Moving Companies in Japan (Hikkoshi): Costs, Booking and What to Expect
Japanese movers are fast, careful and genuinely good at their job — they will shrink-wrap your fridge, lay protective sheets down your hallway and be gone in ninety minutes. What surprises people is the price volatility: the identical move can cost ¥35,000 or ¥90,000 depending entirely on when you book it.
What does a move cost in Japan?
| Situation | Off-peak (May–Feb) | Peak (Mar–Apr) |
|---|---|---|
| Single person, light load, same city | ¥30,000–45,000 | ¥50,000–80,000 |
| Single person, full apartment, within the region | ¥45,000–65,000 | ¥70,000–120,000 |
| Couple, within the region | ¥60,000–90,000 | ¥100,000–180,000 |
| Long distance (e.g. Tokyo–Osaka), single | ¥60,000–100,000 | ¥100,000–200,000 |
Three factors drive the number: volume, distance, and date. You can rarely change the first two — but the date is often more flexible than people assume.
Why do March and April cost double?
Japan's academic and corporate years both begin in April, so the entire country moves in the same three weeks. Late March is the peak of the peak: trucks and crews sell out, and prices rise accordingly.
| Timing choice | Effect on price |
|---|---|
| Late March instead of June | Up to double |
| Weekend instead of a weekday | Roughly 10–20% more |
| Fixed morning slot instead of "any time that day" | Roughly 10–30% more |
| Start of month or a lucky calendar day | Noticeably more |
A weekday afternoon slot in the middle of the month, off-peak, is the cheapest combination available. The same seasonality shapes the rental market itself — see the best time to rent in Tokyo.
How does quoting work?
Prices are not published. You describe your belongings, and the company quotes. For anything beyond a small load, they will want to see it — either by a home visit or, increasingly, a video call or photo-based app estimate.
Describe your load accurately. Underestimating means the crew arrives with too small a truck, and the extra is charged on the day at a worse rate.
What is a single-person pack?
Most large companies sell a fixed-price product for people with little furniture: your belongings go into a container of a set size and share a truck with other customers. It's the cheapest way to use a real moving company.
- Best for a 1R or 1K with a bed, small fridge, washing machine and boxes
- Price roughly ¥25,000–50,000 off-peak, depending on distance
- Trade-off delivery lands on a date range rather than a chosen hour, since the truck is shared
- Limit anything that doesn't fit the container is charged separately
What are the cheaper alternatives?
| Option | Cost | Works when |
|---|---|---|
| Courier service, box by box | ¥1,500–2,500 per box | Under about 10 boxes and no furniture |
| Rental van, self-drive | ¥8,000–15,000 per day | You hold a valid licence and have help |
| Sell furniture, rebuy at the new place | Varies | Old items are cheap to replace anyway |
| Full moving company | ¥30,000+ | Large appliances, a washing machine, or higher floors |
Washing machines are the usual deciding factor. Disconnecting, transporting and reinstalling one yourself is genuinely awkward, and a leak in a Japanese apartment becomes an expensive liability claim.
When should you book?
| When | Action |
|---|---|
| 4–6 weeks before (peak: 8 weeks) | Request three quotes and book |
| 3 weeks before | Book large-item disposal — collection slots fill up |
| 2 weeks before | Give notice on the old place if you haven't; arrange gas appointments |
| 1 week before | Pack everything except daily essentials |
| Moving day | Keep valuables and documents with you, not on the truck |
How do you get rid of large items?
You cannot leave furniture on the kerb. Anything large counts as oversized waste (粗大ごみ sodai gomi): book collection with your municipality, buy the fee stickers at a convenience store, and put the item out on the assigned morning. Expect ¥300–2,500 per item and, in busy periods, a wait of two or three weeks.
Fridges, washing machines, TVs and air conditioners are excluded from that system — they fall under a separate recycling scheme with its own fee, handled by the retailer or a licensed collector. Your mover can usually take these away for a charge, which is often the easiest route.
What happens on the day?
- Tipping is not expected. Cold drinks are a kind gesture and nothing more
- Payment is often in cash on completion — confirm in advance whether card is accepted
- Neighbours — in older buildings, a brief greeting is customary; check whether the building requires the lift to be booked
- Damage — photograph anything valuable before it's loaded, and report problems the same day
Frequently asked questions
How much does a move cost in Japan?
For a single person with a light load moving within the same city, 30,000 to 45,000 yen off-peak and 50,000 to 80,000 yen in the March to April peak. Volume, distance and date are the three factors that set the price.
Why do March and April cost double?
Japan's academic and corporate years both begin in April, so the entire country moves in the same three weeks. Trucks and crews sell out and prices rise accordingly.
How do you get the cheapest price?
Get three quotes and choose a weekday afternoon slot in the middle of the month, off-peak. Describe your load accurately, because underestimating means the crew arrives with too small a truck and the extra is charged on the day at a worse rate.
How do you dispose of large items before moving?
Furniture goes out as oversized waste: book collection with your municipality, buy the fee stickers at a convenience store and put the item out on the assigned morning, at 300 to 2,500 yen per item. Fridges, washing machines, TVs and air conditioners fall under a separate recycling scheme.
Summary
- Same move, different month: prices swing by roughly double between peak and off-peak
- Avoid late March; choose a weekday, mid-month, with a flexible time slot
- Always get three quotes and describe your load accurately
- Single-person packs are the cheapest real moving service for small loads
- Book oversized waste collection weeks ahead; appliances follow a separate recycling scheme
Before you book the truck, check the apartment costs
Send any listing URL on LINE. We reply in English with an itemised estimate — agency fee as low as ¥0.
Send a listing on LINE* The agency fee is as low as ¥0. Listings for which the landlord pays no advertising fee (AD) may not qualify. We always confirm the exact amount in a written estimate before you sign. Moving prices are market estimates and vary by company, season and route.