Quick answer
The best moving company with English support in Tokyo depends on the size of your move. Tokyo Move and Best Moving Service give full English support for typical apartment moves. Tokyo Helping Hands is the cheapest option for small loads, from ¥8,800. PROROW and Nippon Express suit large, international, or corporate relocations.
A local single-person move in Tokyo usually costs ¥30,000 to ¥62,000 outside peak season. In March and early April, the same move can cost two to three times more. Book at least three weeks ahead, or six to eight weeks ahead for a spring move.
At Arealty, our clients ask us about movers almost every week. This guide collects the answers we give them, so you can compare options, budget correctly, and avoid the usual mistakes foreigners make when moving apartments in Tokyo.
| Key fact | Detail (2026) |
|---|---|
| Cheapest English-speaking mover | Tokyo Helping Hands, kei-truck moves from ¥8,800 |
| Best all-round English support | Tokyo Move, Best Moving Service |
| Best for international or corporate moves | Nippon Express, PROROW Transport |
| Local move, single person | ¥30,000 to ¥62,000 |
| Local move, couple | ¥70,000 to ¥140,000 |
| Peak season | Mid-March to early April |
| Cheapest months | January, June, November |
| Booking lead time | 3+ weeks normally, 6 to 8 weeks for March |
Price ranges come from Sakura Mobile’s 2026 moving cost guide and Metropolis Japan. Always confirm with a written quote.
Which moving company has English support in Tokyo?
Eight movers regularly serve English-speaking residents in Tokyo. Four of them are expat-friendly specialists with English-speaking crews. The other four are large Japanese firms with English booking desks, where the crew on the day may speak little English.
| Mover | English support | Best for | Single move (¥) | Family move (¥) | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo Helping Hands | Full, expat-led | Students, small loads | 8,800 to 35,000 | 45,000 to 90,000 | Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba, Saitama |
| Yamato Home Convenience | Partial, online | Fixed box pricing | 15,000 to 35,000 | 80,000 to 180,000 | Nationwide |
| Tokyo Move | Full, expat-led | Tokyo apartment moves | 20,000 to 45,000 | 90,000 to 170,000 | Kanto |
| Sakai Moving Center | Partial to full | Families, long distance | 30,000 to 60,000 | 85,000 to 220,000 | Nationwide |
| Best Moving Service | Full, web and crew | Best value overall | 35,000 to 55,000 | 85,000 to 180,000 | Tokyo area, Osaka, Kyoto, Fukuoka |
| Nippon Express | Full, global desk | Corporate, international | 40,000 to 90,000 | 130,000 to 300,000 | Nationwide, overseas |
| PROROW Transport | Full, global desk | Pets, pianos, valuables | 50,000 to 70,000 | 120,000 to 200,000 | Nationwide, overseas |
| Arisan Mark | Limited | Fragile or high-end items | 33,000 to 63,000 | 78,000 to 220,000 | Nationwide |
Tokyo Helping Hands: cheapest English-speaking mover
Tokyo Helping Hands runs kei-truck moves inside Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba and Saitama from ¥8,800. Most studio moves land between ¥25,000 and ¥35,000. Crews are small, so you may need to carry lighter boxes yourself.
Tokyo Move: best for Tokyo apartment moves
Tokyo Move is expat-founded and covers the 23 wards plus nearby prefectures. It offers packing, storage, furniture disposal, and washing machine setup. It also reuses cardboard boxes and collects them after the move.
Best Moving Service: best value with full English
Best Moving Service gives English support on its website, by phone, by email, and on site. Free extras such as washing machine installation and bed dismantling keep the final bill predictable. It books out fast in March and April.
Yamato Home Convenience: simplest pricing
Yamato prices moves by box volume, which makes quotes easy to compare. Booking works in English online, but drivers may speak only Japanese. Costs rise if your belongings exceed the box plan.
Sakai Moving Center: large network for families
Sakai is one of Japan’s biggest domestic movers, with an English page for overseas customers. Prices are negotiable, but expect a sales-style quote visit. It suits families moving long distances within Japan.
Nippon Express and PROROW: international and specialist moves
Nippon Express (Nittsu) handles corporate transfers, customs clearance, and moves abroad, with quotes from about ¥40,000. PROROW offers bilingual video surveys, pet transport, and piano handling. Both cost more, but they manage complex moves end to end.
One caution applies to every company on this list. An English website does not guarantee an English-speaking crew. If that matters to you, ask in writing who will be on site.
How much does a moving company with English support in Tokyo cost?
Most local moves in Tokyo cost ¥30,000 to ¥140,000, depending on household size. Distance, floor level, and season change the price more than the company you pick.
| Household | Local move, under 50 km (¥) | Long distance, 200 km+ (¥) |
|---|---|---|
| Single, few items | 30,000 to 62,000 | 60,000 to 120,000 |
| Single, many items | 50,000 to 80,000 | 80,000 to 140,000 |
| Couple | 70,000 to 140,000 | 100,000 to 200,000 |
| Family of 3 to 4 | 90,000 to 220,000 | 150,000 to 380,000 |
Source: Sakura Mobile, 2026.
What adds to the bill?
- Stairs: buildings without elevators often add ¥3,000 to ¥5,000 per floor.
- Washing machine setup: about ¥10,000 if not included.
- Weekend or fixed start time: weekday moves are typically ¥10,000 to ¥20,000 cheaper.
- Bulky waste: disposing of furniture costs roughly ¥2,000 to ¥10,000 per item.
How to lower the price
Ask for a “free time” plan, where the mover arrives whenever a slot opens. This often saves 10 to 30 percent. Collect three quotes, called mitsumori, and ask your preferred mover to match the lowest one.
Remember that moving is only one part of your relocation budget. Deposit, key money, and agency fees usually cost more. See our breakdown of apartment move-in costs in Japan to plan the full amount.
How do you book a moving company with English support in Tokyo?
Booking takes four steps and about three weeks in a normal month. For a move in March or early April, start six to eight weeks ahead, because English-speaking movers sell out first.
- Fix your dates. Confirm the move-out date with your current landlord and the key handover date for your new apartment. Most Tokyo leases require one to two months’ notice.
- List your items. Note large furniture, appliances, and anything fragile. Measure your fridge and sofa against the new doorways and elevator.
- Get three quotes. Use each company’s English form or a video survey. Ask whether the quote includes boxes, stairs, washing machine setup, and disposal.
- Confirm in writing. Get the final price, arrival window, and crew language by email before you pay.
When is the cheapest time to move in Tokyo?
January, June, and November are the cheapest months. Peak season runs from mid-March to early April, when schools and companies start their new year. A move costing ¥50,000 in October can pass ¥150,000 during that window.
Tokyo moving checklist: four weeks to moving day
A simple timeline keeps the move on track and avoids last-minute fees. Use this as a working plan once your new lease is signed.
Four weeks before
- Give written notice to your current landlord and confirm the move-out inspection date.
- Request quotes from at least three movers with English support.
- Book bulky waste collection for furniture you will not take.
- List items to sell on Mercari or in a local sayonara sale group.
Two weeks before
- Confirm the mover in writing, including price, arrival window, and crew language.
- Tell your new building management the move date and ask about elevator rules.
- Schedule electricity and water start dates online.
- Book the gas opening visit for moving day or the day after.
- Submit your moving-out notification (tenshutsu todoke) if you are leaving your current ward.
One week before
- Pack non-essentials and label boxes by room in English and Japanese.
- Defrost and dry the fridge the night before the move.
- Drain the washing machine hoses so they do not leak in the truck.
- Set aside documents, valuables, and your residence card to carry yourself.
Moving day
- Photograph the empty old apartment to support your deposit refund.
- Check every room, closet, and balcony before the truck leaves.
- Meet the gas technician at the new apartment.
- Note any damage on the mover’s form before the crew leaves.
Within 14 days
- File your moving-in notification at the new ward office.
- Update your address with your bank, employer, and phone provider.
What do movers not handle for you?
Even the best mover leaves you with paperwork and building rules. Plan these five tasks alongside your booking.
- Building move-in rules. Many Tokyo apartments require advance notice of the move date and elevator protection. Some charge a moving management fee, for example ¥5,000 per day in certain buildings. Check your lease or ask your agent.
- Bulky waste (sodai gomi). Large items need a paid disposal booking with your ward office, often one to two weeks ahead. Selling or giving items away avoids the fee.
- Utilities. Electricity and water can be switched online. Gas needs a technician visit on site, so book it before moving day.
- Address registration. You must file a moving-in notification at your new ward office within 14 days. Our address registration guide covers the forms and fees.
- Post-move checklist. Bank, phone, residence card, and health insurance all need updating. Use our post-move-in procedures checklist for the first two weeks.
Useful Japanese phrases when your mover has limited English
Even with a moving company that offers English support in Tokyo, the crew on the day may speak mostly Japanese. These phrases cover the situations that come up most often.
| Situation | Japanese (romaji) | English meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Asking for a quote | Mitsumori o onegaishimasu | I would like a quote, please |
| Asking for a discount | Mou sukoshi yasuku narimasen ka? | Could you make it a little cheaper? |
| Fragile item | Kore wa kowaremono desu | This item is fragile |
| Where an item goes | Kore wa kono heya ni oite kudasai | Please put this in this room |
| Not taking an item | Kore wa motte ikanaide kudasai | Please do not take this |
| Damage found | Koko ni kizu ga arimasu | There is damage here |
| Checking the time | Nanji goro tsukimasu ka? | About what time will you arrive? |
| Thanking the crew | Otsukaresama deshita | Thank you for your hard work |
Tipping is not expected in Japan. Many residents offer the crew cold drinks instead, which is a polite and common gesture.
FAQ
Tokyo Helping Hands is the cheapest, with kei-truck moves from ¥8,800 and most studio moves at ¥25,000 to ¥35,000. Yamato’s box-based plans are a close second for small, simple moves.
Not always. Expat-led firms such as Tokyo Move and Tokyo Helping Hands send English-speaking crews. Large Japanese firms often have English booking desks but Japanese-speaking drivers.
Book at least three weeks ahead in a normal month. For March and early April, book six to eight weeks ahead.
Yes. Negotiation is normal. Show your preferred mover a lower quote from a competitor and ask if they can match it.
Yes. Nippon Express and PROROW Transport handle customs clearance, overseas shipping, and pet transport.
Most landlords require a guarantor company rather than a personal guarantor. Our guide to renting in Japan without a guarantor explains your options.
Find your next Tokyo apartment with English support
A good mover makes moving day easy. Finding the right apartment first makes everything else easier. Arealty’s English-speaking team helps foreigners search, apply, and sign leases across Tokyo, including guarantor-company setup.
- Browse apartments for rent in Tokyo
- Search all rental listings in Japan
- Start at the Arealty homepage
Sources
- Metropolis Japan: English-Speaking Moving Services in Tokyo (updated June 2026)
- Sakura Mobile: Best Moving Companies in Japan 2026 (March 2026)
