Accommodation : Tokyo Osaka Shared Apartment (Guesthouse) in Japan
Rental Apartment in Japan(Tokyo Osaka etc.)
Furnished Apartment in Japan (Tokyo Osaka etc.)
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1. When moving

(1) Utilities and Registration

1) Contact each utility office. Because most offices do not have English speaking staff, we recommend that you ask a friend who can speak Japanese for assistance.

2) Apply for a Certificate of Alien Registration and an official change of address.
To acquire these documents you must go to the city ward office of the area where you now live.
3) Open a bank account and officially change your address with your bank Your will need your passport, signet, Certificate of Alien Registration or Certificate of Items Stated in Alien Registration Original Slip.

4) Change the address on your driver's license To change the address on your driver's liscense, go to the local police office of the area where you now live.

(2) Greetings

It is a good idea to greet the landlord and neighbors when you move in. First impressions in Japan are very important.

It is customary to greet your neighbors living on both sides of your apartment as well as your upstairs and downstairs neighbors. If you are renting or purchasing a house it is customary to greet the next door neighbors on both sides up to the third house. A long time ago, we called this radius Muko Sangen Ryodonari, and this was a unit of mutual aid society organized by neighbors.

It is best to greet your neighbors on the day you move in, and bring small gifts such as postcards, a towel set, or sweets. The usual cost of these gifts should range from about 500yen～1,000yen. However, if you have only just arrived to Japan, you don't need to worry about giving gifts.

In times of emergency it is your neighbors who will help you the most. Also, if you have a good relationship with your neighbors they are less likely to complain about noise and other disturbances.

Japanese	English Translation
kon-nichiwa	Hello
Gomen-kudasai	Excuse me, is anyone home?
Hajimemashite	How do you do?
Yoroshiku onegai-shimasu	I'm pleased to make your acquaintance.
Watashi ha (****)desu.	My name is (****)
Arigatou	Thank you
Sumimasen	Good bye
Ogenki-desuka	How are you doing?
Genki-desu.	I'm fine thank you.
douitashimashite	You are welcome.
Hikkoshite-kimashita	I just moved in

(3) Notifying friends and relatives

In Japan it is customary to notify relatives and friends when you move by sending them greeting cards with your new address and phone number. This is usually done within a month of moving.

(4) Repairs before you move in

1.When You Move In
Before moving into an apartment that has had previous tenants, any severe wear or damage will have been repaired prior to your arrival. However this does not mean that the unit will have been completely refurbished with new tatami mats, sliding doors, wall surfaces, paint, etc. Contact your real estate agent immediately if you have any questions about repairs when you move in. Please note that a request for repair work can only be accepted if the problem is reported without delay.

2. Chonaikai (Residents' association)

(1) Organization

Each housing complex has its own residents' association, which serves as an organization for mutual assistance among the tenants--carrying out activities to keep the environment clean, holding social events, and so on.

Although membership is optional, life is easier if you become a member because the Chonaikai provides useful information on daily life and public activities. Chonaikai circulate city newsletters and plan various recreational activities. Enrollment and monthly fees vary from one chonaikai to another.

(2) Membership fees

The activities of the residents' association are funded by membership fees. These are used to hold association events, purchase cleaning equipment and other necessities such as paying the electricity bill for lighting of common-use areas, and so on.

(3) Activities

The association makes sure that the grounds are kept tidy, the grass trimmed, etc. Some housing complexes have a roster system for these duties. Please participate according to the rules of your local association.

When the residents' association holds a social event such as a sports meet or a cultural festival, all residents are encouraged to participate actively and become part of the local community.

Since the activities of the residents' association differ in each housing complex, you should ask your neighbors or an association officer about the rules of your local association when you move in.

4. Taking care of your new home

(1) Humidity

Due to the relatively high humidity inside recently built housing, you should take extra care to avoid mold buildup. On sunny days it is best to air out rooms and allow the walls, closets, cupboards, etc., to dry out.

(2) Condensation

Heating in the winter may cause drops of water to condense on the walls and give rise to mold. Be especially careful about condensation in rooms and closets on the northern side of a building. Keep these rooms well aired out and wipe away any condensation droplets that may form with a dry cloth.

As the insides of oshi-ire are also prone to condensation, ventilate them well. During the rainy season and winter, opening both fusuma a bit at the edges helps keep an oshi-ire's interior dry.

(3) Preventing carbon monoxide poisoning

When using gas or kerosene heaters, etc., always ensure adequate ventilation to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.

5. Pets

No dogs, cats, or other animals are permitted, due to the problems of noise, shedding of hair, etc., These problems tend to be a source of trouble with neighbors and to create an unsanitary environment. If you'd like to keep a pet, you'll need to read the lease contract carefully and get permission from the landlord or agent to avoid any trouble.

6. Garbage

Sort your garbage into combustible and incombustible waste. Put each of these out in their designated place on the appropriate collection day. For details on collection days and methods, etc., ask your neighbors and landlord, and also follow any instructions you receive from the sanitation department.

If these rules are not observed, your garbage may not be collected. At some City Offices instructions on how to dispose of garbage are available in foreign languages.

Do not leave garbage on the veranda or in other places where it might cause a nuisance to neighbors by attracting insects, giving off odors, etc.

Do not, under any circumstances, throw garbage or water from a balcony or window, in the corridors, on stairs, etc.

Don't put large sized rubbish such as furniture and electrical goods where you put out the daily garbage. In order to dispose of such items you must phone the waste management office and arrange for their disposal. Another way to get rid of these types of items, is to sell them at a secondhand shop (recycle shop).

7. Noise

Sound travels through a concrete building more easily than you might think.

When you have guests, refrain from raising your voices loudly.

At night, footsteps in the hallway, people going up the stairs, voices heard through open windows, and doors opening and closing sound even louder. Noise late at night in particular can disrupt your neighbor's sleep. Ensure that you do your part to maintain a quiet environment.

Remember that the sound of a child jumping up and down reverberates quite loudly in the unit below. Vacuum cleaners and washing machines tend to be quite noisy and may bother your neighbors. Try to use them between 8 o'clock in the morning and 9 o'clock at night.

**Some devices for soundproofing

Try spreading a carpet over a wooden floor and put on slippers with soles made of soft material such as felt.

Put a book shelf or wardrobe against walls that adjoin neighboring units.

Set your TV or audio equipment away from the wall, or not to put them directly on the floor.

Cover the feet of your chairs with fabric or rubber caps.

If you are concerned about the loud noise your closing door makes, paste polyurethane tape on the door
frame. Not only is it soundproof, but it also fills the gap between the door and the frame, providing insulation.

Try wrapping rags around drainpipes to make the sound of water flow less audiable.

Place a sound dampening mat under the washing machine.