Moving companies in Japan: costs, English options and how to book

To hire a moving company in Japan, get free written estimates from two or three movers, book early, and avoid mid-March to early April. As of October 2026, most movers use the government’s Standard Moving Transport Terms (標準引越運送約款). Under them the estimate is free, no deposit is allowed, and cancelling costs up to 20% of the estimate two days before, 30% the day before and 50% on the day. Report any damage within 3 months.

What rules do moving companies in Japan follow?

The Standard Moving Transport Terms are a Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT, 国土交通省) notice. They were last amended in 2025, and the change took effect on 1 April 2025. They apply to household moves by licensed trucking companies, the ones with green number plates. The mover must show you the terms at the estimate. Some movers use their own approved terms instead, so ask which apply.

Two kinds of service can fall outside these terms: office moves, and fixed-price single-person moves that use the mover’s own containers or roll boxes. For those, the mover has to tell you in advance that the standard terms don’t apply.

The rules are the same for foreign residents, whatever your visa or residency status. What matters is understanding the Japanese estimate, so ask about anything unclear before you sign.

How do I get a moving quote in Japan?

You can get an estimate online, by phone, or through an in-home estimate (訪問見積もり), where staff visit and look at your things. The Japan Trucking Association (全日本トラック協会) says online and phone estimates are easy, but it can be hard to describe all your goods and the way out of your building. It suggests an in-home estimate if you have a lot of goods or large furniture.

What the standard terms say about the estimate:

• Free. An in-home inspection (下見) can be charged only if the mover tells you the amount first and you agree.
• No deposit (内金, 手付金) at the estimate.
• A written estimate (見積書) with the pickup and delivery dates, both addresses, the total and a breakdown, the payment method, the cancellation fee, the company’s business permit number, and who does what (for example, who packs).
• Confirmation 3 days before. The mover checks with you whether anything has changed by 3 days before pickup.

Movers usually inspect your old home but often not the new one. Give the mover the sizes of your large appliances and furniture and of the new building’s hallways and stairs. Tips (心付け) are not expected, according to the association.

What can the final bill include?

You pay when the mover picks up your goods, using the payment method written in the estimate. If the real cost is lower than the estimate, you pay the lower amount. The mover can charge more only if you caused the change, for example if you have more goods than you declared or your packing isn’t finished.

Extras cause many disputes. The consumer center reports a customer who says extra fees for air conditioner removal and high-place work weren’t explained at the estimate, and who paid about ¥20,000 more on the day. Ask whether air conditioner removal, packing, unpacking and floor and wall protection (養生) are included, and get the prices in writing.

How much does it cost to cancel or postpone a move?

The cancellation and postponement fees come from Art. 21 of the standard terms:

The fee applies only when the cancellation is your choice. For the 2-days-before fee, only the fare and the loading, unloading, carrying, packing and unpacking charges count. If the mover didn’t confirm the estimate with you by 3 days before pickup, it can’t charge a fee at all. Separately, you pay for add-on services it has already started, if they were in the estimate (the same 3-day confirmation rule applies).

Who pays if my things are damaged?

The mover is liable for loss, damage or delay from pickup (including packing) to delivery (including unpacking), unless it proves it took proper care. It is not liable for natural disasters such as earthquakes, normal wear, or damage you caused.

• Declare valuables and fragile items. The mover asks about valuables, fragile things (including computers) and perishables. If you don’t declare them and the mover didn’t know, it isn’t liable for damage caused by not taking special care.
• Carry these yourself. The mover can refuse cash, securities, bankbooks, cash cards, jewelry, your personal seal (印鑑) and similar valuables. It can also refuse animals, plants, pianos, artworks and antiques.
• Report damage within 3 months of delivery, or the mover’s liability for partial loss or damage ends.
• Late delivery is compensated up to the total moving charge, unless the delay was intentional or grossly negligent.
• One-year limits. The mover issues an accident certificate (事故証明書) on request within 1 year, and claims end if no court claim is filed within 1 year of delivery.

The consumer center suggests photographing the rooms and furniture before and after the move. For a dispute, call the consumer hotline 188 to reach your local consumer center.

When is moving season in Japan, and why is it expensive?

According to MLIT, March has about twice as many moves as a normal month, and the busiest stretch, mid-March to early April, is getting hard to cover with the drivers and trucks available. People who moved off-peak said it cost less than a late-March weekend move and was easier to book.

MLIT doesn’t publish a peak-season price increase, and movers price each job separately. Akabou’s Tokyo-area union, for example, added 10% from 1 March to 5 April 2026. If your company transfers you in April, ask whether you can move earlier.

What is the cheapest way to move a small apartment?

For small moves such as one person’s, MLIT points to light-truck operators (軽トラック事業者). The best-known network is Akabou (赤帽), organized as prefectural unions. A light truck carries up to 350 kg, and you charter the whole truck. Akabou also has a “Single Pack” for one-person moves. Calling 0120-400-111 connects you to the nearest union. The website is in Japanese only.

The Tokyo-area union (Akabou Shutoken: Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba and Kanagawa) listed these fares as of October 2026:

Longer jobs cost more, and fares in other regions are set by each union.

If you only have boxes, you can send them by Yamato’s TA-Q-BIN (宅急便): up to 200 cm in total length plus width plus height and 30 kg per parcel, with liability up to ¥300,000 per parcel. Yamato’s personal services list showed no domestic household moving service when we checked in October 2026.

Are there moving companies in Japan with English service?

We found few movers with English pages, mostly for international moves or companies relocating staff. In alphabetical order, with no ranking:

• Crown Relocations Japan (crownrelo.com/japan): an English site focused on international moves. Its quote form also offers a “Local / National move” option, but the site doesn’t say whether it takes small household moves within Japan.
• NX (Nippon Express): its English moving page covers domestic moving, overseas assignments and overseas relocation. Its examples are corporate, such as employee transfers, and it doesn’t say whether individuals can book in English.
• Yamato Transport: its international moving site has an English link and offers sea and air plans.

The large domestic movers we checked, and Akabou, have no English pages. For a domestic move, a Japanese-speaking friend or colleague can help with the estimate call.

If no mover is available, MLIT suggests local trucking companies that aren’t on bulk-quote sites. The trucking association lists 348 companies (1,673 offices) with its Moving Safety Mark (引越安心マーク) by prefecture, as of 1 January 2026.

How do I get rid of furniture before moving?

Large items go out as oversized garbage (粗大ごみ) through your city, not with normal trash. MLIT suggests getting rid of unwanted furniture by the day before the move. Rules and fees differ by city. These are Setagaya City’s (Tokyo), as an example:

• What counts: household items with one side over 30 cm. Taking an item apart doesn’t make it normal garbage.
• Book first: online, by phone or chat. You are told the collection day and fee.
• Pay: buy the city’s sticker (A ¥200, B ¥300) at a supermarket or convenience store, or pay online. Put the item out by 8 a.m. on the collection day.
• Cheaper option: taking the item to Setagaya’s drop-off site costs about half.
• English: Setagaya’s online booking accepts English. Its phone line offers English, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish through an interpreter.

Air conditioners, TVs, fridges and freezers, washing machines and clothes dryers are not oversized garbage. They fall under the Home Appliance Recycling Act (家電リサイクル法): ask the store you bought them from, or the one selling you a replacement. Setagaya sends computers back to the maker.

Book early: Setagaya says its phone line is hard to reach in the March–April moving season.

What about moving out of Japan?

International moves include customs paperwork. Yamato, NX and Crown all offer them. Yamato quotes its full-service plan after a meeting and a home inspection, and charges for boxes it delivered if you then don’t use the service. Before you leave, you also have the city office notice, resident tax, your residence card and a possible pension refund. Our leaving Japan checklist covers those.

Moving inside Japan? You must report your new address within 14 days: see moving within Japan.

More guides: utilities setup · renting an apartment · leaving Japan checklist