Bothered by Noise from Next Door? What Tenants in Japan Can Do and Who to Contact
Footsteps echoing from the unit upstairs at night, voices or music through the wall—in rental housing, everyday noise is a common reason people end up moving out. Many tenants hesitate, wondering whether to knock on the door themselves or whether the property manager will actually act, and end up putting up with it.
This article walks through how to keep useful records, how to raise the issue with the property manager or landlord, when to turn to the police or local authorities, and what to watch for if you are the one who receives a complaint.
What should you do before approaching the neighbor directly?
Noise disputes get emotional quickly, so it is generally safer not to knock on the neighbor's door to complain. The sound is often unintentional, and an argument can make life in the same building difficult afterward.
Start with a record. Note when the noise happened (date and time), what kind it was (footsteps, voices, instruments, doors), how long it lasted, and where in your unit you heard it. Phone recordings or noise-meter apps can serve as reference material, but treat them as rough indicators. Keeping notes for about two weeks makes the pattern easier to explain.
How loud is too loud to ask for action?
In apartment buildings, a certain level of everyday sound is considered part of living together. In general, the question is whether the noise exceeds what a person can reasonably be expected to tolerate in social life, judged on time of day, frequency, duration and building structure, not volume alone.
Your lease or the building rules may restrict playing instruments or set quiet hours (often from 10 p.m.). Start by checking the clauses on noise and nuisance in your own contract.
How do you raise it with the property manager or landlord?
Route everything through one contact: the property manager, or the landlord if there is none. Use e-mail or a web form as well as phone calls so there is a written trail, and attach your notes so you can say specifically when and what kind of noise is the problem.
Managers typically respond in a low-key way, such as distributing a general reminder to all residents without naming a unit. It may not fix things immediately, so keep a note of the dates you contacted them and what they replied.
Reference figures (typical practical guidelines)
- Typical quiet hours
- 10p.m. onward
- Suggested recording period
- 2weeks
- Your first point of contact
- 1contact
- Police consultation line (#9110)
- 9110
Depends on your lease or building rules; often until 6–8 a.m.
Note date, type of sound and duration each time
Consolidate on the property manager (or landlord)
For non-urgent advice; call 110 in an emergency
When can you turn to the police or local authorities?
If there is loud noise late at night, shouting, or sounds of things being smashed and you fear for your safety, call 110 without hesitating. For concerns that are not urgent, the police consultation line (#9110) or your municipality's consultation desk can point you in the right direction.
That said, ordinary neighbor noise is an area where the police find it hard to step in, since it is treated as a civil matter. In practice, people usually turn to the municipal desk or a bar association's legal consultation after dealing through the property manager has not helped.
What if you are the one receiving a complaint?
You may be the one told you are too loud. Acknowledge it, express your regret, and take the steps you can early: watch the hours, use soundproof mats or rubber furniture feet, and avoid running the washing machine or vacuum late at night.
If a complaint is ignored and nothing improves, the landlord may demand correction as a breach of the lease, and in some cases it can escalate to a question of termination. Responding early is the most reliable way to keep your home.
Legal basis
- Civil Code Art. 616 (applying Art. 594(1))
- A tenant must use and profit from the property in the manner determined by the contract or the nature of the property (summary).
- Civil Code Art. 415
- Where an obligor fails to perform as the obligation requires, the obligee may in some cases claim damages (summary).
- Civil Code Art. 709
- A person who intentionally or negligently infringes another's rights or legally protected interests is liable for the resulting damage (summary).
- Civil Code Art. 541
- If the other party fails to perform and does not do so within a reasonable period set by notice, the contract may in some cases be terminated. In leases, courts tend to focus on whether the relationship of trust has been broken (summary).
First steps by situation (typical guidelines)
| Situation | First step | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday sounds such as footsteps or doors | Keep records and consult the property manager | Frequency, time of day, building structure (wood or light steel frame?) |
| Loud noise or parties late at night | Contact the property manager; call 110 if you feel unsafe | Quiet-hours and nuisance clauses in the lease |
| Instruments or barking pets | Explain to the property manager and check the rules | Whether instruments or pets are allowed, and what the rules say |
Common mistakes and fixes
✕Telling the manager only that it is noisy, with no records, so the request was put aside.
→Record date, type of sound and duration for about two weeks, and send it by e-mail or another method that leaves a trail.
✕Knocking on the neighbor's door at night to complain, which turned into an argument.
→Avoid direct contact and ask the property manager to send a reminder.
✕Not checking wall thickness or who lives upstairs before signing, then regretting it.
→View the unit both by day and at night, and check the structure (wood, reinforced concrete, etc.) and surroundings.
✕Not realizing your own sounds carried, so complaints piled up.
→Use soundproof mats and rubber feet, and avoid laundry and vacuuming late at night.
Noise-trouble checklist
- I checked the noise and nuisance clauses in my lease and building rules
- I recorded date, type of sound and duration for about two weeks
- I confirmed the contact details and preferred method for the property manager (or landlord)
- I described the situation specifically by e-mail or another method that leaves a record
- I noted the dates I made contact and the replies
- I know when to use 110 and when to use #9110
- I also reviewed the noise coming from my own unit (late-night laundry, vacuuming, etc.)
FAQ
- Q. Can I get a rent reduction because of noise?
- A. It depends on the level of noise and how the landlord responds, but it is generally considered difficult. Ask the property manager for improvement first, and consult a professional such as a lawyer if it is not resolved.
- Q. If I move out because of noise, do I still pay a penalty?
- A. You generally follow the early-termination clause in your lease. You can explain your circumstances to the manager, but a waiver is not guaranteed, so check the contract first.
- Q. Does a recording count as evidence?
- A. It can be reference material showing the situation, but it does not necessarily settle the volume or source. It is usually used together with dated notes when consulting the property manager.
- Q. Can I consult the property manager if I only speak a foreign language?
- A. Some managers support multiple languages, but many do not. Summarize the situation in an e-mail, and use interpretation or support services if needed.
In the SUMIMOTO Hub app, the 24-hour AI advisor explains in multiple languages how to read the noise and nuisance clauses in your lease and how to draft a message to your property manager. For decisions specific to your case, please also confirm with a qualified professional such as a lawyer.
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