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When renting a private house or apartment, it is common to rent through a specialized real estate agent. Before signing a lease, it is highly recommended that you visit your potential choice in order to verify the conditions, the location, the functionality of utilities, etc. Once you have decided to rent a house or apartment, please read the entire lease carefully. Some leases forbid pets or require 3 months notification before moving. When you close the deal, the following documents will most likely be necessary:
| Rent | Rent is paid on a monthly basis.@ If you start renting in the middle of the month, ask your owner how to pay for the first month. |
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| Maintenance charges | A maintenance fee might be charged for lighting common areas, cleaning, etc. This fee may be included in the monthly rent. |
| Housing size and layout | Floor space for housing is indicated in meters squared and represents the total floor space, including both living space and toilet, bath and kitchen space. The size of rooms may also be listed by number of tatami mats, for example, as 6 ô (6 tatami mats).@ One tatami mat equals approximately 1.6 meters squared. |
| Utilities | In almost all houses and apartments, electricity, gas and water have been installed. As soon as you move into a new home, you must inform the
utilities companies of your new address. |
| Access to public transportation | The distance from public transportation is one of the most common ways to explain where a house or apartment is located. For example, 15 minutes by foot from Utsunomiya JR station. |
| Rent | In Japan, when you rent an apartment or house, you usually have to pay two months rent up front, as rent is always paid a month in advance. Automatic bank transfer is usually the preferred method for paying rent. |
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| Refundable deposit (Shikikin) | A refundable deposit is kept by the landlord during the term of residence as collateral against failure on the part of the tenant to make rent payments to the landlord, or for any other damages cause by the tenant. This deposit is usually one to three months' rent. |
| Nonrefundable deposit (Reikin) | When you finalize a rental lease, it is customary to pay a nonrefundable gThankfulnessh deposit to your new landlord. The fee usually equals 1 to 2 months rent. |
| Real estate agentfs commission | By law, the real estate agentfs commission should not exceed one monthfs rent. |
In total, the cost of finalizing a rental lease amounts to between five and seven months' rent. You should keep this in mind when looking for an apartment.
The Prefectural and local governments do offer public housing to those who have difficulties with their housing situation. For more details on public housing offered by local governments, please contact your respective one.
iPjTenant Requirements for a Basic Household (All conditions below must be met in order to apply.)
iQjItems Required for Application:
iRj Application:
iSj Leasing Terms for Apartments:
For detailed information regarding prefectural housing, period of application, rent, et cetera, please consult your nearest Prefectural Housing Supply Corporation Branch Office.
When you first move to a new house, you will probably need to turn on the short circuit breakers - (uüvmeans gonh in Kanji). Either near the short circuit breakers or in the mailbox, there will be an application form for new customers. Please fill in the form and send it to Tokyo Denryoku (Tokyo Power Company). If, by chance, after setting the breaker switch there is still no electricity, please contact Tokyo Denryoku. They will send an electrician over immediately.
Most utility bills can be paid at banks, post offices and some convenience stores. If you prefer to pay automatically via an account transfer, please bring your account book, your utility receipt (from Tokyo Denryoku) and your personal seal (hanko) directly to the bank/post office.
Also, when you move out of your apartment or house, please remember to contact Tokyo Denryoku to cancel your service. If you know the exact date you will be moving out, contact them ahead of time.
For more detailed information, please contact Tokyo Denryoku.
Contact Information: Tochigi Customer Service Center
Tel.# 0120-995-111
Links:
Tokyo Denryoku Homepage (Japanese)
Tokyo Electric Power Company Homepage (English)
Before moving to a new house, please contact your cityfs gas company or a propane gas sales office. Different types of gas are used throughout Japan, so make sure that your appliances function with the particular type of gas you will be using. Using unmatched appliances can cause fatal accidents, so please be careful.
Most utility bills can be paid at banks and post offices. Depending on your gas company, you may also be able to pay at convenience stores. If you prefer to pay automatically through your post office or bank, please bring in the necessary documents and your personal seal (hanko).
Furthermore, when you move out of your apartment or house, please contact your gas company in advance to cancel your service.
In order to set up your water service when moving into a new apartment you must apply through your local governments' Waterworks Division (Suido Tanto-ka).
Japanese tap-water is usually very clean and safe to drink.
Most utility bills can be paid at banks, post offices and some convenience stores.@ If you prefer to pay automatically through your post office or bank, please bring in the necessary documents and your personal seal (hanko).
When you install a telephone line in your residence for the first time, or change the name of the account, call the nearest telephone company(NTT or other). For the initial application for a telephone line you are required to present personal identification, such as your alien registration card. Since the requirements and fee plans vary from company to company, please contact the telephone company for details. You can pay the monthly bills at banks, post offices and convenience stores. Please be sure to take the telephone bill with you at the time of payment. You can also arrange for your bank or post office to deduct your payments automatically from your account. Please bring the necessary documents, your bank passbook and personal seal.
*NTT has a multilingual information service. If you dial 0120-364-463(toll free), you will first hear the English announcement, followed by Portuguese,Spanish and Hangeul,Follow the instructions and select your language.
Companies offering international telephone services include KDDI, Cable and Wireless IDC (C&WIDC), Japan Telecom (JT), NTT Communications (NTT Com) and Fusion Communications,Inc., among others. Areas served and rates may differ depending on the company, but many offer holiday and late-night discounts.
Normally when you buy a cell phone, you can register at the same shop and start using it immediately.
You will need to present your Foreign Registration Card and/or passport when you register.
Many different kinds of pre-paid telephone cards are sold at convenience stores, including cards for international calls only, domestic calls only, or both. Many pre-paid telephone cards have an explanation in English or another language, so please make sure you that you buy the kind of pre-paid telephone card you want.
Household garbage is collected by the local government, and each town has its own rules.@ However, the following rules must be respected by everyone.
For further information, please ask your local government.
If you wish to dispose of a vehicle in Japan, you must do so by dealing with a licensed disposal service or company, as stipulated by Japanfs Vehicle Recycling Law. (A list of qualified places can be found at: http://www.jars.gr.jp/). In this case, a fee will be incurred.
Also, please be aware that if you wish to salvage parts from your vehicle before disposing of it you may need to obtain formal dismantling permission, as stated in the Vehicle Recycling Law.
Illegal dumping is bad for the environment and is prohibited. You will be severely punished if you engage in such activities.
Japanese post offices conduct not only postal-related activities but also provide banking and insurance services, such as transferring money, paying utility bills, etc.@ Working hours vary according to the post office, but generally they are open weekdays from 9:00 until 17:00 for postal services and from 9:00 until 16:00 for banking and insurance services. You can also find small stores with a § sign, which indicates that they sell stamps and other postal-related items.
If you want to open a postal bank account, you need to bring your Foreign Resident Registration Card and your name-seal.@ For further information, please ask at your local post office.
| Classification | Weight | Rates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Letters | Standard-sized items @(1) | Up to 25 | @80 Yen |
| Up to 50 | @90 Yen | ||
| Nonstandard-sized items | Up to 50 | 120 Yen | |
| Above 50g and up to 4Kg | 140 Yen to 1,150 Yen | ||
| Mini-letters(letter-cards) | @ | @60 Yen | |
| Postcards | Postcards | @ | @50 Yen |
| Pre-paid reply postcards | @ | 100 Yen | |
| (1)Rectangular items 14 to 23.5 cm in length, 9 to 12 cm in width, and up to 1 cm in thickness. | |||
| Zone 1 Asia, United States Territories (Wake Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Midway, etc.), Palau, etc. |
Zone Q Oceania, Middle and Near East, North America, Central America, West Indies, Europe |
Zone R South America, Africa |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Letters | Standard-sized items | Up to 25g | @90 Yen | 110 Yen | 130 Yen |
| Up to 50 | 160 Yen | 190 Yen | 230 Yen | ||
| Nonstandard-sized items | Up to 50 | 220 Yen | 260 Yen | 300 Yen | |
| 50g to 2kg | 330 Yen`2,150 Yen | 400 Yen`3,410 Yen | 480 Yen`4,990 Yen | ||
| Postcards | Uniform rate of 70 Yen to anywhere in the world | ||||
| Aerogrammes | Uniform rate of 90 Yen to anywhere in the world | ||||
| Greeting cards (up to 25g) | 90 Yen | 110 Yen | 130 Yen | ||
| Small packages | Up to 50g | 120 Yen | 150 Yen | 170 Yen | |
| For each 50g above 50g and up to 1Kg | 70 Yen | 90 Yen | 120 Yen | ||
| For each 250g above 1kg | 175 Yen | 225 Yen | 300 Yen | ||
@For postal related help in English, please phone 03-5472-5851 (Weekdays, 9:30 to 16:30).
All financial transactions, including paying utility bills, can be done by banks. Most banks are able to transfer money overseas. For further information, please contact your bank.
When you open a bank account, please bring your Foreign Resident Registration Card or passport and your name-seal.@ It might be useful to order an ATM card or credit card.
Bank working hours are normally weekdays from 9:00 to 15:00. ATM machine hours differ depending upon the bank and the card.
If you intend to keep a dog as a pet, you must register him/her at your local town/city hall. (This need only be done once during the animalfs life.) Furthermore, the dog must also get a rabies vaccination every year.
For more information, please contact your local city/town hall.