Moving in Japan usually means more than carrying boxes into a new apartment. Your address affects city office records, your residence card, health insurance, mail, bank accounts, mobile contracts, and daily services.
Confirm your moving date and new address
Before starting procedures, write down your full new address in Japanese, including postal code, building name, and room number. Many forms need the address to match exactly.
Prepare these items:
- Residence card
- My Number documents if relevant
- Personal seal or signature
- Lease or move-in information
- Postal codes for your old and new addresses
City office procedures
If you move to a different municipality, you usually submit a moving-out notification at your old city office, then submit a moving-in notification at the new one. If you move within the same municipality, you usually submit a change-of-address notification.
Common flow:
- Old city office: submit a moving-out notification and receive a certificate.
- New city office: submit a moving-in notification and update your resident record.
- Same municipality: submit a change-of-address notification.
Many procedures have deadlines. A common rule of thumb is to complete them within 14 days after moving, but always check the rules of your local city or ward office.
Update your residence card address
Foreign residents need to update the address printed on the back of their residence card. This is typically handled at the city or ward office for your new address and can often be done together with the moving-in procedure.
Bring:
- Residence card
- Passport
- Moving-out certificate or new address information
Set up Japan Post mail forwarding
Japan Post offers mail forwarding from your old address to your new address. You can apply online or submit a change-of-address form at a post office.
Forwarding may take a few days to start, so it is better to apply early. If multiple household members moved, confirm that each person’s name is included.
Update banks, mobile phone, and internet services
After the official procedures, update private services and accounts. These may not have a strict deadline, but forgetting them can cause missed notices or important documents.
Prioritize:
- Banks and credit cards
- Mobile phone contracts
- Internet service
- Electricity, gas, and water
- Employer or school
- Insurance, pension, and membership accounts
Suggested order during the first week
Handle identity and official records first, then daily services.
- City or ward office address procedures
- Residence card address update
- National health insurance or pension procedures if relevant
- Japan Post mail forwarding
- Banks, mobile phone, internet, and utilities
- Employer, school, insurance, and other accounts
Final check
During the first week or two after moving, keep a completed checklist. If you confirm official records, mail, financial accounts, and daily services, you are much less likely to miss an important procedure.