A Guide to Air Conditioning Installation & Replacement in Japan

Wondering what heating options are available to help you get through Japanese winters and humid summers? 

Thinking of purchasing an air conditioning system for your home or apartment in Japan? 

Interested to know how much the whole process will be and how to get it done?

Today, we'll cover what you need to know to install a new AC unit, what features to consider, price points, and more.

Let's go.

How Japanese AC units are different from central air conditioning systems

Before we go any further, let's clear the air on one thing: Japanese heating and cooling systems are different from the HVAC systems in the US and other places.

Unless you live in Hokkaido or specifically contract to install a central AC system, most Japanese homes and apartments will be heated and cooled through an air conditioning unit.

Japanese air conditioning units typically consist of two parts: an indoor unit, which is attached to an interior wall, and an outdoor unit, the condenser, which is either mounted to the exterior of your house or sits on the ground level.

How to choose the right air conditioning unit

If your apartment is small, you may only need to purchase 1 unit.

However, if you're trying to heat a whole house, you may want to place a unit in each room you'll use.

Here are some questions to consider when selecting your new air conditioner.

What size room am I trying to heat?

The first thing you’ll notice when shopping for a Japanese air conditioning unit is that AC manufacturers will market units based on Japanese room size, aka tatami size. 

First, determine the room size you're trying to heat, translate that into tatami mats, and then look for an air conditioner that can heat that area.

• 6 tatami mats (9.9174 sq. meters)

• 8 tatami mats (13.2232 sq. meters)

• 10 tatami mats (16.529 sq. meters)

• 12 tatami mats (19.8348 sq. meters)

• 14 tatami mats (23.1406 sq. meters)

• 18 tatami mats (29.7522 sq. meters)

• 20 tatami mats (33.058 sq. meters)

• 23 tatami mats (38.0167 sq. meters)

• 26 tatami mats (42.9754 sq. meters)

Do I need heating and cooling or just one or the other?

Many Japanese ACs can both heat and cool your house. 

However, some only have one function. 

So, if you're in the market for both functions, ensure the AC unit you're considering can provide both.

What voltage outlets are available in my house/apartment?

The standard electricity outlet in a Japanese house or apartment is 100 volts.

Some AC units are OK with a 100-volt outlet. However, the more powerful air conditioning units will require a 200-volt outlet. 

Before purchasing an AC unit, check its voltage requirements.

If you purchase a new air conditioner that requires 200 volts, you will need an electrician / or the AC installation team to help with rewiring.

How much do Japanese AC units cost?

The average price when looking at the top 10 most highly rated air conditioning units is 64,906 yen on Kakaku.com

Generally, air conditioners that heat small areas will be cheaper than those that heat larger areas.

AC units that provide heating and cooling systems will cost more than AC systems with only one heating or cooling feature.

To start price browsing for AC units, check out the following:

• AC units on Kakaku

• AC units on Rakuten

• AC units on Amazon Japan

See also: How To Set Up Utilities For The First Time in Japan And More

What to know about the air conditioning installation process

You have purchased or are about to purchase an AC unit, and now you are wondering how it will be installed.

Many sites will include the cost of installation within the price of the AC unit—but with many caveats.

A standard AC installation is straightforward, particularly if you're replacing an AC, as you don't need to cut a new hole for the AC pipes.

But if this is a new installation, or you want to install an aircon on the second floor of your house, or the room you want to install an aircon in doesn't have a wall connected to the outside of your house, then these will likely fall outside of the "free installation" requirements.

Most AC product pages will have an explanation of what will fall under a "free installation" so be sure to read the fine print.

Standard installation for air conditioning system

Some sites charge a "standard installation fee" and they'll list what type of installation they're willing to do for a certain price.

For example, BicCamera, a well-known Japanese electronics store, provides an AC installation service for "standard installation" at the following prices:

As far as what BicCamera considers "standard installation":

1. Installation of piping of 4m or less in length. *If the air conditioning indoor unit and the piping hole are separated, an insulated drain hose (starting from 1,980 yen per meter) will be used as an additional paid installation.

2. Connecting to an existing earth wire

3. Installation in walls with through-holes

4. Installation of piping and connecting wires up to 4m in length (tape-wrapped finish)

5. Vacuuming

6. Installation of the outdoor unit on flat ground or on a balcony (including plastic blocks)

Non-standard air conditioning installation

However, Biccamera's aircon installation service guide then goes on to describe the situations that would fall outside of the "standard installation":

• If the piping length needs to be 4m or more, or if the outdoor unit is to be installed on the roof or other work that does not fall under the standard installation work, an additional fee will be charged.

• When the material of the wall on which the air conditioner (indoor unit) is installed is special

• When the outdoor unit is installed other than on flat ground or on a balcony

• When the indoor unit and outdoor unit are on different floors/When the piping is 4m or longer

• In special cases where there is no hole for the piping

• When attaching a cover to a piping

• If there is no dedicated outlet for the air conditioner or if the power source, electrical capacity, or plug shape is different

• When installing an air conditioner with smartphone connectivity

• If your room is on the second floor or higher and there is no elevator

Here's an image that shows the different non-standard places an outdoor unit can be placed all but one of the installations will likely require additional fees from any installation provider.

Image source: Joshin

The AC installation in the above image that falls under "standard installation" would be the AC unit in the bottom left-hand corner. If you want to install a unit in any of the numbered locations in the image below, expect to pay more.

If you are purchasing an air conditioner replacement, some services will remove your old AC unit and recycle it for free, while others will charge you. So keep that in mind.

Japanese vocabulary for HVAC systems

Here are some good-to-know Japanese terms to help you as you shop around for your new HVAC system:

General AC vocabulary

• エアコン (eakon) – Air conditioner (short for air conditioning)

• 冷房 (reibou) – Cooling (air conditioning mode)

• 暖房 (danbou) – Heating (air conditioning mode)

• 除湿 (joshitsu) – Dehumidifying (air conditioning mode)

• 加湿 (kashitsu) – Humidifying

• 空気清浄機能 (kuuki seijou kinou) – Air purification function

• リモコン (rimokon) – Remote control

• フィルター (firutā) – Filter

• 室外機 (shitsugaiki) – Outdoor unit (of the air conditioner)

• 室内機 (shitsunaiki) – Indoor unit (of the air conditioner)

AC installation vocabulary

• 取り付け (toritsuke) – Installation

• 工事 (kouji) – Construction or installation work

• 工事費用 (kouji hiyou) – Installation cost

• 配線 (haisen) – Wiring

• 配管 (haikan) – Piping

• 壁掛け式 (kabekake-shiki) – Wall-mounted type

• 設置場所 (secchi basho) – Installation location

• 下見 (shitami) – Pre-installation inspection

• 配電盤 (haidenban) – Electrical panel

• ドレンホース (doren hōsu) – Drain hose

AC troubleshooting and maintenance

• メンテナンス (mentenansu) – Maintenance

• 掃除 (souji) – Cleaning

• 水漏れ (mizumore) – Water leakage

• 異音 (ion) – Strange noise

• 故障 (koshou) – Malfunction or breakdown

• 修理 (shuuri) – Repair

• 点検 (tenken) – Inspection

AC-related Japanese phrases

• エアコンを設置したいです。 (Eakon o secchi shitai desu.) – I want to install an air conditioner.

• 工事の見積もりをお願いします。 (Kouji no mitsumori o onegaishimasu.) – Please provide an estimate for the installation work.

• このエアコンはどのくらいの部屋に適していますか？ (Kono eakon wa dono kurai no heya ni tekishiteimasu ka?) – What size room is this air conditioner suitable for?

• 工事にどれくらい時間がかかりますか？ (Kouji ni dorekurai jikan ga kakarimasu ka?) – How long will the installation take?

• 保証はありますか？ (Hoshou wa arimasu ka?) – Is there a warranty?

Frequently asked questions

What does standard AC installation include?

Standard AC installation in Japan covers the installation of a unit in a non-complex location on your house. For example, putting in an AC system on the first floor of your house where the pipe does not need to travel far to be connected to the outside AC unit would be considered standard by many AC installation teams. However, non-standard installation will often cover cases such as if you wish to place an AC unit on the second floor of your house, which will require a longer than usual pipe to reach the outside unit on the ground floor of your house or require that the outside unit be mounted to the wall of your house.

How much does it cost to install a new aircon in Japan?

Standard installation fees are often included in the price of the air conditioning unit. If you require non-standard installation for 1 AC unit, the cost can range from as low as 10,000 yen to as high as 50,000 to 70,000 yen.

In closing

Now you know the basis for getting an air conditioning replacement or installing a new air conditioning system in Japan.

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