Planning an indefinite move away from Japan but not sure when you’ll return?
Proper apartment moving management is key to ensuring a smooth transition. Whether you decide to move out completely or keep your apartment while abroad, there are key steps to follow.
If you’re moving out, remember to inform your landlord, schedule a moving-out inspection, and consider storing your belongings.
If you’re keeping your apartment, notify your landlord about your extended absence and decide what to do about your home internet.
Understanding your options for apartment moving can help prevent unnecessary costs and ensure a smooth departure. Our checklist will help you make your move organized and stress-free.
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Option 1: Move Out Completely
If you are leaving Japan temporarily but unsure of when you may return, moving out completely might make the most sense. Continuing to pay rent for an apartment you won’t use can quickly add up.
However, you might consider other options if you have a clear timeline.
You might also be considering leasing out your apartment, but if you are renting from a management company, most rental agreements prohibit subleasing or allowing unauthorized individuals to stay in your apartment.
Basically, if you can’t use it, it might be better to simply let it go.
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Inform Your Landlord, Management Company, etc.
To cancel your lease, you must contact your landlord, management company, and any other party included in your lease agreement at least one month before your planned move-out date. This will help you to avoid any penalties or complications.
The sooner you can communicate your plans, the better. This will allow for enough time to complete all the procedures that need to be done.
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Schedule an Apartment Moving-Out Inspection
After you’ve informed your landlord or management company, schedule a moving-out inspection.
Once this is scheduled, on the day of your apartment moving-out inspection, a representative from the guarantor or management company will assess any damage.
Fees You Might Incur:
- Big scratches, stains or other damages
- Standard cleaning fee (~20,000 JPY)
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Getting Rid of Your Stuff
If you have items you no longer need or don’t plan on taking with you, consider holding a “Sayonara Sale.”
You can advertise these on social media platforms like:
- Craigslist
- Tokyo-specific platforms: Mercari and Tokyo Notice board
Recycling Shops:
Recycling shops sometimes charge you to take your stuff, so don’t expect to make any money.
However, these recycling shops can be good because they accept broken items for parts and can handle difficult Sodaigomi items.
Bulky Trash (Sodaigomi):
You can hire the city to remove bulky items like furniture for you as well.
To do this:
- Ask your ward office to determine the type of disposal stickers you need
- Buy disposal stickers at your nearest convenience store
- Wait for the trash collection day for sodaigomi
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Use a Storage Unit
If you are looking to keep your stuff in Japan during your time abroad, you might want to consider getting a storage unit or what is commonly known as a truck room.
Some Popular Options Might Be:
| Trunk Room | Features |
|---|---|
| Hello Storage | Admin Fee Monthly fee varies depending on size |
| Nikoniko Trunk | Cheap and large Tokyo Only Small units start at 1653 JPY/month |
| Quraz Trunk Room | Tokyo, Kanagawa, and Chiba English info page Email support in English |
| Sea Trunk Room | Indoor storage units Available in English, Cantonese and Mandarin |
| EZVOX | Chiba, Tokyo, Saitama, and Ibaraki Modern and clean facilities Prices in the middle of the market |
Most storage facilities offer flexible rental terms and vary in prices depending on the location and size of the unit.
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Option 2: Keep Your Current Apartment
You might also consider paying for the apartment you currently reside in before leaving Japan temporarily.
If you have a clear return date or plan to travel back and forth between Japan and another country, keeping your apartment may be more convenient for you.
This way, you don’t have to worry about the procedures for apartment moving, like closing your utilities or figuring out what to do with your belongings you won’t be taking with you.
You also don’t have to worry about finding accommodations when you return.
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Notify Your Landlord and Management Company
If you choose to keep your apartment, inform your management company and any other parties involved about your extended absence for security reasons.
This is to notify them that you will be gone and will prevent unauthorized access to your apartment when you are gone.
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What to do About Your Home Internet
If you are leaving Japan temporarily and don’t want to worry about paying your WiFi bill while abroad, you might consider canceling your WiFi service.
Most contracts require a one-month notice to cancel your WiFi and avoid paying for an extra month of service you won’t use.
For Sakura Mobile users who wish to cancel their Home WiFi plan:
- Submit a Termination Form with Sakura Mobile.
- Package the Home WiFi device and accessories inside its box and place the box inside the return envelope (all of which came together with the delivery of the device).
- Take it to a:
- Lawson convenience store
- JP Post Office
- Ministop convenience store
- Seicomart convenience store
For more information on terminating your contract and returning your Home WiFi device, check out our FAQ page sources:
※For those using Sakura Mobile’s Fiber internet plan, please refer to the following link for information about canceling the contract and returning the NTT equipment.
- How can I cancel the rental Home WiFi device subscription?
- How can I cancel the Home Internet service?
For those who want internet when they get back, they can sign up with us.
Select a date for your Home WiFi device’s arrival so you can have internet as soon as you get back.
If you are an existing Sakura Mobile customer who canceled their contract, getting your service back up and running is relatively simple.
For more details on this, click here.
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Conclusion
Before you decide what to do with your apartment before leaving Japan temporarily, determine if your plans for return to Japan are clear or not.
If they are not clear, I would recommend Option 1. You may not be back for a while, and you don’t want to incur unnecessary, expensive costs, so apartment moving would make more sense.
If they are clear, or you plan to fly between your new home and Japan, I recommend Option 2. Rather than moving, this will save you the hassle of finding a new place to stay every time you return.
Making your decision as soon as possible will help ensure a smooth departure and a stress-free re-entry when you return. Staying organized will make your transition away from Japan and back again much easier.
We hope you enjoy your time away from Japan!
Sakura Mobile offers various long-term postpaid voice and data service plans. Use the link below to find the one that best suits your needs.
LINK: Sakura Mobile Voice + Data SIM
If you’ve completed everything on this list ad are wondering if there is more to be done before you leave Japan, you can check out our other articles on LEAVING JAPAN INDEFINITELY:
Your Ultimate Leaving Japan Checklist: Essential Immigration Procedures
If you are only traveling abroad for about a month, check out our SHORT-TERM DEPARTURE BLOG:
Japan Exit Checklist: Steps for Leaving Japan Temporarily
