Your first week after moving involves concentrated critical tasks—municipal procedures, utility setup, and more. With registration required within 14 days and mandatory attendance for gas activation, this prioritized checklist helps you start your new life smoothly.
Reviewed by: Nobuyuki MoriPresident, M-Assets Co., Ltd. / Licensed Real Estate Transaction Specialist (Miyagi #018212)
A comprehensive breakdown of 28 essential administrative procedures needed after moving, presented as a checklist. From resident registration transfers to driver's license, My Number Card, bank, credit card, insurance, and workplace notifications—clarifying the priority order and deadlines for each procedure.
Explains the best timing for moving your residence registration (notifications to move out and move in). This guide covers the pros and cons of transferring before move-in, deadlines and penalties for after, and the correct procedures including address changes on foreigners' residence cards.
For those thinking about filing a change of address before moving, we break down the essentials of the 14-day rule under the Basic Resident Register Law and clarify when submitting a change of address before move-in day constitutes false reporting. Experts explain which procedures (like filing at your previous residence, setting up mail forwarding, and arranging utilities) can be done early, and the correct order to do them in.
You've finished unpacking and may be tempted to relax, but how you spend your first week in your new home is crucial to starting your new life comfortably. There are legal deadlines for municipal office submissions, and neglecting utility setup can disrupt daily life. Additionally, handling address changes early—things that are easy to forget—prevents problems before they start.
This article organizes everything you should do during the week following move-in day, in chronological order, with clear priorities. Whether you're living on your own for the first time or starting life in a new place, following this checklist will give you peace of mind.
When receiving your keys from the real estate agency or building management, always verify the number of keys. You may receive multiple keys—for the front door, mailbox, common areas, and so on. Before signing a receipt, cross-reference the types and quantities of keys listed in your lease agreement. Since replacement costs for lost keys are often the tenant's responsibility, this initial check is critical.
Documenting the condition of your apartment before move-in directly prevents disputes over restoration to original condition at move-out. Focus on these key areas:
Record the entire space on video with your smartphone, and photograph any problem areas. The date and time stamp serves as strong proof of the apartment's condition at move-in. If the management company conducts an inspection with a checklist, both parties should sign and date a copy for your records.
Verify that all equipment works properly—air conditioning, water heater, gas range (if provided), interphone, lights. If there are issues, contact the management company the same day; early reporting increases the likelihood of quick resolution as a manufacturing defect.
By law under the Basic Resident Register Act, you must submit a transfer registration at your new municipal office within 14 days of moving. You'll need:
If you're moving within the same municipality, you only need to submit a change-of-address form. If the household head is handling procedures for everyone, bringing My Number cards or notification cards for all family members streamlines related procedures.
If you have a My Number card, handle the address update at the same time as your transfer registration. Your new address will be recorded on the back of the card. Skipping this step may prevent you from using convenience store services for issuing certain certificates.
If you're an employee with company health insurance, your employer handles the update. Self-employed or freelance workers must submit both a national health insurance address change and a national pension address change at the municipal office. These can be completed the same day as your transfer registration, so verify required documents in advance.
In most cases, turning on the breaker gives you electricity right away. However, notifying the power company is mandatory. Many companies now offer online or app-based applications, but missing the notification risks having service suspended later.
Due to electricity deregulation, you can choose alternative power companies. If you're comparing rates and rewards programs, start by completing the setup with your area's major utility, then switch later for safety.
A technician must be present—either you or an authorized representative—when the gas line is activated. Ideally, contact the gas company 1–3 days before move-in, though same-week requests are possible. During busy seasons (March–April, September–October), appointments book quickly, so calling ahead is wise.
The technician will inspect gas equipment connections and perform safety checks. The process typically takes 15–30 minutes. Bring a photo ID, as it may be requested.
Submit your water service request to your municipal water department or utility by phone, online, or mail. In most cases, water runs when you turn on the tap, but skipping the formal procedure can cause problems later.
When applying, having the "customer number" (used by the previous tenant, often posted near the front door or mailbox) makes the process smoother.
Internet services requiring installation—such as fiber optic lines—typically take 2–4 weeks from application to activation. During peak seasons, waits can stretch to 2 months, so applying when you confirm your move is ideal.
Some apartments include free internet. In that case, management will provide connection instructions—check with them. Mobile Wi-Fi or phone tethering can serve as a temporary solution, but if you work from home or attend many online meetings, a fixed line is recommended.
Update your address at the police station or driver's license center in your new jurisdiction. You'll need your license, proof of your new address (resident registration, My Number card, health insurance card, etc.), and a stamp/seal (not always required). The process takes 10–15 minutes, and your new address is recorded on the back of your license on the spot.
Since driver's licenses are frequently used as ID, updating it early is convenient.
Updating your address with financial institutions is important to ensure critical documents reach you.
Auto insurance especially: failing to update risks affecting your coverage in an accident, so take this seriously.
Notify your employer of your new address for pay stubs and tax documents. Some companies may need to recalculate commute allowances.
Students should submit an address change form to the school office. If you receive a scholarship, notify the scholarship organization as well.
Japan Post's forwarding service (free) redirects mail addressed to your old address to your new one for one year. Apply at your nearest postal office or online at Japan Post's "e-transfer" service. You'll need ID.
While the service is active, use arriving mail to identify which services need address updates, then handle those progressively.
Introduce yourself to neighbors on move-in day or the day after. The scope varies: in a house, greet "three houses across the way and two houses on each side"; in an apartment building, greet neighbors on both sides and directly above and below.
Follow these guidelines:
If no one's home, leave a memo and gift on their doorknob, though a follow-up visit is more courteous. Greetings have become less common for security reasons, but especially in family-oriented buildings, introducing yourself helps future relations run smoothly.
If you're a foreign national changing your address in Japan, additional procedures apply.
Residence Card Address Update At the same time as transfer registration, have the municipal office record your new address on the back of your residence card. This must be done within 14 days of moving; failure to comply may result in a penalty (fine up to ¥200,000).
Immigration Bureau Notification If you don't have a residence card but are a long-term resident alien, submit an address change to the local immigration bureau.
Workplace or School Notification If you're in Japan on a work or student visa, notify your employer or school of your address change. This affects visa renewal procedures, so keeping records accurate is important.
Your first week is critical—it sets the foundation for a smooth transition. Use this priority order as a guide:
Highest Priority (Move-In Day to Day 3)
High Priority (Within One Week)
As-Needed (Within Two Weeks)
Create a checklist from these items and cross them off as you complete them—this prevents oversights. Make your first week count so your new environment becomes a comfortable home.
When moving to a rental property, many procedures are needed from filing a moving-out notice to updating your driver's license and bank accounts. If you get the order of procedures wrong, the workload multiplies. This article explains all address change procedures before and after moving in an easy-to-understand way.
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