ISP Cancellation and Lock-In in Japan

Cancel internet Japan contracts are easy to sign and costly to exit at the wrong month. This guide explains the 2-year auto-renewal structure, the current exit fees, and the cheaper address-transfer option for movers.¹²³

Confirm current details with official sources

Procedures, fees, and requirements can change. Confirm current details at your provider's official page and the NTT East or NTT West site for your line.

Overview

This guide is for residents who hold a fixed-line fiber contract and consider switching provider, moving address, or leaving Japan.³ It covers Hikari Collaboration plans, FLET'S plus ISP pairs, au Hikari, and similar fiber contracts on any status of residence.

The core pattern is national: a fixed term with automatic renewal, a narrow no-fee window, and an exit bill that combines more than the headline fee.¹² Exact amounts still vary by provider, plan, and contract date, so treat every figure below as scoped to its stated vintage and confirm your own contract before acting.⁴

The 2-year auto-renewal structure

Most consumer fiber plans run on a 2-year fixed term that renews automatically unless you request cancellation or a plan change.¹ The 更新月 (kōshin tsuki, "renewal month") opens the only window where termination costs no cancellation fee.⁵

For docomo Hikari, that window lasts three months: the expiration month, the next month, and the month after that (as of 2026-09; confirm current terms with NTT DOCOMO).¹ SoftBank Hikari uses the same 3-month shape for post-July-2022 2-year plans: expiration month plus the following two months (as of 2026-04).²⁶ NTT West discount plans use a tighter rule described below (as of 2026-07).⁷

No-fee windows differ by plan so read the renewal definition

Providers count the window from different start points. docomo Hikari and SoftBank Hikari count from contract expiration, while NTT West Hajimewari Next counts 24 months from the discount-start month. Match your plan to its own definition before picking a cancel date.¹²⁷

FLET'S line discounts add a second clock. NTT West Hikari Hajimewari Next runs a 24-month discount period from the discount-start month, and cancelling before the end of month 24 triggers a line-discount fee even when the ISP side looks free (as of 2026-07; confirm current terms with NTT West).⁷ Cancelling on the last day of month 24 avoids that line fee.⁷

Some plans now break the pattern. SoftBank Air has no set term and no cancellation fee, and au Hikari Standard plans carry zero cancellation charge, so check whether your plan is fixed-term at all before budgeting for a fee (as of 2026-04).²⁶

How to find your renewal window

Start with your contract papers, then confirm online. au Hikari subscribers check the basic contract number and next renewal date in My au under Internet and Phone, then open the application details for plan and provider.⁸ Asahi Net subscribers check the contract details issued at signup or the Check and Change Contract Information page for the service.⁹

Watch two traps. Legacy contracts signed before July 2022 migrated to the capped-fee rule on renewal from July 2025 onward, with full cutover by July 2028, so the original sign date alone no longer sets your fee.⁴ Paired lines run on separate clocks: docomo Hikari and its paired mobile line have independent subscription periods, so ending fiber at the mobile renewal date can still incur the fiber fee.¹

Early-termination fees and install-cost recovery

The exit bill has two main parts: the cancellation fee and the install-cost residual. The 解約金 (kaiyakukin, "cancellation fee charged at termination") is the headline charge, while the 工事費 (kōji hi, "installation fee, often paid in installments") remainder is the part readers underestimate.³⁶ Providers sometimes label the first part 違約金 (iyakukin, "fixed-term penalty"), and the meaning is the same in this context.³

Post-2022 contracts follow a capped norm. The July 2022 Telecommunications Business Act revision limited covered fixed-line cancellation fees to roughly one month of base charge and set a statutory upper-limit formula for install residuals.⁴ The 10,000 to 20,000 JPY totals quoted in older guides describe legacy fees or fee-plus-residual totals, not the current standalone capped fee.⁴⁶

The table below uses provider-reported figures (as of dates shown; confirm current figures with your provider). It contrasts current capped fees with legacy pre-July-2022 levels and the install amounts that drive residuals.

Provider pattern	Mid-term fee	Legacy contrast	As of	Notes
docomo Hikari, house	5,500 JPY tax incl.	14,300 JPY pre-July-2022	2026-091	2-year auto-renewal
docomo Hikari, mansion	4,180 JPY tax incl.	8,800 JPY pre-July-2022	2026-091	2-year auto-renewal
SoftBank Hikari, house 1-giga	5,720 JPY	10,450 JPY legacy 2-year	2026-046	Equals one month base
SoftBank Hikari, mansion 1-giga	4,180 JPY	10,450 JPY legacy 2-year	2026-046	Equals one month base
SoftBank Hikari, 10-giga	6,380 JPY	16,500 JPY legacy 5-year family reference	2026-046	Equals one month base
NTT West Hajimewari Next, house	up to 4,400 JPY	Discount-period fee	2026-077	Line discount only, ISP separate
NTT West Hajimewari Next, mansion	up to 2,200 JPY	Discount-period fee	2026-077	Line discount only, ISP separate

Installation fees are commonly split into 24 monthly installments. SoftBank Hikari with-visit installation runs up to 31,680 JPY, billed as 1,320 JPY times 24, plus a 4,950 JPY admin fee (as of 2026-04; confirm current figures with SoftBank).⁶ Generic ISP signup shows a 3,300 JPY application fee with install in the 0 to 44,000 JPY range depending on campaign and visit need (as of 2026-03).³

Budget for the residual not only the headline fee

A with-visit install split over 24 months leaves a pro-rated remainder even when the standalone fee is only one month base. SoftBank-group residuals follow a statutory cap, remaining-term ratio times install cost, but the cap reduces the claim instead of erasing it.⁴ Ask for the residual quote in the same call where you confirm the fee.

Campaigns that advertise effectively free installation usually deliver it as monthly discounts. The discount stops at cancellation and the unbilled remainder becomes due within the cap.⁴¹⁰ A subscriber-requested on-site disconnection visit can add a separate charge on top.⁷

Cancellation-fee table by provider pattern

Use the table above as a pattern map, not a personal quote. docomo Hikari post-June-2022 terms set 5,500 JPY for house and 4,180 JPY for mansion outside the 3-month window (as of 2026-09; confirm current terms with NTT DOCOMO).¹ SoftBank Hikari post-July-2022 2-year terms set one month base, 5,720 JPY house or 4,180 JPY mansion (as of 2026-04).⁶ NTT West Hajimewari Next sets up to 4,400 JPY house or 2,200 JPY mansion when the discount period is cut short (as of 2026-07).⁷

Secondary comparisons report fiber early-termination totals of 1,000 to 10,000 JPY depending on provider and remaining period, which reflects capped fees plus varying residuals rather than a single national fee (as of 2026-03).³ au Hikari plan-level amounts vary further by plan and migration timing, so confirm the next renewal date in My au plus the contracted provider instead of applying another carrier figure to au.⁸

Cancellation procedure and equipment return

The cancellation channel depends on the contracted company. Asahi Net accepts cancellation through the My Page cancel button after login.⁹ au mobile-line cancellation happens in person at an au shop with cash settlement of the fee, final monthly charge, and remaining installments, taking about 1 to 1.5 hours.¹¹ SoftBank Hikari cancellations run by phone or My SoftBank, while docomo Hikari runs through its service center or shop.⁶¹

Bring the right items for an in-person visit. au asks for a personal seal or signature, original ID, and the device for mobile-line cases.¹¹ Keep the payment method open after the visit. Final-month line and ISP charges bill through the cancellation date, the fee lands in the procedure month, and some flat-rate components do not prorate.¹

File the termination request before returning any hardware

Returning rented equipment alone does not close the contract. Complete the cancellation request first, then follow the return instructions, or billing continues.⁶

Cashback complicates early exits. Signup cashback of 20,000 to 50,000 JPY is commonly paid 6 to 12 months after installation and requires a separate claim step, so cancelling before payout can forfeit it (as of 2026-03; confirm current campaign terms with your provider).³

What to return and when

Return targets typically include the ONU optical unit, home gateway or modem, rented WiFi router, and AC adapters, while small cables are commonly waived.⁶³ The provider sends a prepaid return slip or instructions after the cancellation request, so meet the stated deadline or face a separate non-return charge.⁶

Fiber ONU removal sometimes needs an NTT technician visit. The cost is commonly absorbed by the provider unless you request on-site disconnection work yourself.³⁷ If a rental uses building-shared wiring, confirm with the landlord or manager whether any in-unit device stays or goes.

Moving: transfer your contract instead of cancelling

Ask about address transfer before filing a cancellation when you move within Japan. Fiber contracts can usually transfer to a new address, but the new unit needs a fresh installation and NTT charges a new-line install that campaigns often waive.³ The 移転 (iten, "address transfer with the same provider") keeps the contract vintage and avoids a new exit fee, while cancel-and-reinstall resets the fixed term and install installments.³

Transfer is not always possible. If the new building lacks support for the current network, for example au's own network versus NTT wholesale, the provider may require a cancel plus re-contract.³ Home-router and pocket-WiFi contracts move with the device and need no reinstall.³ docomo Hikari lists relocation as a dedicated active-subscriber procedure distinct from cancellation, so use that channel rather than the cancel desk.¹

The decision flow looks like this:

Schedule the old cancellation after the new line activates. Standard fiber setup runs 2 to 8 weeks with technician scheduling as the bottleneck, so closing early creates a gap (as of 2026-03; confirm current lead times with your provider).³

Good to know

Cancelling before checking your contract vintage

A reader who assumes the current one-month norm without checking sign date and renewal history may face a legacy-range bill on an unmigrated contract. Check My Page or the contract papers first, then call support with the plan name and dates in hand.⁴⁸⁹

Pre-July-2022 docomo Hikari fees ran 14,300 JPY for house and 8,800 JPY for mansion against 5,500 JPY and 4,180 JPY after, while SoftBank legacy 2-year fees ran 10,450 JPY against one month base now.¹⁶ Migration from July 2025 onward moves renewed contracts onto the capped rule, but only your own record shows where your line stands.⁴

Treating the cancellation fee as the whole exit bill

The exit total is the cancellation fee plus install residual plus final-month line, ISP, option, and phone-service charges. The residual alone can exceed the fee.⁴⁶

A with-visit install of up to 31,680 JPY split over 24 months leaves a pro-rated remainder even when the standalone fee is only one month base, and the statutory cap limits the claim instead of zeroing it.⁶⁴ Get the residual quote, the fee quote, and the final-month estimate in one confirmation before setting the cancel date.

Cancelling the new line before the old one is closed

Fiber activation takes weeks, so closing the old line before the replacement is active creates a gap. Overlap the contracts and schedule the old cancellation after the new install date.³

Standard setup runs 2 to 8 weeks with technician scheduling as the bottleneck, and spring moves stretch the wait further.³ Bridge the gap with pocket WiFi or tethering rather than rushing the old line closed.

Returning equipment late or not at all

Missing the equipment-return deadline triggers a separate non-return charge on top of the cancellation fee and residual.⁶ The return needs the post-request slip and covers the ONU, gateway, and rented router, while small cables are commonly waived.⁶⁹

Equipment return alone never substitutes for the cancellation request. File the termination first, keep the slip tracking number, and keep the payment method open until the final bill clears.⁶

Assuming a move forces a cancellation

Ask about address transfer before filing a cancellation when moving within Japan. Transfer is commonly cheaper than a full cancel plus reinstall and preserves the contract vintage.³

Transfer still needs a new install and building support, and provider coverage gates availability.³¹ Confirm transfer eligibility, the new install date, and any waived install campaign before cancelling anything.

See also

• Internet and TV: Utility Setup Overview
• Move-Out Procedures: Closing Utility Accounts
• Mobile Plan Considerations for Foreign Residents
• How Renting Works in Japan
• Prepaid SIMs for the First Month
• Big Three Carriers vs. MVNO Sub-Brands

References

Footnotes

1. NTT DOCOMO. "docomo Hikari" (English official page, monthly charges and fixed-term terms). https://www.docomo.ne.jp/english/hikari/ ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹² ↩¹³ ↩¹⁴

2. SoftBank Corp. "Home Discount" (English official campaign page, 2-year auto-renewal and post-2022 fee equal to one month base charge). https://www.softbank.jp/en/mobile/campaigns/list/ouchiwari/ ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵

3. Gaikoku Navi (Yononaka LLC). "Setting Up Internet in Japan for Foreigners: Complete Guide." Updated 2026-03-20. https://japan-life.ziko-info.com/en/guides/internet.html ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹² ↩¹³ ↩¹⁴ ↩¹⁵ ↩¹⁶ ↩¹⁷ ↩¹⁸

4. SoftBank Corp. "2022年7月1日および2025年7月1日の電気通信事業法改正にともなう各種改定について" (Japanese official revision notice, published 2022-06-30, covering fixed-line cancellation cap and install-residual upper limit). https://www.softbank.jp/internet/cancellation-fee/ ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰

5. Asahi Net. "Asahi Net docomo Hikari" (English official service page, 2-year fixed-term terms and 3-month no-fee window). https://asahi-net.jp/en/service/ftth/docomohikari ↩

6. Sakura Mobile. "SoftBank Hikari English Guide: Plans, Prices, and Why the Language Barrier Matters." Published 2026-04-15. https://www.sakuramobile.jp/blog/japan-home-internet/guide-to-softbank-hikari ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹² ↩¹³ ↩¹⁴ ↩¹⁵ ↩¹⁶ ↩¹⁷ ↩¹⁸ ↩¹⁹

7. NTT West. "Hikari Hajimewari Next (Discount service), FLET'S Hikari Next" (English official page, discount period and cancellation fee; notes information as of 2026-07-31). https://flets-w.com/english/limited/hajimenext/ ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹

8. KDDI au. "I would like to check my contract information such as basic contract number, renewal period, and contract date" (English official FAQ, My au renewal-date check). https://www.au.com/english/support/faq/eservice/epg00002119/ ↩ ↩² ↩³

9. Asahi Net. "Cancellation of Subscription Service, Request Procedures" (English official support page, My Page cancellation and charge-check note). https://asahi-net.jp/en/support/account/cancellation.html ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

10. Sakura Mobile. "How to Get Fiber Internet in Japan: 5 Things to Know." Published 2023-09-27. https://www.sakuramobile.jp/blog/japan-home-internet/5-things-to-know-about-fiber-internet-in-japan-my-story/ ↩

11. KDDI au. "How do I cancel my contract?" (English official FAQ, in-shop cancellation and cash settlement of remaining fees). https://www.au.com/english/support/faq/ecancellation/contract/ ↩ ↩²