Changing Address in Japan: What Actually Changes | MyKyoten

This guide applies whenever you move residences in Japan. It covers both simple moves within the same city or ward, and more complicated moves to a different municipality. If you're moving from Shibuya to Shinjuku (different wards), you need this guide. If you're moving from Tokyo to Osaka, you definitely need this guide. If you're just moving to a different apartment in the same ward, you still need this guide but the process is simpler.

Why Address Changes Break Things More Than You'd Expect

In most countries, changing your address means updating your mail forwarding and telling a few companies. In Japan, your registered address determines:

Which city hall manages your resident record

Which health insurance office handles your enrollment

Which pension office tracks your contributions

Which tax office collects your residence tax

Where official government notices get sent

Which ward or city provides your garbage bags (yes, really)

Your address is not just where you sleep. It's an administrative key that connects you to specific government offices and systems. When you move and don't update properly, these systems start pointing to the wrong place. Your health insurance gets sent to your old address. Your tax bills go missing. Your new city hall has no record of you existing.

The Two Types of Moves (The Difference Matters)

Type 1: Moving within the same municipality (same city or ward) This is called tenkyo todoke (転居届) - a "moving notification."

Type 2: Moving to a different municipality (different city or ward) This requires two steps: tenshutsu todoke (転出届) - "move-out notification" at your old city hall, and tennyu todoke (転入届) - "move-in notification" at your new city hall.

Type 2 moves are significantly more complicated because you're transferring your entire resident record from one government to another. Don't forget the separate immigration address notification - and be aware of the 14-day reporting requirements .

Moving Within the Same Municipality (The Easy Version)

If you're moving within the same city or ward, the process is relatively straightforward.

The Physical Process Step-by-Step

Within 14 days, go to your local city hall

Go to the resident registration counter (usually called 住民登録 or 市民課)

Tell them you moved within the municipality

Fill out a short form with your old address and new address

They update the address on the back of your residence card by hand

The whole process takes 15-30 minutes depending on how busy the office is.

Something showing your new address (lease contract, move-in confirmation from your landlord)

Your My Number Card if you have one (optional but recommended)

What Gets Updated Automatically

Your resident record updates immediately

Your health insurance record updates automatically (but you might receive a new insurance card in the mail with the updated address)

Your My Number system updates automatically

Your registered seal certificate (if you have one) updates automatically

What You Still Need to Update Manually

Your bank account address (go to your bank or update online)

Your employer's records (tell HR your new address)

Your phone contract (most carriers let you update online)

"Your address in Japan isn't just a location. It's the key that unlocks which government office manages your records, which insurance plan you're enrolled in, and where your official mail goes."

Moving to a Different Municipality (The Complicated Version)

Moving to a different city or ward means you're transferring your resident record from one local government to another. This is a two-step process and the timing matters.

Step 1: Move-Out Notification at Your Old City Hall

Before you move (or within 14 days after), you need to go to your old city hall and submit a move-out notification (tenshutsu todoke).

Go to the resident registration counter

Tell them you're moving out of the municipality

Fill out the move-out form with your current address and your planned new address

They'll give you a tenshutsu shomeisho (転出証明書) - a "certificate of moving out"

This certificate is critical. You need it to complete registration at your new city hall.

Your My Number Card (if you have one)

Your health insurance card (they'll collect this because your old municipality is no longer your insurance administrator)

Timing note: You can submit this move-out notification up to 14 days before your move date or within 14 days after. Most people do it a few days before moving or on moving day itself.

Step 2: Move-In Notification at Your New City Hall

Within 14 days of moving into your new address, you must go to your new city hall and complete move-in registration (tennyu todoke).

Go to the resident registration counter

Tell them you're moving in from another municipality

Hand them the tenshutsu shomeisho certificate from your old city hall

Fill out the move-in form with your new address

They update your residence card with the new address

They automatically enroll you in the new municipality's health insurance

The tenshutsu shomeisho certificate from your old city hall (required)

Your My Number Card (if you have one)

Proof of new address (lease contract)

The new city hall will issue you a new health insurance card within 1-2 weeks. Until it arrives, you can still see a doctor, but you may need to explain the situation.

Same Municipality vs Different Municipality: Side-by-Side

The 14-Day Deadline (Why It's Actually Enforced)

You have 14 days from your move date to update your address at city hall. This is not a suggestion. It's a legal requirement under the Basic Resident Registration Act.

Miss this deadline and you can be fined up to ¥50,000 (though in practice, fines for first-time violations are rare unless you ignore it for months).

The real consequences are worse than fines:

Your health insurance might lapse or get backdated incorrectly

Official notices (tax bills, visa renewal reminders) get sent to your old address

Your new municipality has no record of you existing, so you can't access local services

Banks and employers get confused when your registered address doesn't match their records

Just do it within 14 days. Set a reminder on your phone for day 10 if you need to.

What Updates Automatically and What Doesn't

This is the part that confuses everyone.

Updates Automatically (No Action Needed)

Your resident record in the national database

Your health insurance enrollment (but you receive a new card in the mail)

Your pension record (transfers between offices)

Your residence tax jurisdiction (your new city starts collecting)

Does NOT Update Automatically (You Must Do This Manually)

Banks: You need to go to your bank branch or update online. Bring your updated residence card. Some banks like Japan Post Bank let you update online, others require in-person visits.

Employers: Tell your HR department your new address immediately. They need it for tax withholding and year-end tax adjustment.

Phone contracts: Docomo, AU, Softbank all have online address update forms. Takes 5 minutes.