Electricity, Gas, Water, Internet and Mail When Moving in Japan: When to Contact Each and in What Order
Lights that work, hot water and internet from moving day seem like a given, but one late call can leave you unable to take a bath in the new home or without internet for a month. This article lays out, for electricity, gas, water, internet and mail forwarding (e-Tenkyo), how many days ahead to make contact, which ones need you present, and what to do at the old home and the new one, then shows an order for getting all the calls done in a single day.
Contact deadlines and whether you need to be present
For electricity, gas, water, internet and mail, you need to say two things: stop service at the old home, and start it at the new one. Start by noting the deadline for each and whether you need to be present on moving day.
| Service | Contact by | Present at the new home? | Who to contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internet line | One month before | Yes, if there's installation work | Line operator or provider |
| Mail forwarding (e-Tenkyo) | One week before | No | Post office counter or e-Tenkyo |
| Electricity | One week before | Rarely needed | Power company |
| Gas | One week before (two weeks in peak season) | Always required for connection | Gas company (city gas or propane) |
| Water | One week before | Rarely needed | Waterworks bureau of each municipality, old and new |
"One week before" is a guide for quiet periods. Bookings fill quickly in the peak season from March to early April and at year end, so it's safest to make contact as soon as your moving day is fixed.
Electricity: at the new home you often just flip the breaker
- Old home: tell the power company the date to stop service (your move-out date). Having the customer number from your meter reading slip or app speeds things up. Your final bill covers usage up to the stop date.
- New home: apply with the date to start service. Almost all homes have smart meters, so usually nobody needs to be present and the power works once you switch the breaker on that day.
- A chance to choose a new supplier: electricity retail is deregulated, so you can choose which company to contract with at the new home. If you stay with the same company, a single moving request handles both stopping and starting.
If the power doesn't come on after you switch the breaker on, the application may not be complete or the smart meter may not have switched over yet. The contact details for the new home's power company are often on a notice left at the breaker panel or in the mailbox, so photograph it to avoid a scramble on the day.
Gas: no bath unless you book the connection
Of the five, gas causes the most trouble if forgotten. When you start using gas at a new home, a technician carries out a connection check for leaks and confirms your appliances work safely, and you or a representative must be there. Without a booking, you can't use the bath, shower or stove that day.
- Connection at the new home: book a slot on moving day or the next day. Weekends and peak season fill up, so book one to two weeks ahead.
- Shut-off at the old home: usually nobody needs to be present and telling them your move-out date is enough. Some buildings, such as those with auto-locking entrances, may ask you to be there.
- Check the gas type: appliances such as stoves are made for either city gas or propane (LP gas) and can't be used on the other as is. Even within city gas, older appliances may not match the local gas type. Check the labels in advance to confirm that any gas stove or gas fan heater you're taking will work in the new home.
Water: contact the waterworks bureaus for both homes
Water is run by municipal waterworks bureaus, so when you move to another municipality you contact separate bureaus for the old and new homes. Within the same municipality, one call may cover both stopping and starting.
- Old home: give the date to stop service and confirm how the final water bill will be settled.
- New home: apply to start service. If the main valve is closed, opening it is enough, and nobody usually needs to be present. Some municipalities have you drop the start-of-service form left in the new home into a mailbox.
- Contact deadline: some waterworks bureaus ask for contact 3 to 4 business days ahead, so aim for one week before, as with electricity and gas.
Internet: apply a month ahead if installation is needed
The internet line takes the longest of the five. If the new home needs fiber installation, it can take two weeks to a month from application to connection, or longer in peak season. If you want internet from moving day, ideally apply as soon as the move is decided.
- 1
Find out which lines the new home supports
In an apartment building, ask the management company what type of line the building has (fiber to each unit, VDSL and so on). This is also when you compare moving your current line with taking out a new contract.
- 2
Apply to move the line or for a new one
To move it, give your current operator the new address and preferred date. Once the installation date is set, check whether you need to be present.
- 3
Confirm removal at the old home and equipment returns
If cancelling, check how to return any rented router or home gateway, whether removal work is needed, and any cancellation fee.
If installation ends up after the move, connecting through phone tethering or a rented mobile router keeps working from home and online paperwork going until the line is up.
Mail forwarding (e-Tenkyo): 3–7 business days to register
- How to file: submit a change-of-address notice at a post office counter, or apply online with e-Tenkyo. e-Tenkyo works from a smartphone, and once your identity is verified you don't need to visit a counter.
- Time to take effect: registration of forwarding takes about 3 to 7 business days after filing. File at least a week before the move and mail will reach the new home from right after you move.
- Forwarding period: one year from the filing date. Forwarding stops after a year, so if you want it extended, file again.
- Mail that isn't forwarded: items marked "do not forward", such as credit cards and cash cards, go back to the sender instead. Notify card companies and banks of your address change directly.
The post office change-of-address notice is a separate procedure from the change-of-address and move-in notices you file with your local government. Moving your resident record at the office doesn't inform the post office, so don't forget it even when moving within the same city (Moving within the same city).
An order for handling all the calls in one day
Almost all the contacts for electricity, gas, water and mail can be made online or by phone. One to two weeks before the move, set aside about an hour, have on hand your old address and customer numbers, your new address, your moving day and the times you can be present, and go through them in the order gas → electricity → water → e-Tenkyo. Doing gas first, because it books up fastest, makes it easier to fit the other dates around the connection appointment.
In the Moving To-Do List, entering your moving day lines up the deadlines as dates: 30 days before for the internet line, 7 days before for electricity, gas, water and e-Tenkyo, and moving day for being present at the gas connection. You can also add them to a calendar with a reminder the day before. For the overall flow including government procedures and preparing your home, see Moving to-do list in chronological order.
FAQ
- When should I contact electricity, gas and water when moving?
- About one week before is the guide. Gas in particular needs you present for the connection at the new home, so book a slot on moving day or the next day early. In the peak season from March to early April, aim for two weeks before.
- Do I need to be present for the gas connection?
- Yes. A technician checks for gas leaks and appliance safety, so you or a representative must be there. Shutting off gas at the old home usually doesn't require anyone present, though some buildings ask for it.
- How far ahead should I file e-Tenkyo?
- About one week before the move. Registration of forwarding takes about 3 to 7 business days after filing. Forwarding lasts one year from the filing date, and if you want it extended, file again.
- When should I apply for internet when moving?
- As soon as the move is decided, and at the latest one month before. If the new home needs fiber installation, connection can take two weeks to over a month. If it won't be ready in time, use tethering or a mobile router.
- Do I need to be present to start water service?
- Usually not. Apply to the waterworks bureau to start service and open the main valve. Some municipalities have you drop the start-of-service form left in the new home into a mailbox.
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