Electricity, Gas, and Water Contracts & Money-Saving Tips―Everything About Utilities You Should Know Right After Moving to Japan
This guide clearly explains everything from the utility connection procedures you'll need right after moving, to Japan's unique fee structures, and practical tips for keeping your monthly utility costs down.
When you move to a new apartment in Japan, setting up your utilities―electricity, gas, and water―is one of the first and most important tasks you'll need to tackle. In your home country, these services often start automatically when you move in, but in Japan you'll need to apply to each utility company yourself. What's more, Japan's utility billing system is somewhat complex, and your monthly expenses can vary significantly depending on how you use them. This article will walk you through everything from how to apply for utilities, to understanding the fee structure, to practical money-saving tips for daily life―all in a way that's easy for foreign residents to understand. For the complete moving process, please also refer to our complete moving checklist.
You can apply for electricity service through the utility company's website, by phone, or through their app. When you apply, you'll need: your new address, move-in date, your customer number (which you'll find on a sticker near the circuit breaker or in documents from your property management company), and information for bank transfer or credit card payment.
Since electricity market liberalization in 2016, you can choose your power company. In addition to traditional major utilities like Tohoku Electric Power and Tokyo Electric Power, many new energy companies now offer service. Options vary widely―some offer discounts when bundled with your smartphone plan, while others provide renewable energy options. If you're still building confidence with Japanese, starting with a major utility company can be the smoothest route. You can always switch providers after you move in.
The circuit breaker is usually located near the entrance or in a hallway. If the breaker is off when you move in, you may be able to turn it on yourself to get electricity working. If the power still doesn't come on, contact your power company.
Applying for Gas Service
Unlike electricity, gas service requires a technician to visit your apartment and open the meter. This means you need to book an appointment and be present when they arrive. Once you know your move-in date, reserve your appointment as early as possible. During busy seasons (March to April), appointments fill up quickly and it can take over a week to get your gas connected.
Japan has two types of gas: piped city gas and propane (LP gas). City gas is supplied by major regional utilities like Tokyo Gas, Toho Gas, and Osaka Gas, and rates are relatively stable. Propane is more common in areas without city gas infrastructure or in older buildings, and tends to be more expensive. Find out which type of gas your apartment uses before you move in by asking your real estate agent or property management company.
On the day the technician comes to open your gas, they'll check that all your gas appliances―the stove, water heater, bathroom dryer, and so on―are working properly. They'll also explain how to use everything, so don't hesitate to ask questions if anything is unclear.
Applying for Water Service
Water is managed by local municipalities, so you'll apply to the waterworks bureau in your new city or ward. In many cases, you can apply online or by phone, and unlike gas, you usually don't need to be present. You just need to provide your new address and move-in date to complete the application.
If the previous resident was using water right up until you move in, you may have water available on your first day. However, you must file a service start notification with the water bureau to change the account to your name. If you don't file this, you could face problems like bills arriving in the previous resident's name or your water being suddenly shut off.
Understanding Your Utility Bill Structure
Japan's electricity and gas charges follow a structure of "base charge plus usage-based rates." The base charge is a fixed monthly fee regardless of how much you use, and varies based on your contracted amperage for electricity or baseline usage for gas. For a single person, contracting for 30–40 amps is typical for electricity.
Water bills also follow a base charge plus usage rate structure, but since water is managed by each municipality, rates vary significantly by location. For a single person, monthly water bills typically run around ¥1,500–3,000.
Here's a rough estimate for single-person household utility costs (based on Sendai and the Tohoku region): electricity ¥3,000–8,000 per month (varying with summer cooling and winter heating), gas ¥2,000–6,000 per month (depending on water heating and heating usage), and water ¥3,000–6,000 per billing cycle (charged every two months).
Money-Saving Tips for Utilities
Review your electricity contract amperage: The higher your contracted amperage, the higher your base charge. If you live alone and use few appliances, consider lowering to 30 amps (or even 20). Just be careful not to go too low, or your breaker will trip frequently. Choose an amperage that suits your lifestyle.
Compare electricity and gas plans: Many utility plans partner with smartphone companies (docomo, au, SoftBank, Rakuten, etc.) and offer discounts when bundled with your mobile bill. Some providers also offer savings when you sign up for both electricity and gas together.
Use energy-efficient appliances wisely: Air conditioning is one of the biggest power consumers. Simply cleaning the filter regularly can reduce energy use by about 10–15%. Keep your refrigerator a bit away from the wall, don't pack it too full, and you'll also save electricity.
Adjust your water heater temperature: If your water heater is set higher than necessary, you'll waste gas. Lower the setting during times you use less hot water, and avoid overusing the reheat function.
Practice daily water conservation: Keep showers short, turn off the tap while washing dishes, use the appropriate flush setting on your toilet, and with small daily habits like these you can significantly reduce your water bill.
Moving In and Moving Out: Final Steps
When you move out, don't forget to arrange disconnection of your electricity, gas, and water. Ideally, notify each utility company 1–2 weeks before your move-out date. Since gas often requires a technician visit, arrange this early. Remember that you'll need to apply for service at your new place too, so manage applications and disconnections for both addresses in parallel.
Setting up your utilities is the foundation for a comfortable life. Once you know you're moving, start the application process as soon as possible so you're ready to move in comfortably from day one.
