Things to Do When Moving from One Place to Another within Japan

Table of Contents

1. Look for a house

Below are useful websites to find houses in Okinawa

2. Contact the real estate company inquiring the following items:

  • about the availability of the house
  • whether OIST, as a company, can be a guarantor on the lease contract
  • whether enrolling in an external guarantor company service is mandatory
  • whether an additional note about OIST being the guarantor only during the applicant's employment can be added on the lease contract
  • whether it's possible to visit the house for a viewing

Please contact OIST Resource Center in case you need assistance.
If you are not sure about sure about the guarantor system in Japan, please refer to this page.

3. Visit the house for a viewing (optional)

4. Determine the move-in date

  • Determine the date while taking the termination date of your current housing lease contract into account

5. Submit an application form to the real estate company

  • Ensure to submit a copy of the resident card as well

6. Wait until the application will have been screened

7. Notify the current real estate company of the intention of moving out

  • Please be noted that you have to submit the termination request (normally) one month prior to the date you want to have your lease contract terminated
  • Schedule a final inspection with the real estate company to thoroughly check the house to ensure the house is returned in an acceptable condition
  • Ensure to empty the house before the final inspection
  • Be noted that the real estate company may charge you for repairs/replacements incurred by the damage made during your stay
  • Be noted that in Japan, you will be charged for the cleaning cost no matter how clean the house is because the house must be cleaned and sanitized before the next tenant moves in
  • If the sum of costs for repairs exceeds the amount that you paid for the security deposit(if you paid any), you will have to bear the excess

8. Contact the respective companies to terminate the utilities for current house

  • Electricity (Okinawa Electric Power Company: 0120-586-390)
  • Water (no need for this if the water bills are withdrawn along with the rent)
  • Gas (check the current housing lease contract for contact info)
  • Fire insurance (check the housing lease contract or fire insurance policy for contact info)
  • Internet (if any)

9. Read and sign the "Agreement on Co-signer"

10. Visit the real estate company to sign the contract once the contract is ready

11. Take the contract to the relocation team to get it signed by OIST, as a guarantor

  • Take the "Agreement on Co-signer" as well
  • The relocation team will contact you once the contract is signed by OIST

12. Get the contract from the relocation team and take it to the real estate company

  • Ensure to get one copy of the contract for you to keep

13. Get the keys for the house from the real estate company

14. Submit a mail-forwarding service request to post office

This is a service to automatically forward postal mails/parcels that are addressed to your old address to your new address for one year

15. Change the address on various things:

  • Driver's license:

    [where to go] Police station [what to bring] A residence certificate with your new address

  • Bank:

    [where to go] The bank branch you opened the account at [what to bring] The resident card, bank debit card, and the residence certificate with your new address

  • Credit card:

    [where to go] The Resource Center [what to bring] The credit card, the resident card with the new address

  • Car registration certificate(JCI certificate/Shaken sho):

    [where to go] Any service garage [what to bring] Car registration certificate, the residence certificate with the new address

  • OIST HR:

    Inform the HR about the address change through HEART. Remember to make a scan of your lease contract and upload it through HEART.

Bureaucratic procedures

If you are moving to a place within the same municipality

  • Submit a notice of address change to the municipality
  • Get a copy of residence certificate with the new address
  • Get your new address printed on the resident card

If you are moving to a place in another municipality

At the current municipality

  • Submit a notice of move-out to the current municipality
  • Get a move-out certificate from the current municipality

At the new municipality

  • Take the move-out certificate to the municipality you are moving to, and get yourself registered
  • Get a copy of residence certificate
  • Get your new address printed on the resident card

If you have a child(ren)

At the current municipality

  • Cancel the child allowance and child medical expense aide at the current municipality
  • De-register your child(ren) from the school in the current municipality

At the new municipality

  • Apply for child allowance and child medical expense aide at the new municipality
  • Register your child(ren) at the school in the new municipality(if necessary)