Tokyo utility flat fees: what kōnetsuhi includes

Ask what the utility line covers before comparing Tokyo apartment prices. 光熱費 (kōnetsuhi) refers to utility expenses, but the word alone doesn't say whether electricity, gas, water or internet are included in your quote, or whether extra use costs more.

Three different ways to pay

With a fixed charge, you pay the agreed amount as long as you meet the conditions in the agreement. With a capped allowance, the quoted price covers a set amount of utility costs or use. You may have to pay more above that limit. With actual-cost billing, you pay the utility bill for your use. Confirm which arrangement applies to each service and what period the quoted amount covers; electricity, gas and water needn't all be billed the same way.

If your electricity is included up to a yen amount, you need to know which parts of the bill count towards it. If the allowance is in kilowatt-hours, you need the rate used above that allowance. Our summer utility-cap guide walks through examples.

Don't confuse 共益費 (kyōekihi), a common-area charge, with utilities inside your apartment. Ask what each line covers if both appear on the invoice.

Why a single electricity rate can mislead

Electricity use is measured in kilowatt-hours, written as kWh. The amount you use is only part of the bill. On TEPCO's Metered Lighting B tariff, checked on 20 September 2026, a 30-amp electricity connection has a fixed monthly charge of ¥935.25. The tariff then charges ¥29.80, ¥36.40 or ¥40.49 per kWh, depending on how much electricity you use. A fuel adjustment adds or subtracts money as fuel prices change, and a renewable-energy surcharge is added too.

For an example month using 220 kWh on that tariff, the first 120 kWh cost ¥3,576 and the next 100 cost ¥3,640. Adding the fixed charge for the 30-amp connection brings the subtotal to ¥8,151.25 before those adjustments and surcharges. Your apartment's bill may differ, and gas and water are separate costs.

This is why “220 kWh at about ¥35” isn't a reliable full utility estimate. Your apartment may use another tariff, and the bill may include charges beyond electricity.

Compare the two actual offers

For a comparison with made-up prices, suppose Apartment A charges ¥15,000 a month for utilities, and its terms say you won't pay extra for using more. Apartment B charges actual costs. If B's bill for the same utilities totals ¥12,000, it is ¥3,000 cheaper; if that bill totals ¥19,000, A is ¥4,000 cheaper.

Your bills will depend on the apartment's size, insulation and equipment, as well as how many people live there and how much time you spend at home. Ask for a recent summer and winter bill for the same apartment, with personal information removed. Those bills show what earlier occupants used; your own bills may differ.

With a capped allowance, you may pay the same base amount even when you use less, then pay extra when you go over the limit. Ask whether you get money back when you use less, or whether the unused amount can be added to the following month’s allowance.

Match the bill to your dates

If your stay begins halfway through a month, ask whether you pay only for the days you stay and how much of the monthly allowance you receive. With actual-cost billing, ask how the company separates your usage from the previous and next occupants, and when the final invoice will arrive.

If the rental company keeps the utility accounts in its name, it may arrange setup and handle the bills. Ask whether the company will handle the utility accounts before you open one yourself or cancel service when you leave.

Keep the utility terms with your rent quote. If a later invoice differs from the quote, ask which dates it covers and how the company calculated it. Request the meter readings or utility bills used in that calculation so you can check the amount.