Once you’ve decided to return to your home country, you need to handle canceling your lease, along with various life-related procedures like mail and bank accounts, all within a limited amount of time. Restoration and deposit settlement are covered in detail in a separate article; here, we’ll focus on the overall schedule, from your cancellation notice through setting your move-out date to wrapping up the various procedures afterward.
- Your contract specifies the notice period for cancellation — one month before is common, but always check your contract.
- Declaring your intent to cancel starts the notice-period clock, so do this early once your return date comes into view.
- Once your move-out date is set, arrange your moving company and notify providers to stop your utilities.
- Mail-forwarding requests only work for addresses within Japan, so note that forwarding overseas isn’t possible.
- Deposit settlement and how restoration is handled are explained in detail in a separate article.
Check the timing of your cancellation notice in your contract
Canceling a lease requires giving advance notice of your intent to the landlord or management company. One month’s notice is a common guideline, but this is only a guideline — some contracts specify longer periods, such as two months. Once your return date starts to come into focus, first check the cancellation clause in your contract, and work backward to figure out by when you need to give notice. Special provisions sometimes set their own notice period, so it’s important to read through the relevant clause word for word.
Submitting your cancellation notice and setting your move-out date
You generally communicate your intent to cancel to the management company using whatever method your contract specifies (often a written notice). Since this declaration is what starts the notice-period clock, it’s important to time it with some buffer, taking your return flight booking into account. Your move-out date is decided in coordination with the management company, factoring in the schedule for the move itself and the move-out inspection.
Stopping your utilities
Once your move-out date is set, move ahead with stopping your electricity, gas, water, and internet. In most cases, contacting each provider a few days before move-out is enough to complete the process, but shutting off gas may require someone to be present, so book that appointment with plenty of lead time. It’s easier to understand if you check these details alongside the separate article covering how to set up utilities in the first place.
Wrapping up mail and your bank account
Before you leave, don’t forget to file a change-of-address / mail-forwarding request with the post office. Note, though, that the post office’s forwarding service is basically for new addresses within Japan — it can’t forward mail overseas. If you expect to still have dealings within Japan after you return home, it’s reassuring to secure a reliable contact address in Japan. You’ll also need to decide, before leaving, whether to close your bank account or leave it open in Japan with someone managing it on your behalf.
Building your schedule up to your return
Everything you need to do before returning home covers a lot of ground — cancellation notice, booking a mover, stopping utilities, mail and bank procedures, and the move-out inspection. Working backward from your return date, listing out how long each procedure takes, and prioritizing them helps you avoid a last-minute scramble. Restoration and deposit settlement at move-out are explained in detail in a separate article, so check that as well. If part of the process can be handled by family or a trusted friend, it’s reassuring to ask them early if your return date is approaching.
FAQ
By when should I give notice of cancellation?
One month before is a common guideline, but it depends on the contract. Always check the notice period stated in your contract.
Can my mail be forwarded overseas?
The post office’s forwarding service is basically for addresses within Japan — it can’t forward mail overseas. It’s reassuring to secure a contact address within Japan.
When is the deposit settled?
This is generally done after move-out, following the settlement of restoration costs and similar items. We explain the detailed flow in a separate article on deposit settlement.
Summary
When you’ve decided to return to your home country, the first step is checking the notice period for cancellation in your contract. Once you’ve set your move-out date, building a schedule that works backward from your return date — covering utility disconnection through mail and bank procedures — lets you handle everything calmly, even with limited time.