Comprehensive living guide for foreign residents in Japan “Living Information”

Tips for a Better Living Experience What to Do in Case of Emergency Legal Procedures for Your Residence in Japan Information for Your Daily Life Insurance/Welfare service Marriage/Childbirth/Parenting Education Employment/Pension/Tax Information/Consultation Service for Foreign Residents Government offices Fire station/Police station/Hospitals (Directory) Facilities for Sports/Sightseeing/Cultural events
Top page > Information for Your Daily Life > Electricity/ Gas/ Water Site map

Electricity/ Gas/ Water
Information for Your Daily Life

When you are moving house and need to start/stop the supply of electricity, gas and water, contact the Tokyo Electric Power Company, Tokyo Gas, and a local branch of the Bureau of Waterworks, respectively. You may call the service company or contact them online.
You should receive electricity/gas bills monthly while the water and sewage bills come every other month. Pay your utility bills by the due date at banks, post offices, or convenience stores. You may also set up an automatic debit from your bank account to avoid missing the due date. Major credit cards are also accepted.

Electricity (denki)

Power supply in Eastern Japan is 100V/50Hz. Electric appliances manufactured for use with different voltage/frequency should not be used and could cause an accident if used improperly.

Tips for using electricity service

The capacity of the power supply to your home is set between 10 and 60 amperes, depending on each account contract. If you wish to change the power capacity of your account, contact the Tokyo Electric Power Company.
Your circuit breaker may shut down when you use too many appliances at the same time. If it happens, turn off some of the appliances you have been using and reset the switch on the circuit breaker back to the "on" position to restart the electricity supply.

Tokyo Electric Power Company
List of contacts / Tokyo Electric Power Company


Gas (gasu)

For household use, gas is supplied in two ways - city gas and propane gas - depending on the area where you live.
 


If you notice abnormal smell of gas

If you notice an abnormal smell of gas, stop the gas supply immediately and open the windows to allow in fresh air. Do not use a naked flame in the house. Immediately contact the service office of your gas company, which is open at weekends and after normal business hours as well as during normal business hours.

Tokyo Gas
List of contacts / Tokyo Gas

Water and Sewerage (suido)

*Do not discard oil in the sink.
Oil may harden and clog a drain pipe, this may also cause a bad smell.
*Do not flush any objects other than toilet paper down a toilet.
Flushing disposable diapers, tissue paper insoluble in water, or other hygiene products in the toilet is a major cause of blockage.


Bureau of Waterworks, Tokyo Metropolitan Government
Water service guide / Bureau of Waterworks, Tokyo Metropolitan Government(Japanese only)
Sewerage service guide / Bureau of Sewerage, Tokyo Metropolitan Government(Japanese only)
Numbers for customer center / Bureau of Waterworks, Tokyo Metropolitan Government


Go to top of this page


Trash collection
Electricity/ Gas/ Water
Telephone/ International call
TV/ Radio/ Newspaper/ Internet
Public transport
Mail service/
Takuhaibin delivery service
Banking service/ Financial management
Car/ Motorcycle/ Bicycle
Animal/ Pet
Housing/ Rent/ Moving


Top page > Information for Your Daily Life > Electricity/ Gas/ Water

(C)2006 International Communication Commitee
Home