Everyday decisions for life in Japan
Turn a key handover into a working home: understand the contract, record the move-in condition, find local rubbish rules and prepare for repairs and disasters.
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TRIP POCKET
Keep this page in your Trip Pocket, ready for the moment the signal fades.
THE DECISION BEFORE THE DETAIL
Separate four owners: the contract, the property manager, the utility provider and the municipality. A neighbour’s habit cannot replace any of them.
IF YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES
01 · THE CONTRACT
Monthly rent is one line. The contract also decides renewal, cancellation, prohibited use, repair reporting and the path out of the home.
List rent, management or common-area charge, deposit, key money, agency fee, guarantee-company fee, insurance, renewal charge and cleaning or lock costs where applicable. Ask which payment is refundable, under what conditions, and which is a fee. Do not rely on an informal English nickname for the charge.
Mark the notice period, renewal date, fixed-term condition, key return, inspection and address for written notice. Moving out, cancelling utilities and postal forwarding are separate actions. A conversation with the building caretaker may not count as contractual notice.
Pets, guests, shared occupancy, remote work, instruments, satellite dishes, locks and wall fixtures may be governed by the lease or building rules. Ask the named manager before modifying the home. A colleague or agent who helped you search may not have authority to approve it.
02 · THE FIRST 48 HOURS
A careful move-in record protects both resident and property owner. It is not permission to repair or alter the property yourself.
Photograph each room broadly, then existing scratches, stains, cracks, mould, appliance errors and meter readings where relevant. Keep the date and room name. Send required reports through the contract’s method; a photo stored only on your phone does not tell the manager.
Confirm water, hot water, electricity, gas start-up, locks, intercom, ventilation, smoke alarms where installed, evacuation route and how to stop water or gas in an emergency. Follow professional instructions for gas and electrical equipment; do not experiment with a connection you do not understand.
Write down the manager, after-hours emergency route and utility provider. For a leak, smell of gas, loss of power or broken lock, the correct first contact can differ. Describe the symptom and danger without authorising a paid repair from an unsolicited caller.
03 · RUBBISH IS AN ADDRESS
The municipality may define categories and days; the building may define the collection point and time. Both matter.
Use the municipality’s current guide for your district and the building notice. Match burnable, non-burnable, containers and packaging, bottles, cans, paper, oversized rubbish and hazardous items to the local words. Do not copy a calendar from another ward or a previous tenant.
Some municipalities require designated bags; some buildings have locked or managed rubbish rooms; collection-time rules vary. Ask where, in what bag and by what time. “Tuesday” may mean placing it out Tuesday morning, not leaving it there after collection.
Furniture, appliances, batteries, sprays and sharp objects may not use the ordinary collection. Check reservation, fees, stickers, recycling obligations and safety instructions with the municipality or responsible programme before placing anything outside.
04 · SHARED LIFE
Rules about sound, corridors, bicycles and deliveries help many households share limited space. They are not proof that every neighbour has the same preference.
Do not leave bicycles, boxes, umbrellas or rubbish in a corridor, stair or balcony partition used for evacuation unless the building specifically permits the placement. Ask where each item belongs before convenience turns into an obstacle.
Normal living sound and prohibited disturbance are not explained by one national rule. Check the lease and building notice for instruments, washing machines, gatherings and renovation. If a problem occurs, use the manager’s route rather than confronting a neighbour in a way that feels unsafe.
Open the municipal hazard map for the home and workplace. Identify the risk, the first safe action, evacuation destination and a family or colleague reunion rule. An evacuation site and a shelter can serve different purposes; follow local instructions during the event.
05 · LEAVING WELL
A good move-out is a sequence: notice, inspection, utilities, mail, municipal procedures, keys and final money.
Give notice by the required date and method and keep proof of receipt. Confirm inspection, key return, final rent and access after moving. Do not assume stopping rent transfer ends the lease.
Use the original inventory and photographs. Ask for an itemised explanation of restoration or cleaning charges and the contractual basis. Ordinary wear, resident-caused damage and agreed cleaning are not the same category.
Complete the municipal move procedure that applies, tell the employer and services, cancel or transfer utilities and arrange postal forwarding. If leaving Japan, confirm residence, tax, pension, insurance and bank actions with the responsible organisations before departure.
WORDS TO SHOW
These are general translations. Confirm the actual contract, symptom, deadline or amount with the person responsible.
この費用は、一度だけですか、毎月ですか。返金される条件はありますか。
Is this a one-off or monthly charge? Can it be refunded under any conditions?この傷は入居時からあります。指定の方法で報告したいです。
This damage was present when I moved in. I would like to report it through the required process.この住所のごみ収集表と、建物の集積所を確認したいです。
I would like to confirm the rubbish calendar for this address and the building’s collection point.退去の通知期限、立会い、鍵の返し方を教えてください。
Please explain the move-out notice deadline, inspection and key return.