Let’s face it. Most people dread having to move.
According to a recently completed survey by Home Bay, a website that offers real estate analysis, about 75% of Americans regretted moving, and 44% of the respondents reported crying at least once during their move.
Moving across an ocean can introduce a whole new level of anxiety into the process. Relax and take a deep breath.
Given Japan’s extremely high standards for customer service, whether you are moving around the world or just across Tokyo in a luxury apartment, your moving company will most likely go the extra mile to ensure a positive experience.
Top-Rated Moving Companies in Tokyo
1. Nippon Express (NEX)
This is one of the largest moving companies in Japan, with over 400 locations worldwide. Customers have praised their professionalism, efficiency, and high-quality service.
NEX has been in the moving business for over 20 years. NEX provides various moving services, including packing, shipping, customs clearance, and storage solutions.
This comprehensive range of services ensures that customers can care for all their moving needs in one place.
NEX has a dedicated customer support team to answer any questions or concerns.
They also provide regular updates on the status of the move, ensuring that customers are always informed and up-to-date.
The company has received many positive reviews from customers who have used its services. These reviews praise the company for its professionalism, efficiency, and reliability.
2. Yamato Transport
Another well-known moving company in Japan is Yamato Transport or “Yamato Home Convenience” in English. Their easy-to-spot logo features a mother cat carrying a kitten in its mouth.
This firm has been in business for over 100 years, and they have built a reputation for providing high-quality logistics and moving services.
This experience enables them to handle various moving situations and provide efficient and reliable customer service.
Yamato Transport provides many moving services, including packing, transportation, customs clearance, and storage solutions.
They also offer insurance coverage for customers’ belongings during the move. Yamato Transport’s dedicated customer support team is available to answer any questions or concerns.
They provide regular updates on the status of the move, ensuring that customers are always informed and up-to-date. Yamato Transport has received many positive reviews from customers who have used their services.
These reviews praise the company for its professionalism, efficiency, and reliability.
3. Art Hikkoshi Center
This is a popular Japanese moving company in Tokyo called Art Moving Company in English with the highly-recognizable logo 0123. (The Japanese term “hikkoshi” means “moving.”) They offer high care and attention to detail when handling valuable items.
Art Hikkoshi Center provides personalized moving services tailored to each customer’s needs. They understand that every move is unique and work closely with customers to develop a customized moving plan that meets their specific requirements.
Art Hikkoshi Center has English-speaking staff who can assist non-Japanese speaking customers with their move. This can be especially helpful for expats or international customers who may not speak Japanese fluently.
Art Hikkoshi Center pays close attention to every detail of the moving process, from packing to transportation to unpacking. They ensure that all items are properly labeled and handled carefully, so customers know their belongings are in good hands.
Customers have praised their expertise and professionalism. This company has a high rating on Google and provides a range of moving services, including international moves, storage solutions, and logistics services.
4. Sakai Moving Service
This Osaka-based moving company with a 50-year track record offers domestic and international moving services—including throughout the Tokyo Metropolitan Area.
The moving trucks of this firm can easily be identified by their ubiquitous panda logo. Sakai Moving is known for being reliable and efficient, with friendly and helpful staff.
This company offers competitive pricing for its moving services, which can be significant for customers looking to keep their moving costs down.
5. Tokyo Move
This is a Tokyo-based moving company that specializes in helping the international community. Everything can be handled in English, and customers have praised their attention to detail and excellent communication throughout the moving process.
They have a 4.9 rating on Google, which indicates a high degree of customer satisfaction.
Things to Consider When Choosing a Moving Company in Tokyo
Now What?
At this point, you might be wondering what to do next.
While it is highly likely that you will be satisfied with any of our list of recommended moving companies, it would be wise to do your homework up-front to ensure that whichever firm you choose is able to meet your needs.
Although there are many other firms to consider, a logical next step would be to ask for a price quotation from one or all of these moving companies.
As you assess each firm, keep in mind the following:
Reputation
Check the company’s reputation by reading reviews and requesting referrals from family, friends, or colleagues. A reputable moving company will have positive reviews and references. All of our recommended options have a good reputation.
Licensing and Insurance
Ensure that the moving company is licensed and insured to protect your belongings in case of accidents or damages. All of our recommended options are properly licensed and have insurance.
Experience
The experience of the moving company matters as an experienced company will know how to handle different types of moves and obstacles that may arise during the move.
All of our recommended options have plenty of experience, although some, like NEX, have more experience than others with international moves.
Services Offered
Check the services offered by the moving company to ensure they fit your needs, including packing, loading, unloading, and storage.
All of our recommended options offer a comprehensive suite of services—including English language support.
Tokyo Move has, however, built its entire business model by focusing on being able to provide all communications in English.
Pricing
At the end of the day, a competitive price quote may be the deciding factor. Compare the pricing of the moving company with other companies in the area to ensure you are getting a fair price.
Be wary of companies that offer significantly lower prices than their competitors, as this may indicate lower quality service. Based upon previous experience, Sakai Moving is likely to offer the lowest price amongst all the moving companies mentioned in this article, but we cannot guarantee that will be true in every case.
Customer Service
Pay attention to the customer service provided by the moving company, including responsiveness, professionalism, and communication. A good moving company will be transparent and responsive throughout the moving process.
To begin, you will literally only have the salesperson who comes to assess the scope of the move before providing a price quotation.
Based upon previous experience, if the salesperson makes a positive first impression, chances are that the support teams that complete the move on both ends will also be good.
Equipment and Technology
Check the equipment and technology used by the moving company, including trucks, packing materials, and tracking systems.
A modern and well-maintained fleet can indicate a reliable moving company. All of our recommended options use state-of-the-art equipment and technology.
Additional Charges
Be aware of any additional charges the moving company may impose, such as fuel surcharges, stairs fees, or long carry fees. Ensure that these charges are disclosed upfront and included in the quote.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, only you can decide which company is best for your move.
That said, by taking the time to do your homework up-front, the likelihood that your move will go smoothly will increase dramatically, and you’ll be better able to avoid having to shed any tears during the process.
