How to Set Up Electricity, Gas and Water in Japan
Immediate answer
To start utilities in Japan: identify the electricity, gas and municipal water contacts for your address; apply with your move-in date; then book the in-person gas-opening appointment. Online or English support may be available. If a provider requires a Japanese phone call, LifeAdmin can help.
Moving into a new place? Electricity, gas, and water are three separate contracts with three different companies — and gas alone requires an in-person appointment. Here's how to get all three running before move-in day, with no surprises.
- Electricity and gas are liberalized — you can choose your provider
- Gas requires a scheduled in-person appointment to turn on — book early
- Water is handled by your local municipality, not a private company
- What documents you need (in most cases: just your address and move-in date)
- English-language support — which providers actually offer it
- The 2-week-before timeline that avoids a dark, cold move-in day
Based on standard procedures across major Japanese utility providers. Exact requirements vary by provider and region — always confirm directly with the company you choose. Last updated: August 2026.
Electricity, Gas, and Water Are Not the Same Kind of Contract
In most rental apartments, none of your utilities are automatically switched on for you. You are responsible for contacting each provider yourself — and each one works differently.
Setting Up Electricity
Since Japan's 2016 electricity market liberalization, you are free to choose any provider — not just the regional monopoly (e.g., TEPCO in the Tokyo area, Kansai Electric in Osaka). Many newer providers offer simpler English-language sign-up.
How to Set It Up
Plans and pricing vary significantly by provider and region, and most comparison sites are Japanese-only. A comparison service can help you see multiple providers side by side and estimate which plan actually saves money for your usage pattern.
Compare electricity & gas plans on ENECHANGE →Setting Up Gas — the One That Needs an Appointment
Gas is also liberalized (you can choose your provider), but unlike electricity, activating it always requires a technician to physically visit and open the valve — for safety reasons, this cannot be done remotely.
| Step | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Book the appointment | Call, apply online, or use the postcard at the property. Request a date/time slot for the technician visit — do this 1–2 weeks ahead, especially in peak moving season (March–April) |
| Be present (or arrange a proxy) | Someone must be at the property when the technician arrives — this can be you, a family member, or in some cases your real estate agent, depending on the provider's policy |
| Technician opens the valve and checks appliances | The visit typically takes 15–30 minutes. The technician checks your gas stove/water heater are working safely before leaving |
Considering Tokyo Gas?
Check the current plan, service area and eligibility on the campaign page before applying. Availability depends on your address and building.
View the current Tokyo Gas offer →
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Buildings on 都市ガス (city gas, piped) generally have more provider choice and lower prices. Buildings on プロパンガス (propane, delivered in tanks) are often locked into a single provider chosen by the landlord, with no ability to switch — check your lease or ask your agent which type your building uses before assuming you have a choice.
Setting Up Water — the Simple One
Water is not liberalized — each municipality runs its own water bureau (水道局), and there's no provider choice. This also makes it the simplest to set up: no appointment, no equipment to activate.
Contact your municipal water bureau with your new address and desired start date. Tap water throughout Japan is safe to drink directly from the tap. If the water isn't running when you move in, check whether a shut-off valve near the meter needs to be turned — this is common in apartments that have been vacant.
The Moving Timeline
Do these in this order, and gas won't become the thing that delays your first hot shower.
English-Language Support — What's Actually Available
Most utility providers in Japan operate Japanese-only. A shrinking number offer dedicated English (and sometimes Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, or Spanish) support lines or web pages — worth checking for before you commit to a provider if Japanese isn't comfortable for you yet.
Ask your real estate agent or a Japanese-speaking friend to make the initial call with you on speakerphone — the conversation is short and highly scripted (address, name, start date), so it doesn't require fluent Japanese, just someone to relay a few details.
Utility Setup Checklist
- Chose a provider and applied online/by phone/postcard
- Confirmed start date matches move-in date
- Know where the breaker box is at the new property
- Booked the in-person technician appointment (1–2 weeks ahead)
- Confirmed someone will be present for the visit
- Checked whether the building uses city gas or propane
- Contacted the municipal water bureau with new address
- Confirmed start date
- Cancelled electricity, gas, and water at the old address
- Confirmed final bill / meter reading arrangements
Utilities FAQ
Reviewed by a licensed Administrative Scrivener based on real cases.
Related Topics
Book your gas appointment first
Gas is the bottleneck — everything else is flexible around it. Book that appointment today, and the rest of your move-in falls into place.
Supervised by a licensed Administrative Scrivener (行政書士) · Updated August 2026 · No spam, no sales calls