The order of operations
The sequence matters, because several steps have deadlines relative to the move date and one of them, the notice period, has to happen well before the rest.
Working backwards from the move date is the practical approach, and the list below is roughly the order in which the conversations happen.
- Give notice to the landlord or agent, one to two months ahead.
- Book the movers, earlier in spring when demand peaks.
- Arrange the handover inspection for the day you leave.
- Transfer electricity, gas and water about a week ahead.
- Register the move out and the move in at the city offices.
- Change the address on your residence card, bank and insurance.
Giving notice
Notice is given to the agent or the landlord, usually in writing as well as by phone, and the period is in your contract. Giving short notice does not shorten the obligation; it means paying to the end of the period.
March is the peak moving season in Japan, which affects both the availability of movers and the cost, so an earlier call helps.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 解約したいのですが。 | Kaiyaku shitai no desu ga. | I would like to terminate the contract. |
| 退去は来月末を予定しています。 | Taikyo wa raigetsu-matsu o yotei shite imasu. | I plan to move out at the end of next month. |
| 解約通知はいつまでに出せばいいですか。 | Kaiyaku tsūchi wa itsu made ni daseba ii desu ka. | By when must I give notice? |
| 書面が必要ですか。 | Shomen ga hitsuyō desu ka. | Is a written notice required? |
| 立ち会いはいつになりますか。 | Tachiai wa itsu ni narimasu ka. | When will the inspection be? |
| 敷金はいつ返ってきますか。 | Shikikin wa itsu kaette kimasu ka. | When will the deposit be returned? |
Booking the movers
Mover quotes depend on volume, distance and date, and a home visit or a photo-based estimate is normal. The price varies enormously by date, with the end of March being the most expensive time of year.
Ask what is included: packing materials, disassembly of furniture, and disposal of old items are sometimes extra and sometimes not.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 見積もりをお願いできますか。 | Mitsumori o onegai dekimasu ka. | Could I have a quote? |
| ワンルームから、荷物は少ないです。 | Wanrūmu kara, nimotsu wa sukunai desu. | From a one-room flat; not much luggage. |
| 段ボールはもらえますか。 | Danbōru wa moraemasu ka. | Do you provide boxes? |
| 家具の分解もお願いできますか。 | Kagu no bunkai mo onegai dekimasu ka. | Can you disassemble furniture as well? |
| 不要品の処分もできますか。 | Fuyōhin no shobun mo dekimasu ka. | Can you dispose of unwanted items? |
| 平日のほうが安いですか。 | Heijitsu no hō ga yasui desu ka. | Is a weekday cheaper? |
Asking whether a weekday is cheaper is worth doing. The difference between a weekday in a quiet month and a weekend in March can be several times the price.
The handover inspection
At the handover the agent walks through the flat with you and lists damage to be charged against your deposit. Being present is important, because this is where you can disagree, and afterwards it is much harder.
Normal wear is not chargeable and the boundary is a common point of dispute. Photographs taken when you moved in are the strongest thing to have.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| これは通常の使用による劣化だと思います。 | Kore wa tsūjō no shiyō ni yoru rekka da to omoimasu. | I believe this is normal wear. |
| 入居時からありました。 | Nyūkyo-ji kara arimashita. | It was there when I moved in. |
| 写真が残っています。 | Shashin ga nokotte imasu. | I have photographs. |
| 費用の内訳をいただけますか。 | Hiyō no uchiwake o itadakemasu ka. | Could I have an itemised breakdown? |
| その場で決めなくてもいいですか。 | Sono ba de kimenakute mo ii desu ka. | Do I have to decide on the spot? |
| 確認してから返事してもいいですか。 | Kakunin shite kara henji shite mo ii desu ka. | May I check and reply afterwards? |
Utilities and the city office
Electricity, gas and water are transferred by phone or online, giving a stop date at the old address and a start date at the new one. Gas usually needs someone to attend at the new address to open the supply, so book that early.
The city office registration has a legal deadline and is needed before several other things can be changed, so it is worth doing promptly rather than at leisure.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 引っ越しの手続きをお願いします。 | Hikkoshi no tetsuzuki o onegai shimasu. | I would like to arrange a move. |
| 停止は今月末でお願いします。 | Teishi wa kongetsu-matsu de onegai shimasu. | Please stop it at the end of this month. |
| 新しい住所で開始をお願いします。 | Atarashii jūsho de kaishi o onegai shimasu. | Please start service at the new address. |
| 立ち会いは必要ですか。 | Tachiai wa hitsuyō desu ka. | Is attendance required? |
| 転出届を出したいのですが。 | Tenshutsu-todoke o dashitai no desu ga. | I would like to file a move-out notice. |
| 何を持っていけばいいですか。 | Nani o motte ikeba ii desu ka. | What should I bring? |
Rehearsing the phone calls
Most of a move happens by phone, which is the hardest medium in a second language: no lip reading, no gestures, degraded audio and a person who is working through a script.
The calls are highly scripted, though, which makes them rehearsable. Practising the utility transfer and the mover enquiry with an AI Sensei in Unihongo's immersive 3D classroom means the opening sentence and your address arrive without composition, which is where these calls usually go wrong.
Have your details written in front of you: current address, new address, move date, contract number. Reading them is far easier than composing them while listening.
Where a call is going badly, ask whether it can be done online or in person. Most utilities offer both, and either is easier than the phone.