Moving into a new place in Tokyo comes with a small flurry of phone calls and forms, and getting the lights, hot water, and stove working is near the top of the list. It can feel like a lot when everything is in Japanese, but the good news is that the routine is well-worn: two of the three utilities take just a few minutes, and the third — gas — only needs a little planning ahead. Your landlord or real estate agent will usually hand you a folder with the contact sheets for each utility, so start there. It's also worth a quick look for the physical “use-start” application slips (使用開始の申込) that are often left near the breaker box, by the water meter, or in your mailbox — they carry the exact provider website or phone number to begin service.
The three utilities, one at a time
- Electricity (電気): Tokyo's electricity market is deregulated, so you can choose your provider (TEPCO and many others). You contact the provider online or by phone with your new address and move-in date, then simply switch on the breaker. Many newer Tokyo apartments now have smart meters, in which case the power often comes on automatically on your contract start date without you flipping a breaker at all — but you still need to open an account with a provider first. No one needs to visit. If you just want the lights on from day one and don't want to compare plans yet, you can simply start with the building's default or incumbent provider to guarantee power, and switch to a cheaper deregulated plan later.
- Gas (ガス): This is the one to plan around. You usually must book an in-person opening appointment (開栓 / kaisen) where a technician comes to safely turn the gas on, run an ignition test, and explain safety points. You (or someone) must be home for it. When you book, mention if you're bringing your own gas appliances (a stove or water heater) — having them on hand lets the technician run the ignition test, and it helps confirm they match your building's gas type.
- Water (水道): In central Tokyo this is run by the Tokyo Metropolitan Waterworks (水道局). You contact them by phone or online to start service. No visit is usually needed — though if your building has an auto-lock entrance, the meter may sit in a locked or shared area staff can't reach on their own, so a quick in-person visit (or letting them in) can be needed to actually turn the water on.
How to get each one started
- 1A few days to a week before (or just after) move-in, gather your new address, your move-in date, and the contact sheets from your landlord or agent.
- 2Electricity: contact your chosen provider online or by phone to open an account and give your start date, then flip the main breaker to 'on' on the day. If your apartment has a smart meter, the electricity often switches on by itself on your start date and there is no breaker to flip — opening the account still comes first. Many providers, including TEPCO, offer English support.
- 3Gas: apply online or by phone and book the opening (kaisen) appointment. Choose a time slot when you can be home, and have the gas technician open the line and do the ignition test. If you're not comfortable booking in Japanese, major gas companies such as Tokyo Gas offer phone support in English and Chinese (via an interpreter line); you can also ask a neighbour to help or have a proxy attend the appointment if you let the gas company know in advance.
- 4Water: contact the Tokyo Metropolitan Waterworks by phone or through their online application to start your contract. There's often a postcard, door tag, or a “use-start” application slip (使用開始の申込) at the apartment — by the meter or in the mailbox — that you can simply fill in and post.
Gas is the one that can't be rushed. Because a technician has to visit and you must be present, popular slots — evenings and weekends, and the busy spring moving season — fill up. Book your gas opening (開栓) appointment as soon as you know your move-in date so you're not left without hot water or a working stove on day one.
Tips and common mix-ups
- Check whether your building uses city gas (都市ガス) or propane/LPG (プロパン / LP ガス) — they use different suppliers and equipment. The contact sheet, your lease, or the meter usually tells you, and the building manager can confirm.
- Look for those physical “use-start” slips (使用開始の申込) near the breaker, the water meter, or in your mailbox — each prints the exact provider and the website or phone number to start that service.
- If your stove or water heater doesn't ignite, it's almost always because the gas hasn't been opened yet — the kaisen appointment hasn't happened. It's not a broken appliance.
- Have your new address written in Japanese (and a phone number) ready before you call; it makes every application faster.
- Arranging utilities a few days ahead is ideal, but if you've already moved in you can still start everything the same week — water and electricity are usually same-day or next-day.
- Keep the welcome folder from your landlord or agent. The exact provider, customer numbers, and any building-specific notes are usually in there.
- If booking the gas appointment in Japanese feels daunting, remember Tokyo Gas and other big providers have English/Chinese phone support, and you can always ask a neighbour or arrange a proxy to be present — just tell the gas company in advance.
- Do I have to be home for any of these?
- Only for gas. The gas opening (kaisen) requires a technician visit, so you or a representative must be present. Electricity and water can normally be started remotely by phone or online.
- How far in advance should I arrange things?
- A few days to about a week ahead is plenty for electricity and water. For gas, book the opening appointment as early as you can, especially around the spring moving rush, because in-person slots get booked up.
- What if I don't know which gas company serves my building?
- Check the contact sheet from your landlord or agent, your lease, or ask the building manager — and confirm whether it's city gas or propane, since that determines the supplier. When in doubt, the official sites below and the building manager can point you the right way.
- I'm bringing my own stove or water heater — anything to tell the gas company?
- Yes. Mention your own gas appliances when you book the opening, and have them on-site if you can, so the technician can run the ignition test and confirm they suit your building's gas type (city gas and propane differ). If booking in Japanese is hard, providers like Tokyo Gas offer English/Chinese phone support, and a neighbour or a proxy you've registered in advance can attend in your place.
