Electricity, Gas, Water Supply, Internet, Telephone
Table of Contents
Electricity, Gas, Water Supply
You can pay your electricity, gas, and water bills at banks, post offices, and convenience stores. You can also set up automatic payments from your bank account. For details, please contact your bank.
Electricity
The frequency of electricity in Osaka is 100V 60Hz. Please use electrical appliances that are compatible with this frequency. If there is a short circuit or if you use more electricity than the capacity allows, the breaker will trip and the electricity will automatically stop, causing a power outage. Check the electrical capacity of your room in advance, and be careful not to use too much electricity. Electricity in Osaka is supplied by Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc. To apply for electricity or in case of an emergency, please contact your nearest Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc. office.
Contact | |
|---|---|
Kansai Electric Power Hokusetsu Branch Office (covering Suita City, Settsu City, Toyonaka City, Ikeda City, and Minoh City) | 0800-777-8015 |
Kansai Electric Power Takatsuki Branch Office (covering Takatsuki City, Ibaraki City) | 0800-777-8018 |
Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc. Website → “Electricity Guide” Handbook | |
Gas
There are two main types of gas: city gas and propane gas. City gas is supplied by Osaka Gas. After moving in, first contact the Osaka Gas Northern Branch Office (TEL 0120-5-94817) to arrange a date and time to have the gas turned on. A staff member will visit your house on the specified date, inspect the gas appliances, give an explanation, and then turn the gas on.
In case of an emergency such as a gas leak, please contact the Osaka Gas Northern Branch Office (Gas Leak Reporting Hotline 0120-5-19424).
Water Supply
Tap water in Japan is safe to drink. Water is supplied by each municipality. After moving in, please contact the Water Department of the city office of your residence.
Suita City Office Waterworks Department | Billing Group, General Affairs Division 06-6384-1255 |
Ibaraki City Waterworks Department | Sales Division 072-620-1691 |
Toyonaka City Waterworks Department | Customer Service Center 06-6858-2931 |
Ikeda City Waterworks Department | General Affairs Division 072-754-6106 (weekdays) |
Minoh City Waterworks Department | Waterworks Department Billing Center: 072-724-6756 |
Internet & Telephone
Internet
To connect to the Internet, you will need to choose an Internet service provider (ISP) and then sign a contract with them by yourself. When moving, please confirm which ISPs are available in your flat.
The University of Osaka University provides a wireless LAN service (Wi-Fi) on each campus.
For details, please refer to the notification of your UOsaka Personal ID that you will receive after enrollment.
Mobile phones
There are various ways to use a mobile phone in Japan, such as signing a contract with a mobile phone carrier, purchasing a SIM card, or renting a mobile Wi-Fi device.
If you wish to sign a contract with a mobile phone carrier, please bring your resident card and identification (student ID card) to a nearby mobile phone carrier agent or telecom company to complete the procedures. Each company offers different services, so before you apply, please gather information on their websites, etc.
The main mobile phone companies in Japan are as follows.
International Calls
There are various international call service providers, but no subscription is required.
You can make international calls by dialing the numbers below. Please contact each company for details on rates and services.
International carrier access number* + 010 + country code + area code (without the first 0) + recipient's phone number
* KDDI: 001
NTT Communications: 0033
au, Softbank, NTT docomo: 010 (NTT docomo requires prior registration.)
Public telephones
You can make international calls using 10-yen or 100-yen coins. Public telephones with the "International Call" sign on them can be used to make international calls.
Online telephone directory (available in Japanese only)
"i-Townpage" is an online telephone directory for those who want to search for business telephone numbers by industry, organization name, or region. (https://itp.ne.jp/)