Moving and relocation: Complete procedures for moving out and in, residence cards, utilities, disposal, and reconfiguration

Old address: File a 「転出届」 (when moving to a different municipality)

1. Timing: You can file starting about 14 days before the moving date, through around the day you move. Some municipalities let you use your マイナンバーカード to submit a 「転出届」 online through マイナポータル and make a 「来庁予約（転入予約）」 at the new office, avoiding a trip back to the old office. To verify
2. Obtain a 「転出証明書」 (for in-person filing); if you use マイナポータル online, there is no paper certificate and the offices coordinate through the system.
3. At the old address, also file the National Health Insurance qualification-loss notice (国民健康保険の資格喪失届). 印鑑登録 is canceled automatically with the move-out (no separate procedure needed); file a notice that you are no longer eligible for 児童手当, if applicable.
4. To verify Check the old municipality’s moving-out notification page for application channels and required documents.

New address: File a 「転入届」 within 14 days of moving in (or file a 「転居届」 if moving within the same municipality)

1. Legal deadline: File at the municipal office for your new address within 14 days of actually starting to live there.
2. Bring: your 在留カード (all household members who hold one should bring theirs), passport, 転出証明書 (if you filed the move-out notice in person), and マイナンバーカード if you have one (you need to complete 「継続利用」; it becomes invalid if you do not do so within 90 days).
3. The office will write your new address on the back of your 在留カード, completing the residence notification at the same time; there is no need to visit immigration separately.
4. At the new address, also file for National Health Insurance enrollment (国民健康保険加入届; also within 14 days, or up to about 2 years of premiums may be billed retroactively), apply for 児童手当, continue use of your マイナンバーカード (within 90 days of filing the move-in notice), and re-register your seal if needed. For a National Pension address change: if My Number is linked to your basic pension number (基礎年金番号), your address is generally updated automatically through resident records and no separate report is usually needed. If it is not linked or a special case applies, contact the local pension office (年金事務所, Japan Pension Service). To verify

Check family members and co-residents

1. If the entire household is moving, bring each person's 在留カード and マイナンバーカード.
2. If your 在留カード has not yet been issued and your passport records your status, follow the office's instructions and file under the Basic Resident Registration Act.
3. To verify Required documents vary slightly by municipality. The safest approach is to check the new municipal office's website or call in advance.

Electricity (電気): Stop service at your old home and start it at your new home; arrange about 1–2 weeks in advance

1. Estimate: Arrange to stop electricity at the old home and start it at the new home 1–2 weeks before moving (by phone or on the power company's website).
2. You usually do not need to be present at the new home that day; electricity will come on when you switch on the breaker (ブレーカー). Some providers require you to contact them.
3. Guide Use the power company’s moving page to book service-stop and new-address start dates.

Water (水道): Arrange about 3–4 days in advance (you can leave it a little later than electricity)

1. Estimate: Arrange to stop water at the old home and start it at the new one about 3–4 days before the move (through the local water bureau's website or by phone).
2. You generally do not need to be present at the new home; turn the water stop valve to start the supply.
3. Guide Book stop and start dates on the local water bureau’s service-stop/start page To verify.

Gas (都市ガス/プロパン): Turning on the gas requires an appointment for a time slot when you can be present—this is the easiest detail to overlook

1. Closing the gas supply at your old home (「閉栓」): If attendance is required, arrange this at least 3 days before move-out (same-day service may be possible, but is risky).
2. Opening the gas supply at your new home (「開栓」): You or a representative usually must be present, so book a specific time in advance (appointments are limited during peak season).
3. If you forget to book, you may have no hot water and be unable to cook or shower that day; book early, especially during the moving season.
4. To verify Whether attendance is required and how long it takes depend on the type of gas and the provider.

Internet (fixed-line services such as fiber-optic): Arrange 1 month in advance, or 2 months during peak season

1. Activation requiring installation work: about 2 weeks for an apartment building and 1–2 weeks for a detached house; it usually takes 2 weeks to 1 month from application to the installation date.
2. During the March–May peak, waits may exceed 2 months; consider booking before the busy season (around January). To verify
3. If installation cannot be completed in time, use an option that needs no installation, such as a ホームルーター or ポケットWiFi (compare costs and speeds yourself).

Oversized garbage (large items): Arrange collection with your municipality and buy a disposal ticket

1. Furniture above a certain size (thresholds vary by municipality; a common rule is an item with one side at least 30 cm) is 粗大ゴミ and cannot be disposed of as ordinary trash.
2. Process: Book through the municipality's 「粗大ごみ受付」 by phone or online → buy a 「粗大ごみ処理券（有料シール）」 at a convenience store and attach it → put the item at the designated collection point on the assigned date.
3. The disposal ticket fee is charged by item and varies by municipality To verify; appointments fill up during peak season, so book well in advance.

Four categories under the Home Appliance Recycling Law: Cannot be disposed of as oversized garbage; two separate fees must be paid

Covered items: air conditioners; televisions (CRT, LCD, and plasma); refrigerators and freezers; and washing machines and clothes dryers (four categories in total; Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry / Association for Electric Home Appliances).

1. You pay two charges: ① リサイクル料金 (a set amount for each manufacturer) + ② 収集·運搬料金 (collection and transport, set by the retailer or contractor).
2. There are three disposal routes: a) ask the store where you bought it, or the store where you are buying a replacement, to collect it; b) take it yourself to a 「指定引取場所」 (designated collection point) (first fill out a 家電リサイクル券 at the post office and pay the リサイクル料金); c) if you are unsure which route applies, ask your municipality.
3. リサイクル料金 estimates (tax included; vary by manufacturer) GuideTo verify: air conditioner about ¥550-2,000; TV about ¥1,300-3,700 (depending on size); refrigerator/freezer about ¥3,700-5,600 (depending on size); washing machine/clothes dryer about ¥2,500-3,300. Collection and transport fees are additional. Check the 家電リサイクル券センター (rkc.aeha.or.jp) and search by manufacturer for the exact amount.

Tip for international students: Don’t take the easy way out by using a roadside "free collection" truck

Unlicensed, illegal collectors may charge exorbitant fees or dump items and cause pollution; the person who hired them may be held responsible. Use an authorized retailer, your municipality, or a designated collection point. If the appliance can be reused, consider selling it to a secondhand shop (リサイクルショップ) to offset disposal costs.

Peak-season pricing: March and April are the most expensive months; prices can be more than twice those in the off-season

March–April is the peak moving season around the fiscal-year change. According to published data from moving companies, quotes for long-distance household moves in March can be more than twice those in January, the lowest month of the year; single-person moves in peak season are also often ¥20,000–30,000 more than usual. Give each provider the same date, distance, and load size, obtain written quotes, and compare extra charges and cancellation conditions To verify.

Tips for saving money

1. Book early: cheaper dates and time slots in peak season fill up quickly. Booking at least 1–2 months ahead is recommended.
2. Compare several quotes: use a 一括見積 service or request quotes directly from 2–3 companies rather than relying on a single quote.
3. Avoid peak times: if possible, avoid late March to early April, weekends, month-end, and morning slots. Weekdays, afternoons, and フリー便 (flexible-time service) are often cheaper.
4. Reduce what you move: dispose of 粗大ゴミ and appliances before moving; the less you take, the cheaper the move.

Before moving out, don’t forget: restoring the property to its original condition and your security deposit

When ending a lease, follow the contract’s 「原状回復」 (restoration to the original condition) terms. Ordinary wear generally does not require compensation, while damage caused by the tenant may be deducted from the 敷金; check the contract for cleaning fees and other terms. Check the notice period for moving out (often written notice to the landlord or management company one month before moving) To verify.

Identification and documents (priority; statutory deadlines)

1. 在留カード: when you file the 転入届, the service counter records your new address on the back of the card (completed automatically).
2. マイナンバーカード: complete 「継続利用」 together with your 転入届, within 90 days after filing it; otherwise the card becomes invalid.
3. 印鑑登録: when moving across municipal boundaries, registration is automatically canceled with the 転出. If you need a registered personal seal (実印), register it again at your new address.

Financial and communication services (update each one yourself)

1. Bank account: update your address through each bank’s website, app, or counter (for statements and card delivery); some banks require proof of your new address.
2. Mobile phone: update your address and billing address on your carrier’s website or My Page.
3. Credit cards, subscriptions, NHK, newspapers, insurance, and similar services: update each address individually.

Post office "change-of-address and mail forwarding service (転送届)"—strongly recommended to arrange first

1. Purpose: mail sent to your old address is forwarded to your new address free of charge for one year (renewable), helping you avoid missing important documents.
2. Apply at a post office counter or online through e転居 (ゆうびんポータル). It takes about one week to take effect, so try to apply before moving.
3. This is a safety net: even if you forget to update your address somewhere, mail can still reach your new address during the forwarding period.

Other commonly overlooked items

1. 運転免許証: if you have one, update your address at a police station or 免許センター.
2. 自転車防犯登録: if you move to a different prefecture, re-registering is recommended (the registration is used if you are stopped by police or your bicycle is recovered).
3. School, lab, 奨学金 (such as JASSO), and バイト先: update your registered address and emergency contact information.
4. マイナポータル’s 「引越し関連手続」 can show you in one place which address changes you need to make To verify.