How to pay utility bills in Japan and what payment methods are available? Explanation for each of water, electricity, and gas bills

update date 2024/04/25

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How to pay bills in japan? （how to pay bills in japan?
I don't know how to pay the water bill, the electricity bill, or the gas bill."
What do you do when you're behind on your payments?"

For foreigners who have come to Japan for the first time, many things related to daily life can be confusing. In particular, many people may have trouble understanding the outline and specifics of how to pay bills in Japan.

But don't worry! Paying utility bills is not that difficult once you understand how to do it. In this issue, we will explain in detail and in an easy-to-understand manner how to pay utility bills in Japan, as well as the payment procedures for water, electricity, and gas bills. We will also tell you what to do in the unlikely event that you fall behind on your payments, so please be sure to read to the end.

We hope that this article will help foreign residents who are starting a new life in Japan to resolve any concerns they may have about paying utility bills and help the process go smoothly. Let's take a look at the details.

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What is the method of payment of utility bills in Japan?

In Japan, there are four main ways to pay utility bills

Payment by account transfer
Payment by credit card
Payment by invoice (payment slip)
Payments and withdrawals via smartphone payments (e.g., QR code payments)

Let's take a closer look at each of these methods.

Payment by account transfer

By registering your account information with the utility bill sales source, the charges are automatically deducted from your account on the monthly payment date. The advantage of account transfer is that there is no need to worry about overdue payments due to forgotten payments. However, it should be noted that if there is not a sufficient balance in the account on the debit date, the fee cannot be debited and the account becomes delinquent.

Please note that if you choose to pay by direct debit, some companies may offer a certain amount of discount from the monthly fee. Please check the official website of each business source for details.

Payment by credit card

This method involves registering your credit card information with the business source and automatically deducting monthly charges from your card. The advantage of credit card payment is that you can earn points on your card. For those living alone, utility bills often amount to around 10,000 yen per month, so if you choose a card with a high point redemption rate, you can save money.

For more information on how to make a credit card and recommendations, please also refer to the following articles.
・Five Japanese credit cards for foreigners! And tips on how to pass the screening process.
・How to make it easier for foreigners to get credit cards in Japan

Payment by invoice (payment slip)

This method is to bring the monthly invoice mailed to you to a designated location (financial institution, business office, convenience store, etc.) and pay it there in cash. Please note, however, that payments are generally made in cash only.

Payments and withdrawals via smartphone payments (e.g., QR code payments)

Smartphone payment services including PayPay and Rakuten Pay can also be used to pay utility bills; for QR code payment, scan the QR code printed on the bill with a smartphone app and complete the payment procedure within the app.

The advantage of mobile payment is that it offers point redemption just like credit cards. However, redemption rates and services vary by payment service, so choose a service you trust and check the terms of use carefully.

How to Pay Each Utility Bill: A Clear Explanation of the Payment Procedure

There are three main utility bills that must be paid in Japan

water rates (charges)
electric utility expense
gas money

Here, assuming that you live in Tokyo, we will explain in detail how to pay each of these fees and the procedures involved.

How to pay water bill japan

Water bills can be paid by

credit card
direct debit
Convenience store (cash)

The payment procedure is as follows

Receive a billing statement mailed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Bureau of Waterworks.
Pay the fee by the payment due date indicated on the invoice by the method selected.
- Credit card: Process online through the URL or QR code on the invoice.
- Account transfer: Apply at a financial institution or through the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Bureau of Waterworks website.
- Convenience store payment: Take the invoice to the cash register at a major convenience store such as Seven-Eleven, FamilyMart, or Lawson. Present the bill to the cashier and pay in cash. Keep the receipt you received from the clerk.

Reference:Procedures and Charges｜Tokyo Metropolitan Government Bureau of Waterworks

How to pay your electricity bill (electricity bill japan)

Electricity bills are billed by the power company because of the contract. Payment methods are as follows

credit card
direct debit
Convenience store (cash)

The payment procedure is almost the same as for water bills.

Receive a bill mailed to you by the electricity company with which you have a contract.
Pay the fee by the payment due date indicated on the invoice by the method selected.
- Credit card: Process online through the URL or QR code on the invoice.
- Account transfer: Apply at a financial institution or through the electric power company's website.
- Convenience store payment: Take the invoice to the cash register at a major convenience store such as Seven-Eleven, FamilyMart, or Lawson. Present the bill to the cashier and pay in cash. Keep the receipt you received from the clerk.

Reference:Payment Methods｜Tokyo Electric Power Co.

How to pay your gas bill (gas bill japan)

Gas bills are billed by the gas or electricity company with which you have a contract. Payment methods are as follows

credit card
direct debit
Convenience store (cash)

The payment procedure is similar to that for water and electricity bills.

Receive a bill mailed to you by the gas or electric company with which you have a contract.
Pay the fee by the payment due date indicated on the invoice by the method selected.
- Credit card: Process online through the URL or QR code on the invoice.
- Account transfer: Apply at a financial institution or through the websites of gas or electric power companies.
- Convenience store payment: Take the invoice to the cash register at a major convenience store such as Seven-Eleven, FamilyMart, or Lawson. Present the bill to the cashier and pay in cash. Keep the receipt you received from the clerk.

Reference:Payment Methods｜Tokyo Gas

【 All utility bills common 】 What to do if you are in arrears

If you are delinquent in paying your utility bills, you may experience inconveniences such as the suspension of your respective services. Possible reasons for nonpayment include the following cases.

You chose to pay by invoice but forgot to pay by the payment due date.
If you have selected direct debit but there is insufficient balance in your account on the debit date.

What to do when you are delinquent depends on the type of utility bill.

Water bill: You will receive a reminder letter from the water department. If you do not pay the bill by the deadline stated in the demand letter or if you are in arrears for a long period of time, your water supply may be suspended.
Electricity: If you receive a demand letter from the power company and do not pay the bill by the deadline stated in the demand letter, your electricity may eventually be shut off. Electricity cutoff will cause serious disruption to your life.
Gas bill: You will receive a reminder letter from the gas company. Failure to pay the bill by the deadline stated in the reminder letter may result in the gas supply being cut off for safety reasons.

If you become delinquent, it is important to contact the business source immediately to make payment. If you talk to the contact listed on the demand letter, they will be able to tell you how to resolve the problem, such as paying the overdue amount or paying in installments.

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summary

The following is a summary of important points about how to pay bills in Japan.

There are four payment methods for utility bills: direct debit, credit card, billing statement (cash payment at convenience stores, etc.), and smartphone payment (QR code payment, etc.).
The three main utility bills that must be paid are the water bill, the electricity bill, and the gas bill.
The payment process for each fee consists of receiving an invoice and paying the fee by the selected method by the payment due date.
If you become delinquent, promptly contact the business source and discuss solutions, such as payment of late fees or installment payments.

There are many different ways to pay utility bills, but it is important to choose the method that works best for you and make sure you pay by the due date. If you use a credit card or smartphone payment, you may be able to receive points back for your payment.

You may feel uneasy about paying utility bills in your new life in Japan, but we hope that this article will help you to go through the procedure smoothly.