Checklist for Moving in Japan
The process of moving from one rental apartment to a new one in Japan is overwhelming, especially with the myriad of paperwork and tasks that need to be completed. When I was moving, I made this checklist to manage the process efficiently and in a stress-free manner. I also wanted to make sure that I don’t forget anything important!
This checklist is not an exhaustive one. You might need additional tasks depending on circumstances. I needed these while moving from one ward to another within Tokyo prefecture. If you’re moving from one prefecture to another, there might be some additional tasks that I don’t know about. So, consider this checklist as a starting point and add/remove tasks as necessary.
I also made a Notion template for Notion lovers out there.
| Task | Status | When |
|---|---|---|
| 📝 Make a checklist | In progress | Before Moving |
| 💰 Start saving early. Save ~6x the expected monthly rent of the new apartment. | Not started | Before Moving |
| 🤔 Decide which area you want to move to | Not started | Before Moving |
| 📝 Write down the requirements (must have, good to have, and don’t care) for your new apartment | Not started | Before Moving |
| 💼 Contact a real-estate agent/agency | Not started | Before Moving |
| ✉️ Schedule in-person viewing of the apartment | Not started | Before Moving |
| 🏠 In-person viewing of the apartments | Not started | Before Moving |
| 😕 Finalize the apartment | Not started | Before Moving |
| 🆘 Make sure you have someone who is a Japanese citizen or has PR and can speak Japanese who you can use as an emergency contact. | Not started | Before Moving |
| ✉️ Apply for the chosen apartment | Not started | Before Moving |
| 🤩 Pass the screening process | Not started | Before Moving |
| 📆 Negotiate the move-in date | Not started | Before Moving |
| ✍️ Sign the contract for the new apartment | Not started | Before Moving |
| 💸 Transfer the money to the landlord and the real-estate agent | Not started | Before Moving |
| 📸 Visit the new apartment and take pictures of any existing damages and then get the keys 🔑 | Not started | Before Moving |
| 💡 Check if you need to purchase lights and/or curtains for the new apartment and buy these in advance | Not started | Before Moving |
| ✉️ Send moving out notice for the current apartment to the landlord | Not started | Before Moving |
| 📆 Schedule a date for move-out inspection | Not started | Before Moving |
| 🚚 Hire a moving company | Not started | Before Moving |
| 🛜 Sort out the internet connection for the new apartment way before moving otherwise you’ll be left without internet for weeks | Not started | Before Moving |
| 🚰 Cancel utilities subscription (electricity, gas, water, and internet) | Not started | Before Moving |
| 📤 Submit moving-out notice at the current ward office | Not started | Before Moving |
| 🏣 Setup mail forwarding at the post-office | Not started | Before Moving |
| 🚰 Get utilities set up (electricity, gas, and water) for the new apartmetn | Not started | Before Moving |
| 📦 Start packing stuff you don’t use everyday | Not started | Before Moving |
| 📦 Have boxes ready to load | Not started | Moving-out Day |
| 🧹 Final cleanup of the current apartment after loading everything on the truck | Not started | Moving-out Day |
| 🛏️ Unload and make your bed first | Not started | Moving-out Day |
| 🧐 Complete the move-out inspection for the old apartment and hand-over the keys | Not started | After moving |
| 🗑️ Find out garbage collection schedule of the new apartment | Not started | After moving |
| 📥 Submit moving-in notice at the new ward office within 14 days | Not started | After moving |
| 📧 Apply for address change at your workplace | Not started | After moving |
| 📧 Update address for your bank accounts | Not started | After moving |
| 📧 Update address for your investment accounts | Not started | After moving |