Switching Tokyo bills from konbini slips to direct debit

Keep paying each bill by its current method until the company confirms your direct debit. Sending an application does not cancel a payment slip already in your hand.

In Japan, direct debit is called 口座振替 (kōza-furikae — an automatic payment from a bank account). It can save repeat trips to a convenience store. For a short stay, though, the setup is useful only when it starts before you leave.

You need to apply separately to each company that sends you bills. Start with recurring bills that will continue for several months; switching a final payment may be more trouble than paying the slip.

Source check: 20 September 2026. Company rules and phone numbers can change. Use the linked company page and the details on your latest bill when they differ from this guide.

Start with the account named on the bill

Check the company, account holder and customer number on each payment slip. If utilities are included in your rent, check with the rental company before changing anything; it may hold the utility account.

If the contract is in your name, open the company's payment-method page. Use the customer number printed on the bill. Check that your bank appears on the company's accepted list.

TEPCO, for example, says electricity and gas customers may use automatic withdrawal, though the available financial institutions differ between the two services. Its English payment FAQ also warns that some plans may limit the available methods.

Do not enter bank details on a page opened from an unexpected email or text. Open the company's site yourself, or use the contact details printed on the bill.

Apply through the company issuing the bill

Have the following information ready when you apply online or on paper:

• The account holder's name and service address.
• The company's customer number.
• The bank, branch, account type and account number.
• The bank-registered seal or signature when the paper form requires it.

Match the spelling and order of your name to the bank record. A small mismatch can send a paper form back for correction.

Use the seal or signature requested on the form. NHK's English form guide, for example, tells applicants to place their registered seal or signature on the bank-transfer page.

After applying, save the confirmation screen or a copy of the form and keep enough money in the account for the first debit. Continue paying by the old method until you receive a start notice or see the debit in your account.

Treat every new slip as unpaid until you check

A payment slip may arrive while the company is still processing your direct-debit application. Check which billing period it covers and when payment is due.

If the company has not confirmed the change, pay the slip. If the debit already appears in your bank account, do not pay the same period again. Contact the company when the records disagree.

For TEPCO electricity or gas, use the contact information on its English customer page. Have the pricing plan shown on the bill ready so you can reach the right support team.

NHK uses its own contract and payment record

NHK is separate from your utilities. Check whether your household already has an NHK contract before sending a new application. In a furnished apartment, ask the rental company whose name is on the contract and whether the fee is included in your rent.

Check the contract type and current amount on NHK's receiving-fee page. NHK has a contract for ground-based broadcasts and a different one that also covers satellite reception. Match the bill to the equipment and contract you actually have.

NHK accepts direct debit, credit card and payment slips. Its direct-debit guide says that if you pay every two months, NHK normally takes the payment from your bank account on the 26th of February, April, June, August, October and December. A bank holiday moves it to the next business day. Your first payment, or a second attempt after a failed payment, may come out in a later month. Read the due date printed on any payment slip you receive.

For example, suppose you apply in May and expect to leave on 15 June. A scheduled 26 June debit would fall after departure, so switching may not save you a convenience-store payment during the stay. Tell NHK when you are leaving and ask how to pay the final bill and whether you need to cancel or change the contract. If a slip arrives while you're waiting for the switch, compare its billing period with the scheduled debit and ask NHK which method to use.

You can use NHK's official payment-method pages for an existing contract or its contact directory for help. Check unexpected requests against your records and the official contact details before sharing personal or bank information.

Bills you may not need to switch

Rent follows the payment method in your lease or the billing company's instructions. A card-paid phone or internet bill may already be automatic. A final utility bill may arrive after you move out.

For any bill that may arrive after you leave, arrange a payment method you can use from abroad.

Before departure, ask your bank whether you need to close the account when you leave Japan. If the bank requires you to close the account, arrange another way to pay outstanding bills and receive refunds before you leave.

Keep payment records after leaving Japan

Keep the customer number and payment receipts somewhere you can access after leaving Japan. If a final bill arrives later, those records let you identify the period already paid and ask the company for a payment method you can use from abroad.