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

A fixed charge stays the same within the agreement's stated conditions. A capped allowance includes costs or usage up to a limit, after which you may pay extra. 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.

The distinction is practical. 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 usage in kWh is only part of a bill. As a concrete example, TEPCO's Metered Lighting B tariff, checked on 20 September 2026, lists a ¥935.25 basic charge for 30A and usage bands of ¥29.80, ¥36.40 and ¥40.49 per kWh. Fuel adjustments and the renewable-energy surcharge also affect the bill.

Using that tariff for an illustrative 220 kWh month, the first 120 kWh cost ¥3,576 and the next 100 cost ¥3,640. With the 30A basic charge, the subtotal is ¥8,151.25 before those adjustments and surcharges. It isn't a forecast for your apartment, and gas and water would still need accounting for separately.

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

Suppose Apartment A charges an illustrative ¥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 relevant bill totals ¥12,000, it is ¥3,000 cheaper for utilities; if it totals ¥19,000, A is ¥4,000 cheaper. Neither result can be predicted from the month of arrival alone.

Room size, insulation, equipment, occupancy and time at home affect the comparison. Ask for a recent summer and winter bill for the same apartment, with personal information removed. Treat those as examples of previous use, not a promise of your own bill.

A capped charge needs a third calculation. It may keep the price from dropping when usage is low while still passing on extra costs when usage is high. Find out whether unused allowance is refundable and whether it carries between months.

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. Check who is responsible before opening an account yourself or cancelling one when you leave.

Keep the utility terms with your rent quote. If a later invoice differs, ask for the covered dates, calculation and supporting readings or bills. That gives both sides a straightforward way to resolve it.