Tokyo Households to Not Pay Basic Water Rate This Summer; Plan Aimed to Ease Financial Burden, Prevent Heatstroke at Home

The Yomiuri Shimbun

17:46 JST, May 21, 2025

All of the about 8 million general households in Tokyo will not have to pay the basic water rate for four months this summer, Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike has said.

The Tokyo metropolitan government’s decision is aimed at easing the increasing financial burden on households caused by a soaring cost of living.

According to the metropolitan government, the monthly basic water rate varies depending on the size of a household’s water supply pipe. In general, there are three different rates in Tokyo: ¥860, ¥1,170 and ¥1,460.

The four-month period will be either from June to September or from July to October, depending on the location. During those months, the households will only be required to pay for the amount of tap water used if the amount is 6 cubic meters or more.

Thirteen cities, towns and villages in Tokyo’s Tama district and remote islands operate their own water supply businesses. The metropolitan government will pay those municipalities the amount equivalent to the basic water rates for those months so the basic water rate will be free for residents during those months.

A revised budget bill, which includes ¥36.8 billion in expenses related to the measure, will be submitted to a regular meeting of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly in June.

Due to high summer temperatures in recent years, the number of people suffering from heatstroke and being taken to a hospital by ambulance has increased in Tokyo. There have also been several cases in which people have died at home from heatstroke after refraining from using their air conditioners.

By making the basic water rate free and easing the cost on households, the plan is also aimed at encouraging people to use air conditioners at home to prevent heatstroke.

The metropolitan government made the decision at the request of Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly members belonging to the Liberal Democratic Party, Komeito and Tomin First, which is a regional political party in the Japanese capital.

“This effort protects people from the high cost of living and also contributes to measures against hot weather,” Koike told reporters on Tuesday.