UPDATE | September 28, 2021
How much does it cost to live in Japan after studying abroad (electricity, gas, water)? I will introduce it based on an example of living alone in Japan. Also, when living in Japan, it is necessary to make a contract for electricity, water, and gas in addition to the contract for a room or house such as an apartment or apartment, so I will explain the procedure (not necessary if you live in a share house). There are several companies that have contracts, but please be assured that the landlord will tell you.
INDEX
Japan's utility bills seem to be average among developed countries.
| National standards (When Japan is 100) | America | England | France | Germany |
| Electrical | 93 | 100 | 108 | 158 |
| City Gas | 57 | 73 | 87 | 85 |
| Water supply | 96 | 194 | 170 | 240 |
| Sewer | 208 | 210 | 243 | 367 |
However, since Japan is a long country from north to south, there are large differences in climate depending on the region, and even at the same time, electricity and gas costs will vary slightly depending on where you live.
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The average monthly electricity bill for a Japanese living alone is 5,791 yen. However, it is the electricity bill that tends to make a difference depending on the season. In summer and winter, the air conditioner is often turned on, so the electricity bill will be higher.
(Source: Annual Report of Household Survey, Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (Household Income and Expenditure) 2020 (2nd year of Reiwa))
* The same applies to gas and water charges below.
| Differences in electricity bills depending on the season | |
| January-March | 6,535 yen |
| April-June | 5,916 yen |
| July-September | 4,489 yen |
| September-December | 5,135 yen |
During the cold winter months, January to March costs the most electricity.
| Differences in electricity bills by region | |
| Hokkaido / Tohoku region | 6,463 yen |
| Kanto region | 5,594 yen |
| Hokuriku / Tokai region | 5,956 yen |
| Kinki | 5,641 yen |
| Chugoku / Shikoku region | 6,186 yen |
| Kyushu / Okinawa region | 5,554 yen |
Located in the north of Japan, the electricity bills in Hokkaido and the Tohoku region, where the cold of winter is severe, are the highest.
The average monthly gas bill for a Japanese living alone is 3,021 yen. Depending on the property, there are propane gas and city gas, and there is a big difference in the price depending on which one. Propane gas is more expensive and can take up to three times as much as city gas, even if the amount used is the same.
| Differences in gas charges depending on the season | |
| January-March | 3,333 yen |
| April-June | 3,155 yen |
| July-September | 2,071 yen |
| September-December | 2,533 yen |
It seems that the gas bill does not cost much in the summer, and it is more than 1,000 yen less than the winter season from January to March, which is the most expensive.
| Differences in gas charges by region | |
| Hokkaido / Tohoku region | 2,983 yen |
| Kanto region | 3,115 yen |
| Hokuriku / Tokai region | 2,789 yen |
| Kinki | 2,959 yen |
| Chugoku / Shikoku region | 2,858 yen |
| Kyushu / Okinawa region | 3,210 yen |
The difference is not as big as the electricity bill, but it seems that Kanto and Kyushu / Okinawa are a little higher than other areas.
The average monthly water bill for a Japanese living alone is 2,172 yen. The water bill is basically paid once every two months for two months in a lump sum. Prices vary depending on the jurisdiction of the Waterworks Bureau, so there are differences depending on the region.
| Differences in water charges depending on the season | |
| January-March | 2,076 yen |
| April-June | 2,305 yen |
| July-September | 2,071 yen |
| September-December | 2,242 yen |
Water costs are about the same every month, regardless of the season.
| Differences in water charges by region | |
| Hokkaido / Tohoku region | 2,648 yen |
| Kanto region | 2,200 yen |
| Hokuriku / Tokai region | 2,049 yen |
| Kinki | 1,833 yen |
| Chugoku / Shikoku region | 2,235 yen |
| Kyushu / Okinawa region | 2,198 yen |
I will explain the procedure when actually contracting for electricity, gas, and water. First, let's get an overall picture with a rough summary of the table.
| Electrical | gas | Water crew | |
| Application time | At least one week before moving * Depending on the company, you can apply by phone or the Internet on the day and use it on the same day. |
Until one week before moving | Until one week before moving |
| Procedure method | Telephone, internet | Telephone, internet | Telephone, internet |
| With or without witness | Nothing | Yes | Nothing |
Electricity is liberalized in Japan, and you can freely choose which company and what plan to use. Find out what services and plans are available in your area and decide which plan to use with your power company first.
If in doubt, choose from the following power companies that were used in each region before the liberalization of electricity.
Hokkaido Electric Power, Tohoku Electric Power, Tokyo Electric Power, Hokuriku Electric Power, Chubu Electric Power, Kansai Electric Power, Chugoku Electric Power, Shikoku Electric Power, Kyushu Electric Power, Okinawa Electric Power
You can find an electric power company available in your area from this site.
Energy change
From here, we will introduce TEPCO, which also has an English site, as an example.
TEPCO Electricity (TEPCO Energy Partner)
Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO)
We will tell you the information necessary for applying for electricity, the flow of application, points to note when starting to use electricity, etc.
To apply for electricity, you need methods such as "where and who will use it?" And "how to pay the fee?" Before you start the application process, please check and organize the following information.
Street address where you will live
・ Contractor's name
・ Contact Telephone Number
・ Contract plan and amperage (A) number (areas that use the ampere system * Ampere will be explained later)
・ The day when you start using electricity
・ Payment method (select from bank transfer, direct debit, credit card, etc.)
If you decide on a moving date, please complete the procedure at least one week in advance.
In the case of TEPCO, you can apply online. There is an online application form in English, so access the form and enter the information you have confirmed.
TEPCO Online Service Request
If you need telephone assistance, the Telephone Number are listed below. The person in charge is divided according to the area, so please contact the customer center in the area where you plan to live.
TEPCO Customer Support
You may need to complete the procedure in Japanese. If you don't know, ask someone who knows to help you with the procedure.
If you raise the breaker at the new location, you will be able to use electricity.
When you arrive at your new address, make sure you know where it is.
If you use too much electricity at one time and the breaker trips, you can use it again by raising it.
At TEPCO, you can choose from the following two payments for electricity charges at the time of application.
Also, if you want to change the payment method, the procedure is listed on the following page.
TEPCO Payment Method and How to Change your Payment Method
Here, in addition to the above two payment methods, you can change to credit card payment. (Procedures can be made on the site. Street address is required for the procedure)
In the case of direct debit and credit card payment, the payment will be completed automatically, but in the case of payment by payment form, the following invoice will be sent to the mailbox every month.
Image source:https://www.tepco.co.jp/en/ep/payment/method/index-e.html
1. Billing month Billing month
2. Amount billed
3. Consumption tax, etc. Consumption tax, etc.
4. Name of person who pays the electricity bill
5. Telephone number of TEPCO customer center Telephone Number number of TEPCO customer center
6. Deadline for payment payment deadline
When you receive the form, check the amount and payment deadline, and pay as soon as possible.
When you stop using electricity due to moving, etc., you need to take steps Street address Street address you currently live in).
At TEPCO, you can complete the procedure on the Internet.
TEPCO Closing Your Account
The following information is required for the suspension procedure.
・ Street address
・ Contractor's name
・ Contact Telephone Number
・ Customer number * If you know
・ The day when electricity is stopped
If you are moving, you will also need to apply for electricity Street address
For the procedure, refer to the item on how to apply for electricity.
I think that you may be away from home for a long time (more than a month) due to travel. There is a basic charge even if you do not use electricity at all.
In the case of TEPCO, it costs 858 yen a month with a 30A contract, and about 3,000 yen even if you leave the house for 3 months, so if the procedure is troublesome, you can leave it as it is. If this fee is wasteful, you need to cancel it once and apply for it again according to the day you want to start using it again.
Amperage may be required for electricity contracts, so I would like to explain amperes first.
Ampere (A) is a unit that expresses the amount of electricity flowing, and the larger the amperage contracted with an electric company, the more electricity can be used at one time.
The system in which the basic charge changes depending on the amperage contracted is called the "ampere system", and when contracting with an electric company that adopts this system, it is necessary to choose how many amperes to use. (Hokkaido Electric Power, Tohoku Electric Power, Tokyo Electric Power, Hokuriku Electric Power, Chubu Electric Power, Kyushu Electric Power, etc.)
Now let's think about what amperage to sign up for. Know the guideline for the amperage of each home appliance, and try to calculate the amperage when all are used at the same time. (Only home appliances that may be used at the same time are OK.)
Below are the amperages of typical home appliances and examples of actual calculations.
| Home appliances | Amps |
| Refrigerator (450L class) | 2.5A |
| Microwave oven (30L class) | 15A |
| rice cooker | 13A (when cooking rice) |
| Washing machine | 2A |
| Vacuum cleaner | 10A (used at strong) |
| Air conditioner | 5.8A (cooling) 6.6A (heating) |
| Hair Dryer | 12A |
| iron | 14A |
| laptop | 0.3A |
(Source: TEPCO "Estimated amperage of major electrical equipment")
The refrigerator is always on, so be sure to take it into account.
In addition, let's assume that you are cooking in a microwave while cooking rice in a heated room.
Refrigerator + air conditioner (heating) + microwave oven + rice cooker
＝2.5＋6.6＋15＋13
＝37.1
In the case of TEPCO, there are plans starting from 10A, 15A, 20A, 30A, 40A, 50A, 60A.
Since 30A is not enough capacity, it is better to contract with 40A. However, if you do not use other home appliances such as a microwave oven when cooking rice, or temporarily turn off the heating, you can use it without problems even with a 30A contract. If in doubt, you may want to talk to your power company.
The voltage of household power supplies in Japan is 100 volts (V), but the frequencies are different, 50 hertz (Hz) in eastern Japan and 60 hertz (Hz) in western Japan. There is no problem with home appliances sold now because they can be used at either frequency, but be careful when using home appliances that are more than 20 years old.
There is no problem if the home appliance says "50Hz / 60Hz", but if it says "50Hz only" or "60Hz only", it can only be used in the corresponding area.
When you give away your home appliances or buy a used one at a thrift shop, don't forget to check the supported frequencies to see if they can be used in your area.
There are two main types of gas used at home.
・ City gas ... Supply to the house through a gas pipe buried underground
・ Propane gas ... Uses gas that arrives in the state of a gas cylinder
Which gas you will use depends on the area and property you live in, so check with your real estate agent or landlord once you have decided on a house.
In addition, there are two types of city gas, "12a" and "13a". Now it's almost switched to "13a", but there are still "12a". Some gas appliances are only compatible with "12a", so if it is a property that uses city gas, you should check it together.
Once you know whether it is city gas or propane gas, choose a gas company to contract with.
In the case of gas, as with electricity, it is liberalized, so you can compare prices and services and use your favorite company.
In the case of city gas, the main companies are as follows.
Tokyo Gas, Osaka Gas, Toho Gas, Saibu Gas, Tobu Gas, Hokkaido Gas
From here, we will introduce Tokyo Gas as an example, which has a customer center (telephone window) that can handle English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, and Portuguese.
Tokyo Gas Customer Center
We will tell you the information necessary for gas application, application flow, precautions when starting to use, etc.
If the property you plan to live in is not all-electric, you will need to sign a gas contract.
To apply for gas, you need methods such as "where and who will use it?" And "how to pay the fee?" Before you start the application process, please check and organize the following information.
Street address where you will live
・ Contractor's name
・ Contact Telephone Number
・ Plan to contract
・ The day you want to start using gas
・ Desired date and time for witnessing the opening of the cap * Basically, set the date when you want to start using gas.
・ Payment method (select from bank transfer, direct debit, credit card, etc.)
You need to be present at the opening to start using the gas. Let's also check the desired date and time. The witnessing of opening will be explained in the following items.
If you decide on a moving date, please complete the procedure at least one week in advance.
It is common to apply by phone or online application form.
Tokyo Gas can be processed at the customer center (telephone counter) that can speak English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, and Portuguese.
Tokyo Gas Customer Center
Before starting to use gas, it is necessary to have a person from the gas company open the gas valve of the property in the presence of the contractor or his / her agent.
The desired date and time will be announced at the time of contract, and will be decided after adjustment. I think that it is common to start using the product and witness the opening on the day of the move so that it can be used immediately.
On the day of the event, you will be asked to check whether the gas equipment can be used without problems, as well as opening the gas, so if you have equipment that you plan to use at home, such as a gas stove or fan heater, prepare it by the day you witness. Let's go.
In addition, there are brief explanations such as precautions for using gas, but basically the workers who come to the house can only speak Japanese, so if you are worried about Japanese, please use Japanese. It's encouraging to have friends who can do it with you.
At Tokyo Gas, you can choose to pay for gas charges from the following methods.
If you wish to make an account transfer, please use the application form provided at the bank or post office. The application form can also be ordered from Tokyo Gas.
If you have an account with Mizuho Bank, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, or Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, you can complete the procedure online.
If you wish to pay by credit card, please follow one of the following methods.
Changing the payment method will be done in Japanese, so if you are worried about Japanese, we recommend that you ask someone who can speak Japanese to help you, or call customer service and consult with them. .. At the Customer Service Center, you can also consult about how to obtain the application form.
In the case of direct debit and credit card payment, the payment will be completed automatically, but in the case of payment by payment form, the following invoice will be sent to the mailbox every month.
The "Notice of usage" (meter reading slip) and the payment slip are included, so take it to the payment counter (bank or convenience store) without cutting it.
Image source:https://home.tokyo-gas.co.jp/gas/ryokin/haraikomisho.html
The billing amount and payment deadline are listed in part A, so please check here when making payment.
The view is explained below.
Image source:https://home.tokyo-gas.co.jp/gas/ryokin/haraikomisho.html
1. Name of person who pays the gas bill
2. Billing month Billing month
3. Amount billed
4. Deadline for payment payment deadline
When you receive the form, check the amount and payment deadline, and pay as soon as possible.
If you will not use the gas in the moving, the old Street address (now, living in Street address) you will need a procedure to stop the use of in.
The procedure can be done at the Tokyo Gas Customer Center (telephone counter).
Tokyo Gas Customer Center
The following information is required for the suspension procedure.
・ Contractor's name
・ Customer number * If you know
・ Street address and Telephone Number to stop using gas
・ Street address and Telephone Number of the new address
・ Building form (detached house, condominium, apartment, etc.)
・ Contact Telephone Number (mobile phone that can be contacted even during the day)
・ Day to stop using gas
・ The desired date and time of the closing witness and the name of the person who witnesses
Just like when you start using gas, you need to be present when you stop using it.
You may want to stop using gas because you are away from home for a long time (more than a month) due to travel, or there are seasons when you do not use gas.
At Tokyo Gas, in such cases, the gas can be temporarily stopped. There is no charge while it is stopped.
You can call to suspend and resume. In addition, it is necessary to witness the opening work when resuming. In the case of a general contract, it is 759 yen a month, and even if you leave the house for 3 months, it is about 2,300 yen, so if the procedure is troublesome, you can leave it as it is.
In Japan, water services are publicly owned, and each region has its own water supply bureau / water supply section, so check the water supply bureau in your area.
The water contract will be signed with the water bureau.
For example, the following water services bureau.
Tokyo Metropolitan Waterworks Bureau, Osaka City Waterworks Bureau, Nagoya City Waterworks Bureau, Fukuoka City Waterworks Bureau
From here, we will introduce the Tokyo Metropolitan Waterworks Bureau, which has official websites that support English, Chinese, and Korean, as an example.
Tokyo Metropolitan Waterworks Bureau
We will tell you the information necessary for applying for water services, the flow of application, points to note when starting to use, etc.
To apply for water services, you will need methods such as "where and who will use it?" And "how to pay the fee?" Before you start the application process, please check and organize the following information.
・ Street address
・ Contractor's name
・ E-mail address
・ The day you want to start using water
・ Payment method (select from direct debit, credit card, invoice payment, etc.)
If you decide on a moving date, please complete the procedure at least one week in advance, at least three days in advance.
It is common to apply by phone or online application form.
The online application form can be completed in English.
Bureau of Waterworks Tokyo Metropolitan Government "Online Application"
The date when you can complete the procedure online is decided based on the moving date, so if it is not possible to complete the procedure, please apply at the telephone counter of the Water Services Bureau Customer Center. You can find the contact information of the Waterworks Bureau Customer Center on the official website.
Water is often available immediately on the day you move, so if you forget to apply, you won't be "unable to use water", but you need a contract to use the water. So, let's complete the procedure as soon as possible.
At the Tokyo Metropolitan Waterworks Bureau, there are four ways to pay water charges.
Initially, you pay by invoice, so if you want to pay by other methods, you need to change it.
For the procedure, you will need the "customer number" written on the water service start application form or meter reading slip that was posted when you moved in, so be sure to check it.
If you wish to transfer funds, please follow the procedure below.
If you wish to pay by credit card, please follow the procedure below.
If you are worried about Japanese, we recommend that you ask someone who can speak Japanese to help you, as changing the payment method will be done in Japanese.
In the case of direct debit and credit card payment, the payment will be completed automatically, but in the case of invoice payment, the following invoice will be sent to the mailbox every month.
The "Notice of usage" (meter reading slip) and the payment slip are included, so take it to the payment counter (bank or convenience store) without cutting it.
When paying with a smartphone, read the barcode with the camera and pay with electronic money. As of August 2021, PayPay, LINE Pay, PayB, Rakuten Bank convenience store payment service, au Pay, and FamiPay are available.
[In 23 wards]
* The Tama area is basically the same, but the design is slightly different.
Image source:https://www.waterworks.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/tetsuduki/ryokin/shiharai/mihon.html
The billing amount is shown in the red frame (3 places), and the payment deadline is shown in the green frame.
When you receive the form, check the amount and payment deadline, and pay as soon as possible.
A long period of time (more than a month) to absence, if you will not use the water for reasons such as moving, old Street address (now, living Street address you will need a procedure to stop the use of in).
Please contact the Water Services Bureau Customer Center at least 3-4 days in advance or complete the procedure online.
If you want to use the water again, please follow the procedure to start using it.
日本での光熱費（電気・ガス・水道）の月の平均金額は次のようになっています。
* When living alone
Electricity ... 5,791 yen
Gas ... 3,021 yen
Water services ... 2,172 yen
Japan is long from north to south, and it is necessary to be careful because there are regional differences such as heating costs in cold areas where it snows in winter, but I think that it costs about 10,000 yen a month for electricity, gas, and water.
In Japan, electricity and gas are liberalized, so check the companies and rate plans that provide services in your area and contract with the company of your choice, but since water services are public services, you can use water services depending on the area. The station has been decided.
If you don't know what kind of company you have for electricity or gas services, ask the real estate agent or landlord who showed you the property.
Whether you want to start or stop using the service, please complete the procedure at least one week before the desired date.
Most procedures, such as use, cancellation, and change of payment method, can be done on the Internet. However, in many cases, it does not support languages other than Japanese, including English, so if you are not good at reading and writing Japanese, ask someone who can speak Japanese to help you. Alternatively, if there is no problem with speaking, you can proceed at the telephone counter.
Also, please note that if you want to change the payment method, you may need to request the application form online and complete the procedure in documents depending on the method you desire.
アクセス日本留学Editorial Department.アクセス日本留学" where foreign students can request materials to find Japanese schools, and hold "advancement information sessions for foreign students".
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