When you’ve signed your apartment contract and paid a (very) hefty, tear-jerking amount of deposit money, you will need to make some calls to utility companies at least a week before your move-in date. Your housing agent may give you the contact information of the companies or guide you through the next steps, but unfortunately, setting up gas, electricity and (sometimes) water is something you will have to do yourself.
Unless you want a rough transition for your move-in process in Japan, this is a no-brainer tip. However, if you are a foreign resident, you might be worried about a couple of things that are related to applying for utilities:
- You just arrived in Japan for the first time
- You cannot speak Japanese, or can barely speak,
Some procedures involved can seem overwhelming for foreigners who have not mastered the Japanese language. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of making calls and what to expect when making a call for electricity, gas and water.
What to Know Before Applying for Utilities in Japan
It’s advisable to apply for utilities one week before you move into your new apartment in Japan, but it’s even better to make the call pronto. However, the utility company will require a little information from you before they can process your application.
- Your full name
- The address of the place you’re moving into
- The date you want to start the service
- Your phone number
You shouldn’t have time to provide the first three answers, but you will need an active Japanese phone number. This means if you’ve just arrived in Japan for the first time, you will need to buy a SIM card.
Overall, you will need to register for essential utilities in Japan well in advance of moving into a new house or apartment to avoid getting stuck for any period of time without access to these necessities.

Setting Up Electricity in Your New Home in Japan
Getting your electricity is, surprisingly, more straightforward than you might think. It is possible to start getting electricity in your house on the same day you apply, but it will still take at least 2-3 hours for it to be connected.
To start using electricity in your house or apartment in Japan, you will need to open an electricity account. This can be done by contacting the call center of the electric power companies.
Thankfully, if you’re a foreigner, major electric companies provide English customer service, which can avoid any miscommunication on both ends.
We recommend going to TEPCO (Tokyo Electric Power Company), or Tokyo Denryoku, if you live in Tokyo. They have an English language call service and an English website too. It’s also the biggest electricity supplier in the Kanto region (KEPCO). In fact, most realtor agents will list TEPCO as its electricity provider and list their phone numbers.
Still, before phoning TEPCO’s call center, you should check which telephone number to call, as different regions will use different lines. Call centers are usually busy, so if you don’t have time to wait, subscribe online via TEPCO’s official side (Kurashi TEPCO Web). Here, you can register for TEPCO electricity, as well as check your electricity charges.
Below are the useful Japanese phrases when applying for electricity in Japan.
Japanese | Romaji | English |
---|---|---|
引っ越しをするので電気を止めてください。 | Hikkoshi o suru node denki o tomete kudasai. | Please stop my current service because I am moving. |
電気を申し込みたいです。 | Denki o moushikomitai desu. | |
OO月OO日から電気の使用を開始したいです。 | OO getsu OO nichi kara denki o shiyou o kaishi shitai desu. | OO gatsu(month) OO nichi(date) kara denki no shiyou wo kaishi shitai desu. |
分かりません。もう一度説明してください。 | Wakarimasen. Mou ichido setsumei shitekudasai. | I’m sorry but I do not understand. Can you explain it again please? |
電力切り替えをしたいです。 | Denryoku kirikae o shitai desu. | I want to change electricity providers. |
Next Step
Locate the circuit breaker (ブレカー), which is usually on the wall somewhere near the entrance of your apartment or your bathroom. All the switches should be in a downward position, marked with the label “切” which indicates the electric supply is off.
Simply turn all the switches up to “入” (for “on”) and the power should be up and running. If you still don’t get any electricity (the easiest way to tell is if the lights can turn on), it’s time to make another call).
Usually, customer service will ask you to keep the switch downward and wait for another two or three hours to try it again.
Note that many businesses, banks, government offices, and customer support offices for utility companies are closed during the end-of-year holidays and Sundays.
Other Electricity Companies
There are ten major electric power companies in Japan, divided by geographic region. Before 2016, these suppliers can only supply electricity within their respective regions.
- Hokkaido Electric Power Company
- Tohoku Electric Power Company
- TEPCO
- Chubu Electric Power Company
- Hokuriku Electric Power Company
- Kansai Electric Power Company
- Chugoku Electric Power Company
- Shikoku Electric Power Company
- Kyushu Electric Power Company
- Okinawa Electric Power Company.
TEPCO supplies electricity to most households in the Kanto region. Other electric power companies follow similar procedures.

Turning on Gas in Your Japanese Home
Gas is probably the most ‘challenging’ utility to set up because you will actually need to be in your new apartment. The gas technician will come in person to turn on your gas line. There will probably be a small gap between the time you move in and the time your gas turns on, so it’s probably a good idea to plan your bath accordingly.
The good news is that it only takes around 10 minutes for them to check and activate the gas line.
We recommend scheduling an appointment on the day you move in. Thankfully, gas companies are pretty accommodating, both in terms of language services and availability. The company will give you several time slot options, meaning you won’t need to wait the whole day for them because you’re uncertain when the technician will come.
Tokyo Gas Customer Service has English service. Once you hear an automated recording, simply dial the number “7”. An operator will speak in Japanese, but if you respond in English, Korean, Chinese, Portuguese or Spanish, they’ll set up a three-way call between you, the operator and an integrator.
Some gas companies, like Tokyo Gas, allow online registration. More details on Tokyo Gas’ process are here.
Tokyo Gas customer service phone number: 0570-002211
Tokyo Gas online registration: here

Turning On Water in Japan
Perhaps the easiest out of the three basic utilities in Japan, your home’s water supply line is usually left on, so you don’t have to worry about turning it on when you move in.
Still, you should also contact your local water bureau to set up an account in your name. The application to start or stop water service online is user-friendly and also available in English.
- Tokyo Metro Waterworks Bureau Official Online Application: here (English).
- Kanagawa Waterworks Bureau: here
- Osaka Waterworks Bureau: here
If you turn on the tap or faucet and nothing comes out, try turning the main switch manually. The water meter in a Japanese apartment can be found in a metal box outside our front door.
Related Vocabulary and Phrases for Setting Up Utilities in Japan
Japanese | Romaji | English |
---|---|---|
ガス | Gasu | Gas |
電気 | Denki | Electricity |
水道 | Suidou | Water |
ガス代 | Gasudai | Gas Bill |
電気代 | Denkidai | Electricity Bill |
水道代 | Suidoudai | Water Bill |
使用開始日入 | Shiyoukaishibi | Starting use date |
申し込み | Moushikomi | Application |
料金 | Ryoukin | Fare |
支払 | Shiharai | Payment |
停電 | Teiden | Electricity blackout |
Paying Your Utility Bills in Japan
Paying your utilities in Japan is part of the living cost here. Depending your personal preference and how long you’ve lived in Japan, you might choose a certain payment method to pay for your electricity, gas and water.
1. Paying in Person
By default, your utility bills will be delivered to your mailbox every one or two months (depending if it’s gas, water and electricity). Electricity and gas bills arrive monthly. The schedule might vary depending on your supplier. Water bills arrive every two months.
You can easily pay your utilities in the konbini (Japanese convenience store), which is virtually everywhere and almost within walking distance from everyone’s home. Simply show the utility bill with the barcode to the staff (that’s what they’ll use to scan the bill) and pay the amount.
There are a few things to keep in mind when paying for your gas, electricity and water in Japan:
- Most convenience stores and post offices only accept cash as a form of payment unless specified otherwise.
- The staff will hand you the ryoushuusho (領収書), stamped with the store’s seal and the date the payment was made. Do not lose it as it can be used as proof that you’ve completed the payment.
2. Credit card payment or automatic withdrawal
You can also pay through automatic bank withdrawal, credit card, debit card or online banking using the Pay Easy platform. For this, you will need to contact your provider directly by telephone (or the internet if available.
There are two perks to choosing this method: many credit card companies offer points for bill payments, which can range from 0.5 to 2% return rate.
Another benefit is because these automatic payments withdraw the sum automatically from your bank account or card, you will never miss a payment.
The only downside is that you will need to have a Japanese bank account or credit card in the first place. This should be a factor when you’re weighing your options.
3. LINE Pay
It’s a form of electric payment that allows you to scan the bill barcode from your phone. This might be an option for those who don’t have a credit card yet — but is too lazy to run errands to the konbini every month.
The only thing is that you would still be able to scan the bill twice (or even three, or four times), so if you’re not careful, you can accidentally get double-charged.