Leaving Japan can be a bit sad I know, but there are tons of thing you need to do before you get out of the country. In this article, I will summarize what you need to do before moving out. The article is mainly for my foreign colleagues who work in the same company.
1. Housing — UR apartment
- Inform your local UR office (the one near your building) that you are moving out. Opening time: weekday except for Wednesday(not sure) and Saturday from 9 to 3 pm.
- You need to submit the application at least 14 days before the move out date.
- They’ll give you 2 forms to fill in; 1. Leaving notice form 2.Bank account form(to get your deposit money back)
- You need to fill address where will you move to. If it’s outside Japan, then you need to put someone’s address who lives in Japan, could be your friend’s.
- You will also need to reserve the date that they will come to check the damage on the property. It can be on the same day or earlier than your last date. Note that their schedule gets full pretty quick, so it’s a good idea to apply for it early so you can choose.
2. Electricity — TEPCO
- Apply online, using your customer ID from the bill at https://www.move.tepco.co.jp/rcpt/apply/judge
- They will show you the period of the move out date that you can apply for. usually around 1 month ahead.
- You can select what date and time you want them to cut off your electricity
- The payment can be the same as usual. If it’s a paper billing then you need to put in your friend address to receive it for you.
- Another option is to pay by cash when they come to cut off the meter. This option requires you to be at your house during their visit.
- They will send a confirmation email to you after you submit the form.
3. Gas — Tokyo Gas
- https://home.tokyo-gas.co.jp/summary/moving/
- Similar to electricity
4. Water utility — Chiba
- https://www.shinsei.elg-front.jp/chiba2/uketsuke/dform.do?id=1438219007716
- No confirmation email, so take note of your application number after submit.
5. Japan post
- Apply for a mail forwarding, if you need it.
- https://welcometown.post.japanpost.jp/etn/
6. Internet
- Line provider NTT East: English service number is 0120–565–950. from 9:00–17:00 Mon-Fri.
- Call and tell them you want to move out. They’ll ask your information and then talk to Japanese staff with you. take around 15 minutes.
- The fee calculation will base on how many days in the month before cancellation. Better to call it before the middle of the month so that they will end the cost within that month. The bill will come one month after as usual but if it’s on weekend then it will move to Monday.
- They will send a paid postage box to you for returning the modem. The box will arrive around one week before the move out date. You can return it at Lawson or Japan post.
- Internet provider Asahi: https://asahi-net.jp/en/service/reasons_not_to_cancel.html
- Cancel it before 15th of the month and the contract will end the last day of the same month
7. Mobile phone — Line mobile
8. City hall (Ward office)
- Fill in the leaving notice form
- Mihama Opening time: weekday: 8:30–5:30 PM, weekend: every 2nd Sunday of the month 9:00–12:30 PM. Some special opening hour can be checked at https://www.city.chiba.jp/shimin/shimin/kusei/kyujitsukaichyo.html
9. Sell your stuff
- Apps for selling your second hand:
- Small things https://www.mercari.com/jp/ — have to arrange the delivery by yourself can be just dropping off at convenience store or Japan post.
- Big things like refrigerator, washing machine https://jmty.jp — The buyer will drive to your place and pick it up
- Sell it personally to your friend or someone else
- If you can’t find local mover, just use Yamato, calculate the moving cost and apply it online at https://form.008008.jp/mitumori/PKZI0100Action_doInit.action
- If it’s bike don’t forget to go to the bike shop and register for the ownership transfer
10. Resign from the company
- Confirm which date should be your last day of employment, so you don’t have to pay Shakai Hoken 社会保険 Employees’ Health & Pension Insurance (EHPI) double.
- Unused paid leave won’t be converted toward your salary.
- Request a certificate of retirement (退職証明書), if you need it.
11. Bank account
12. Residence card
- Inform the immigration office at the airport that you will be leaving. They will cancel the card and punch a hole in it.
