The Tokyo Metropolitan Government will waive basic water bills this summer for approximately 8 million households. The move aims to ease financial burdens and protect residents amid rising living costs and extreme heat.
Tokyo Announces Water Bill Waiver for Summer 2025 (May 20)
On May 20, 2025, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government finalized its plan to waive the basic water bill this summer for all approximately 8 million general households in the city. The exemption period is currently expected to last four months during the summer—either from June to September or from July to October. The policy targets households using small-diameter water pipes (13mm, 20mm, or 25mm), which are commonly used in residential homes. The decision to waive the water bill comes in response to rising living costs and increasingly severe summer heat in recent years. With more people limiting their use of air conditioning, there has been a rise in heatstroke-related deaths. The Tokyo government introduced this measure as part of efforts to protect residents’ health during the hot season.
