Accommodation
- Housing Types
- How to Look for Your Housing
- Signing up for Water, Electricity and Gas Utilities
- Telephones and international calls
- Garbage
- Community Associations
Housing Types
Owned House
Generally, housing with proprietary rights is considered an “owned house”. Owned houses include independent housing and condominiums. Various procedures and contracts are required to build a house or purchase one.
Public Housing
Rental housing that local public entities provide at low rent for people with difficulty finding a house and/or lower income. Requirements for renters, such as the amount of income, are determined by each prefecture and local government.
UR Rental Housing
Housing that is operated by the Urban Renaissance Agency. Renters must satisfy certain requirements such as income higher than the standard monthly salary that UR sets and the range of resident status.
Private Rental Housing
Ordinary rental housing. Anybody can live there as far as they pay rent under contract. Contents of contracts differ for each housing; therefore, renters need to check them sufficiently and carefully.
How to Look for Your Housing
Public Housing
| Name | Description | Contact office |
|---|---|---|
| City Housing | ・Applications are accepted 4 times a year. (April, June, Sept, and Dec) ・Obtain the application form at the city hall, ward offices and ward branch offices, at the beginning of the above listed months, fill it out and submit it. Or apply from the appropriate link on the following website (Japanese): https://jutakukanri.city.kyoto.lg.jp/ ・Due to the large number of applicants, a public lottery is used to select eligible applicants. ・Rent is calculated on the basis of the income of the applicant. |
Kyoto City Housing Corporation（Kyoto-shi Jutaku Kyokyu Kosha） TEL: 075-223-2142 |
| Prefectural Housing | ・Applications are accepted 6 times a year. (Jun, Jul, Oct, Nov, Feb, and Mar) ・Obtain the application form at the Kyoto Prefectural Office. To apply from the website, please check following (Japanese): https://jutakukanri.city.kyoto.lg.jp/?page_id=528 ・Only families can apply. Single-person household applicants are not eligible. ・Due to the large number of applicants, a public lottery is held to select renters. ・Rent is calculated based on each applicant’s income. |
Kyoto Prefectural Public Housing Corporation（Kyoto-fu Jutaku Kyokyu Kosha） TEL: 075-431-4157 |
UR Rental Housing
| Description | Contact office | |
|---|---|---|
| UR Rental Housing (UR Chintai Jyutaku) | ・Applications (including online) are accepted all year. ・Obtain the application form at the Kyoto office of the Urban Renaissance Agency. ・Both single-person and family households can apply. ・Required renter’s income is at least 4 times the amount of rent. |
Urban Renaissance Agency, Kyoto Office TEL: 075-255-0499 |
Private Rental Housing
The website “HOUSE NAVI for foreigners” provides information about apartment houses and rental rooms, mainly in Kyoto City. (English, Chinese, Korean)
Website of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
For learning the procedure to rent rooms, go to the following site (available in English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Nepali, Thai, Indonesian, Burmese, Cambodian, Tagalog, and Mongolian)
https://www.mlit.go.jp/jutakukentiku/house/jutakukentiku_house_tk3_000017.html
Signing up for Water, Electricity and Gas Utilities
Check with your landlord first!
Utilities (electricity, water, sewage, and gas) may be managed by the landlord. Ask your landlord about the utilities first.
Use account transfer for the utility payment
It is convenient to pay utility bills through your account at a bank. Set up an automatic transfer of these bills at the bank where your account is, including Japan Post Bank. If you prefer paying your bills by cash, you can pay them at a bank, post office or convenience store.
Water
Tap water is safe for drinking. Water charges are calculated based on the size of the supply pipe and the amount of water used. Payment is made once every 2 months.
How to start using water and sewage service
Contact the service offices or the customer service counter of Kyoto City Water Supply and Sewage Bureau.
Kyoto City Water Supply and Sewage Bureau
| Area | Service Office | Tel |
|---|---|---|
| Higashiyama Ward, Yamashina Ward, Daigo area of Fushimi Ward | East Service Office | 075-592-3058 |
| Kita Ward, Kamigyo Ward, Nakagyo Ward | North Service Office | 075-772-7700 |
| Ukyo Ward (excluding Keihoku area), Nishikyo Ward | West Service Office | 075-841-9184 |
| Keihoku area of Ukyo Ward | West Service Office Keihoku Branch Office | 075-852-1820 |
| Shimogyo Ward, Minami Ward, Fushimi Ward (excluding Daigo area) | South Service Office | 075-605-2011 |
| All of Kyoto City | Customer Service Counter | 075-672-7770 |
What is necessary to start using the service?
First, confirm your “customer number” and “address”. There is usually a card written “Water service has stopped” (heisen chu-no fuda) around the entrance area of your new residence. Call the water supply service office and provide them with the information on the card.
How to terminate water and sewage service
Contact the Service Office or the Customer Service Counter at the Kyoto City Water Supply and Sewage Bureau, give them your customer number and ask them to terminate the service.
For further information
Contact the nearest Kyoto City Water Supply and Sewage Bureau Service Office or Customer Service Counter.
Electricity
How to start using electricity services
Contact Kansai Electric Power Corporation（Japanese/English）
TEL：0800-777-8810Mon. - Fri. 9:00 - 18:00（closed on national holidays）
Compatibility of electric appliances: power frequency and voltage
There are two types of electric frequencies in Japan. Kyoto city uses 60 hertz/100 volts. Using electrically incompatible appliances that do not match these current and voltage may cause damage to both the appliance and the circuits. Be careful that many of the appliances brought from abroad do not match the electric system in Japan.
Rate
Your rate is calculated according to the amount of electricity used per month. Please refer to the calculation formula on the back of your bill. ＊If a lot of appliances are used at once, it could overload the circuit causing your breaker to cut off the power. If it happens, turn off some of the appliances and turn the breaker back on.
Gas
Two types of gas are used: natural gas (city gas) and LP (Liquefied Propane) gas. Check the type of gas used at your residence.
(1) City Gas
How to start and terminate City Gas Service
Call Osaka Gas Co. Ltd. and give them following information:① your name, ② customer number, ③ address, and ④ telephone number. Then, request their staff to come to your place to open the gas line. ＊You must be present when a staff from Osaka Gas comes to your residence to open the gas valve.
Osaka Gas Customer Service（Japanese/English）
TEL：0120-894-817Gas appliances
Kyoto City uses the type 13A standard. Make sure that your appliances are compatible with this type. In case of using old/used appliances, ask the personnel from the gas company to check them for compatibility at the time of opening the gas line.
Gas Charges
Gas bills must be paid every month. If the payment is not made through the bank transfer, a bill is sent to the customer about 1 week after the amount you used is determined and notified.
(2) LP Gas
Call the LP Gas Company to start or terminate the LP Gas service. The phone number of the company is printed on a tag attached to the meter.
Gas appliances for LP gas
Appliances for LP Gas are the same throughout Japan. However, appliances designed for the city gas cannot be used interchangeably with appliances designed for LP Gas. Please have an LP Gas representative check your appliances and confirm they are safe for LP gas usage.
- ・Kyowa Pro Kyoto Branch Office TEL：075-691-7161
- ・Iwatani Kinki Kyoto Branch Office TEL：0120-563-056
- ・Uehara Sei Shoji Kyoto Factory Head Office & Kyoto Branch Office TEL：075-212-6000
If an appliance is not compatible for LP gas usage, it is necessary to change some parts. Please note that it may cost more than ¥10,000.
Gas Charges
Gas bills must be paid every month to the company you contracted.
For Safe Usage
The following website shows the guideline to use gas safely. (English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Portuguese, Filipino and Vietnamese)
Telephones and international calls
Mobile phones
There are several mobile phone companies. To sign up for a mobile phone service, go to a service provider’s sales store with your ID, seal (inkan), bank book or a credit card that shows your account number.
In Japan, using mobile phones is prohibited in public transportation and facilities such as buses, trains, and hospitals. Also, using a mobile phone while driving a car or riding a bicycle is prohibited by law.
International calls
There are various companies that provide international telephone services. Please contact the company directly for information, including how to subscribe and rates.
How to make an international call from Japan
International Access Code + 010 + Country Code + Area code without first 0 + Telephone number of the person you call
| Name of company | International Access Code | For inquiries |
|---|---|---|
| KDDI | 001 | 0057 (Free, available 24 hours a day) |
| SoftBank | 0061 | 0120-03-0061 (Free) Weekdays between 9:00 to 17:00, except year-end and New Year’s holiday |
| NTT Communications | 0033 | 0120-506-506 (Free) 10:00 -19:00 except Sundays, national holidays, Year-end and New Year’s holiday |
Garbage
Be aware of proper disposal for garbage and recyclables
Garbage is divided into different types: mainly burnable garbage, cans/ glass bottles/ PET, plastic (containers and wrappings), small size metal items/ spray cans, and miscellaneous recyclable paper. Days and places of collection for each type of garbage are designated in each area. Please ask your neighbors about the collection information.
Small size house appliances, batteries, and used clothes must be taken to the places to collect them. Especially since increasing cases of ignition and fire cases caused by lithium-ion batteries and rechargeable batteries have been reported, do not put them in a plastic bag and dispose of them in regular way.
Community Associations
Across Japan, as a general rule, each local area has its own “neighborhood association (chounaikai)” and “neighborhood council (jichikai).” They are resident or citizen based organizations. These associations organize festivals, sports day, disaster prevention drills and other activities. They also pass from home to home a circular notice called kairanban, which contains information about the city and local communities. Membership fees from each family support these activities. Although it is not compulsory, many residents in the area join these associations to spend safer and more comfortable days. Why don’t you talk to them and ask questions when chonaikai or jichikai members visit your house?