Procedures to take care of before moving houses in Japan

In this article, let’s go through the list of “Procedures to take care of before moving houses in Japan” with GoEMON so that you can know beforehand what to do and prepare before relocating! 

1. Terminate house contract: 

Don't forget to contact your real estate company or landlord to terminate the contract and set a house-returning date. 

In case you rent your place through the landlord: Rental contracts in Japan usually last 2 years. If you wish to return the property 1 year before the contract, you may be fined (worth roughly 1 to 2 months of rent), and you can return the property without being fined after 1 year of living there on the condition that you notify the landlord at least 1 month in advance. 

In case you rent your place via a real estate company, just like the case with a landlord, you also have to notify them of your moving at least 1 month in advance. 

2. Terminate your electricity, water, gas, and internet contract: 

If the contracts for electricity, water, gas, and so on are under your name, before moving out, you also need to be the one to termite them. You can begin to do so as soon as you have fixed your date of moving out and request the service provider to cancel the contract on the day you move. Although the cancellation of such contracts is not as strict as rental agreements, you should still be extra careful to contact them in advance, preferably at least 1 week before moving out in case any problems are to arise. 

Some service providers might require you to be physically present on the day of the contract termination.

Additionally, as these are post-use payments, the providers may also ask for your new address to issue a receipt for your usage.

3. House cleaning and disposal of items:

The next step is to clean your house and dispose of or sell unnecessary items. Most people will have a major clean-up near their moving-out date. 

For items such as pots, pans, kettles, etc., you can dispose of them easily as non-combustible garbage according to the usual schedule at your current residence. 

For bigger items, such as mattresses, bed frames, cabinets, electrical appliances, etc., you will have to contact the waste disposal center to get rid of them. Normally, you would be able to find the phone number of the waste disposal center at each of the building’s garbage disposal areas. You can call them and register directly. 

One thing to keep in mind is that you will need to pay a garbage disposal fee. 

4. Administrative procedures: 

• Procedures for notification of moving out of the current province/city: 

In Japan, this procedure is called 転出届 (Tenshutsu Todoke). This can be completed at the Kuyakusho or Shiyakusho around 1 to 2 weeks before moving out.

You can do this procedure by yourself or ask your wife/husband/family members to complete it on your behalf. You will need to bring your residence card or passport or driver’s license (if applicable), seal (inkan), and a filled-out notification form which can be found at the Kuyakusho or Shiyakusho. 

Upon completion, you will be issued a certificate of moving out of the province/city (転出証明書 – Tenshutsu Shomeisho). This is an important certificate that you will be using later on while completing procedures to check into your new city of residence. 

If you are moving houses in the same city as the one you are currently living in, you will have to complete the procedures for 転居届 (Tenkyo Todoke) also at the Shiyakusho or Kuyakusho instead of that of 転出届 (Tenshutsu Todoke).

If you have national insurance, when moving to a new city, you will have to complete the procedures to terminate the one in your previous city of residence. 

• Procedures for applying to enter a new province/city: 

In Japan, this procedure is called 転入届 (Tennyu Todoke), which is the same as when applying to move out of the province/city. 

For example: If you want to move to Tokyo, you will have to complete this procedure in the new province/city within the 14-day period after moving in. 

You can also do it yourself or ask your family members to do it for you. Things that you should prepare include: 

• Notice of application to enter a new place of residence
• Certificate of having left the old province/city
• Residence card or passport or My Number Card of your family member

If you are moving within the same city, you will need to do the procedures for 転居届 (Tenkyo Todoke), which is the same as the 転入届 (Tennyu Todoke).

Above was GoEMON’s list of the procedures that need to be prepared before moving houses in Japan. Along with the tips, we hope that the article would be of use to everyone on your house-moving journey! 

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