Moving Out of an Apartment in Japan: Notice, Cleaning, and Your Deposit

Moving out of an apartment in Japan takes more planning than many people expect. You need to give notice, get rid of large items, go through an inspection, and handle several address changes. This guide explains each step and how to get as much of your deposit back as possible.

The short answer

1. Give notice, usually one month before you leave.
2. Plan for large items early. Bulky trash needs a reservation.
3. Clean the apartment and go through the move-out inspection.
4. Cancel or transfer your utilities and internet.
5. Report your move to the city or ward office and the post office.

To get these steps with dates for your move, use our moving checklist.

1. Give notice

Check your contract for the notice period. It is often one month. Some contracts include a fee if you leave within the first year or two, and some require notice in writing. Tell the landlord or management company as early as you can.

2. Get rid of large items early

In Japan, large items such as furniture are “bulky trash” (sodai gomi). You usually need to book a pickup with your city or ward and buy stickers to pay the fee. The next open pickup date may be a week or more away, so start early.

Air conditioners, TVs, refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, and clothes dryers cannot be put out as bulky trash. Under Japan’s Home Appliance Recycling Law, you pay a recycling fee and a collection fee, usually through the store where you buy the new appliance or the store where you bought the old one. Watch out for collectors who do not have a license.

You can also sell or give away items online, or to friends and neighbors, before you move.

3. Clean and go through the inspection

On the last day, the landlord or management company usually checks the apartment with you. This is called a move-out inspection (taikyo tachiai). They look for damage and decide how much to take out of your deposit.

Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) has guidelines for this. The landlord should pay for normal wear and tear and aging, such as sun-faded wallpaper or marks from furniture. You pay for damage you cause, such as stains you did not clean or large holes from nails or screws. The guidelines also say that your share of the repair cost goes down the longer you live there. For example, wallpaper is treated as having almost no value after six years.

• Bring the photos you took when you moved in.
• Ask for a written list of each charge and its cost.
• Do not sign anything you do not understand. You can ask to check the details later.

Your contract may also have special terms, such as a fixed cleaning fee. If the contract states them clearly and you agreed to them, you usually have to pay.

4. Get your deposit back

After the inspection, the landlord takes the agreed costs out of your deposit and returns the rest, often within about a month. Make sure they have your new address and bank details. If you disagree with the charges and cannot reach an agreement with the landlord, you can call Japan’s consumer hotline at 188 for advice. The advice is usually in Japanese, so you may want to ask a Japanese-speaking friend to help.

5. Cancel or transfer your utilities and internet

• Electricity, gas, and water. Contact each provider and tell them your move-out date.
• Internet. Check whether there is a fee for canceling early or for removing equipment. Return any rented equipment.

6. Report your move

• City or ward office. If you move to a different city (or to a different ward in Tokyo), tell your old office before you move and register at the new one within 14 days of moving. If you move within the same city, report the change within 14 days. In cities like Yokohama or Osaka, moving to another ward in the same city counts as moving within the city. If you are leaving Japan, file a moving-out notice before you leave.
• Post office. File a change-of-address form, online or at a post office. Mail sent to your old address is forwarded free to your new address in Japan for one year.
• Other places. Update your address with your bank, phone company, employer or school, and any online shops you use.

Moving out of a share house

Moving out of a share house is usually much simpler. There is no large furniture to get rid of, utilities are usually included in the common fee, and cleaning costs are often fixed in advance. You still need to give notice, so check your contract. To learn what to ask before you sign, read How to Choose a Share House in Japan: 8 Things to Check.

Sources

• MLIT, Guidelines on Restoration and Related Disputes. mlit.go.jp (Japanese)
• Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Home Appliance Recycling Law. meti.go.jp (Japanese)
• Japan Post, Change of Address and Mail Forwarding. post.japanpost.jp (Japanese)
• Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Moving In and Moving Out (Foreign Residents). soumu.go.jp (Japanese)