When moving overseas, the most important thing is to minimize the amount that you need to ship. To decide what is essential, sort your belongings thoroughly beforehand.
		Overseas moving requires all kinds of formal procedures that you don't have to go through when relocating in the same country. There are many things that you might overlook, so it is important to start dealing with procedures at an early stage.
		Knowing what to take is important. Art Hikkoshi Center offers knowledgeable support for your move from the time you are in Japan until you start life overseas.

Make arrangements with moving company Sort possessions into things to move and things to leave behind Arrange to store (storage service, etc.) the things you leave behind Make a list of items being sent separately Make a list of items you are taking with you as accompanying baggage Make a packing list Dispose unwanted items Collect documents for formal procedures Decide on the destination Buy or make address change post cards Sort your address books (for notification of moving) Make a list of items you need to buy for moving

Get passport and visa Prepare ID photos (plenty of shots from waist up) Arrange airline tickets Gather forms related to schools (including arranging for textbooks) Get an international driver's license Present resident registration (moving out notification) Arrangements for fixed property taxes to be paid on your behalf Pay electricity bill and inform the electricity company of your absence Pay water bill and inform the water dept. of your absence Pay gas bill and inform the gas company of your absence Arrange to stop telephone services (including KDD) Inform NHK of your absence Present the Post Office with your change of address notice Arrange to stop Newspaper delivery Get all your clothes back from the dry cleaners Cancel automatic bank transfer payments (public utility charges, etc.) Make your credit cards varid for international credit Arrange to have your insurance payments paid while your are away Arrange the upkeep of your car Arrange for the upkeep of your house Pay unpaid tax installments

Get a Health check up (vaccinations, copies of case history, regular medication) Payments (moving, airline tickets, customs duties, deposit for rented accommodation, etc.)

Cancel alien registration card Deal with formal procedures for departure Set your local bank accounts in order Pay unpaid tax installments (When you visit the bank, check out the current exchange rate) Set your credit card accounts in order Set affairs related to accommodation in order (rent, deposit money, sale of property) Arrange for accommodation when you get back (if you have been renting out your home-country residence while living in Japan, let your tenant know well in advance that you are returning.) Terminate electricity supply Terminate water supply Terminate gas supply Terminate telephone service Cancel newspaper and magazine subscriptions Dispose the car

Reregister resident registration (within two weeks of return) Reregister your personal seal (if the registration lapsed while you were abroad, reregister) Reregister national pension Reregister life insurance Reregister bank affairs (open accounts, change of address, salary transfer, automatic payments) Reregister securities (change of address) Reregister credit cards (new accounts, change of address) Reregister accommodation related affairs Arrange of owner occupier related (moving, cleaning, refitting) affairs Reregister electricity supply Reregister water supply Reregister gas supply Reregister telephone services Reregister driving license Reregister education related affairs