How to Turn On Gas in Japan Without Cold Showers

Information current as of March 2026 based on Tokyo Gas, Osaka Gas, Tokyo Gas Network, Osaka Gas Network, Science Tokyo, and Kyoto City International Foundation.

If you just moved in and still have no hot water, the fastest way to turn on gas Japan-style is not to wait. It is to identify the right provider, book the technician visit, and make sure someone can handle the call and the in-person check. A gas opening appointment Japan utilities require is really a safety appointment, not just an admin step.

I take this problem personally because I know how small phone calls become huge when the system language is not yours. When I lived in the UK, I had to call the NHS three times just to book one appointment. The problem was not that the system did not exist. The problem was access.

Why gas is the one utility that can ruin move-in day

Gas is the utility that catches people off guard because it looks like it should be as easy as electricity. It is not. Tokyo Gas says gas start requires attendance on the day of opening, while electricity start does not.

The reason is safety. The worker is not only opening the line. They are also checking for leaks, confirming ignition, and making sure your appliances match the type of gas supplied to the property.

This is where the city gas vs propane Japan problem becomes serious. Kyoto City International Foundation and Science Tokyo both warn that city gas and LP gas appliances are not interchangeable. In Kyoto city gas homes, for example, the standard is 13A, while LP gas uses different equipment and may need parts changes.

The other trap is that the “right company” is not always obvious. If your building uses LP gas, the supplier is often building-specific, and the number is usually printed on the tag attached to the meter. If you call Tokyo Gas or Osaka Gas for an LP gas building, you can waste hours before realizing you were asking the wrong company.

“I am at a loss, I am tired of being unable to cook and taking cold showers every day.”

One foreign resident wrote that on Reddit after several days of being unable to get a gas contract because online forms asked for previous contract details and phone support was in Japanese.

“Setting up my utilities yesterday was probably the hardest thus far.”

In a March 3, 2026 JapanLife discussion, another resident said the amount of Japanese needed on the phone was much higher than expected. Individual experiences vary, but this pain point is clearly current.

What to prepare before you call or book your gas opening

The fastest calls are the calls where you already know the provider, the gas type, and the appointment window you can actually attend. Do this prep before you touch a form.

1. Confirm the gas type. Check your lease, listing, kitchen sticker, or water-heater label for 都市ガス or LPガス. If there is an outdoor tank or supplier sticker, that is a strong LP gas sign.
2. Confirm the provider. Ask your landlord, agent, or management company. For LP gas, the supplier phone number is often on the meter tag, as Kyoto City International Foundation explains.
3. Have your address in Japanese ready. Screenshot it from your lease or copy it into your notes app. Building name and room number matter.
4. Prepare the official basics. Osaka Gas lists name, service address, phone number, preferred start date, preferred time slot, whether gas appliances are installed, and payment method. Tokyo Gas also says you should be ready with the new address, contact number, building type, attendee name, and appliance information.
5. Check that electricity and water are on. Tokyo Gas notes that if electricity is not active, the technician may not be able to test the water heater properly.

If you need words for the phone call, use these exactly:

• ガスの開栓をお願いしたいです (Gasu no kaisen o onegai shitai desu) — I would like to arrange gas opening.
• 立ち会いの予約をしたいです (Tachiai no yoyaku o shitai desu) — I would like to book the attendance appointment.
• 英語で対応できますか (Eigo de taiou dekimasu ka) — Can you assist in English?
• 英語で開始手続きをしたいです (Eigo de kaishi tetsuzuki o shitai desu) — I would like to do the start procedure in English.
• 給湯器のお湯が出ません (Kyuutouki no oyu ga demasen) — The water heater has no hot water.
• ガスメーターの復帰方法を教えてください (Gasu meitaa no fukki houhou o oshiete kudasai) — Please tell me how to reset the gas meter.

If this feels overwhelming, that is exactly why I built LO-PAL. You can post your question for free with no signup fee or posting fee, get answers from local Japanese people in your area, and if you need hands-on help with the call or appointment, you only pay when you accept completed task help.

For Tokyo Gas English support, Science Tokyo’s housing guide says English applications are accepted by phone at 0570-002211. In Kyoto, Kyoto City International Foundation points foreign residents to Osaka Gas Customer Service at 0120-894-817 for city gas, marked as Japanese/English.

If a form asks for previous contract details you do not have, stop fighting the form. Call instead. For move-in rescue, the right human conversation is usually faster than the wrong web page.

What happens at the gas opening visit in Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto

Once your booking is confirmed, the visit itself is usually simple. The hard part is getting the right appointment with the right provider.

Tokyo

Tokyo Gas recommends applying about one week in advance and states that a representative can attend if you cannot. Its FAQ also says that, for web applications, the earliest published rescue slot can be same-day afternoon if you complete the request by 7:30, or next-day morning if by 18:00. That is useful when you already have keys and need hot water fast, but do not treat it as guaranteed during peak periods.

During the visit, the worker opens the meter, checks whether your appliances are compatible with Tokyo Gas service, and tests ignition. In a Tokyo Gas move-in walkthrough, the staff member also called shortly before arrival, which is common and worth watching for if you do not answer unknown numbers.

Osaka

Osaka Gas is very direct about the process. You apply online, by phone, or by fax, and the worker visits during your chosen slot to perform the opening work. The company says the visit takes about 15 to 20 minutes, and because they need to check for gas leaks and confirm ignition, they will enter the residence and you must be present.

Timing matters more than many people think. An Osaka Gas group column recommends applying no later than 10 days before the move, and around two weeks before during busy seasons such as March and September.

Kyoto

Kyoto is where many people get confused because city gas and LP gas are both common. Kyoto City International Foundation says city gas start and stop is handled through Osaka Gas, and that you must be present when staff come to open the line. It also notes that Kyoto City uses 13A for city gas.

If your place uses LP gas instead, do not call Osaka Gas first. Call the LP supplier listed on the meter tag. The same Kyoto guide warns that city gas and LP appliances cannot be used interchangeably, and if a used appliance needs conversion for LP gas, parts changes may cost more than ¥10,000.

For any city, make the visit easy for the technician. Keep the area around the stove and water heater accessible, make sure the breaker is on, and if the gas meter is in a locked cabinet or shared area, arrange access in advance. Tokyo Gas specifically warns that large apartment buildings sometimes hide the meter behind locked access points.

What to do if you missed the appointment or still have no hot water

If the appointment failed or the shower is still cold after the visit, do not assume it is the same problem. Separate “contract problem” from “equipment problem” first.

If you missed the appointment: rebook immediately. Tokyo Gas says web applications can be checked, changed, or cancelled online within its published limits. In Osaka Gas areas, the company has also published a revisit request system for customers who were absent.

1. Check whether any gas appliance works. If the stove works but the bath does not, your gas contract may be fine and the water heater may be the problem.
2. Check the water-heater power. According to Tokyo Gas’s hot-water troubleshooting page, no hot water can be caused by a tripped breaker, unplugged unit, or lack of power to the heater.
3. Check taps and the meter. The Tokyo Gas Network English “No Gas” guide says to check whether appliance taps are closed, whether the meter tap is in the correct position, and whether the meter light is blinking.
4. If the meter is blinking and you do not smell gas, reset it. Tokyo Gas Network publishes English reset instructions, and Osaka Gas Network also provides English meter and outage guidance.
5. If you smell gas or an alarm is sounding, do not troubleshoot. Open windows, avoid switches or flames, leave the area, and use the emergency contact page for your network area, such as Tokyo Gas Network or Osaka Gas Network.

If you are still blocked after those checks, call your landlord or management company next. They often know whether the building is LP gas, whether a previous no-show was recorded, or whether access to the meter room is the hidden issue.

The good news is that this is usually fixable in one call and one short visit. The bad news is that if you do not make the right call, you can lose several more days to forms, transfers, and cold showers.

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