Maintenance & Repair Requests

For troubleshooting and solving common issues before submitting a ticket.

Shutting off the water supply in Japan is usually simple, but it depends on whether you want to stop water inside your unit or for the whole property. Here’s a clear guide:

1. Locate the water meter box (水道メーターボックス / suidō meter box)
  • Usually:
  • Outside your house near the entrance
  •  In apartments: near your door, balcony, or hallway floor
  • Sometimes underground with a small metal/plastic lid
2. Open the box
  • You’ll see:
  • A water meter
  • A valve (handle or lever)
3. Turn the valve clockwise (right)
  • This shuts off the water
  • If it’s a lever: turn it 90° (perpendicular to pipe)
4. Test inside
  • Open a faucet → no water should come out
  • Same valve as above
  • Use this when:
  • Fixing leaks
  • Replacing faucets
  • Emergency (burst pipe)
  • Some units also have a secondary valve inside:
  • Under kitchen sink
  • Near toilet or washing machine

👉 But this only stops water to that fixture, not the whole unit.

  • ✔️ Don’t force the valve (can break if old)
  • ✔️ If stuck, use a cloth + gentle pressure
  • ✔️ In winter (cold regions), shut-off prevents freezing damage
  • ✔️ For long absences, it’s recommended to shut off water

We explain on emergency situation.
They can send their concerns @ maintenance2@my-housing.jp