | Open the gas service |
| 立ち会い | tachiai | Be present for a visit or inspection |
| 契約者 | keiyakusha | Contract holder |
| お客さま番号 | okyakusama bangō | Customer number |
| 供給地点特定番号 | kyōkyū chiten tokutei bangō | Electricity supply point ID |
One useful question is 「電気・ガス・水道は自分で申し込みますか。」 (Denki, gasu, suidō wa jibun de mōshikomimasu ka?) — “Do I apply for electricity, gas and water myself?” For gas, ask 「開栓の立ち会いは必要ですか。」 (Kaisen no tachiai wa hitsuyō desu ka?) — “Does someone need to be present when the gas is opened?”
A simple move-in plan
- When the address and move date are fixed: check the lease and ask the management company who handles each service.
- Before moving: apply to start each service you need; schedule the gas visit if required. Arrange to stop services at the old home and check how the final bill will reach you.
- On move-in day: check electricity and water, attend the booked gas visit, and keep confirmation emails or application numbers.
- Afterwards: confirm the contract holder, payment method and first bill for each service.
Utility setup is only one part of a move. See our address-change checklist for city-hall procedures and other updates, and our apartment listings guide if you are still choosing a home.
