Housing Utilities

Electricity

Electric current in Japan is 100 volts and uses two different frequencies per region:

For Kansai and the east region of the country50Hz
For Kanto and North region of the country60Hz

Japanese plugs are type A ungrounded plug with two flat parallel pins. If you are visiting Japan soon and your gadgets have the same plug, you won’t be needing any adapters.

In case your gadgets have different type of plugs you can readily buy an adapter easily. You can find one from the airport stores and from tech stores which is all over Japan especially in Akihabara.

Tips for Electricity Usage

If your gadgets or appliances have different type of plug, just bring an adapter with you that you can use to plug to sockets here in Japan.

Gas in Japan is mainly used for cooking and heating. For most apartments in Tokyo gas lines are already fixed and ready to use. Just inform your land lord if you just moved in to your apartment. While in other places especially in the country side houses uses Liquefied Petroleum Gas.

For gas emergency procedure please visit Tokyo Gas Emergency

For Payments Options please visit Tokyo Gas Payment Options

  • 0570-002211 ( Navi dial not toll free )
  • 03-3344-9100 ( Dial from IP phone )

Tips for Gas Usage

When leaving your house or apartment always turn off all the gas switch to prevent gas leaks If possible also leave a small opening at your window near the gas appliance (Kitchen Stove) to let the gas out in case there is an incident of gas leak.

Water in Japan is treated with chlorine, it is safe to drink straight from your household faucet. If you don’t want to drink chlorine treated water, you can always go to the grocery or convenience store for distilled bottled water.

How to pay water sewage charges please visit Metropolitan Waterworks Payment Options.

  • Tokyo Metropolitan Waterworks Bureau Customer Service Center
  • 03-5326-1100
  •  8:30 AM – 8:00 PM
  • Yokohama Waterworks Bureau Customer Service Center
  • 045-847-6262
  •  24/7

Tips for Water Usage

If you want to remove the chlorine smell from the water, you can boil water from the faucet to remove the chlorine smell.

Trash collection in Japan are segregated into three categories.

Each category is collected in different collection days, the schedule of trash collection is different for every ward. You might want to research or go to your local office to ask about trash collection schedule.

Tips for Trash Segragation

To properly dispose your trash after segregation, place it in a garbage bag and put it in the collection bin or box before 8AM of the trash collection scheduled date. Be careful on what days you should put your trash for collection. If you mistakenly place a your trash for collection on the wrong day or your trash is not properly segregated, your trash will not be collected and be left in the trash bin / collection box.