When you look at a room in Japan, the listed rent may not be the full monthly cost. You often need to ask whether utilities are included and whether there is a common area fee. In this workshop you will practice short, polite questions and listen for the key words in a staff reply. You will use the recorded lines as your models, so you can hear the exact wording before you try it yourself. The goal is to ask clearly, understand the answer, and know what to check next.
Asking whether utilities are included
Start with a general question about utilities. The recorded line «光熱費は家賃に含まれていますか。» means "Are utilities included in the rent?" Use it when you want one clear answer about the main monthly costs. If you want to check only the water bill, use «水道代は含まれていますか。», which means "Is the water bill included?" This is useful when water is handled separately from electricity and gas. You can also ask about a common area fee with «共益費はかかりますか。», meaning "Is there a common area fee?" These three questions are short and polite. Say them slowly, keep your voice calm, and pause after the question. The staff member will usually answer with a yes or no and then add details.
Checking for other monthly costs
After the first answer, ask if anything else is charged each month. The recorded line «他に毎月かかるお金はありますか。» means "Are there any other monthly costs?" This helps you avoid surprises such as a separate common area fee. In a rental conversation, the staff member may say the rent first, then explain what is not included. Listen for words about water, common area, and separate fees. If you hear a number, repeat it in your mind and check it against your budget. You do not need to decide immediately. It is fine to say thank you and ask one more question.
Understanding a staff reply
In the recorded exchange, the customer asks how much the rent is with «すみません、この部屋の家賃はいくらですか。», meaning "Excuse me, how much is the rent for this room?" The staff member answers with «家賃は月に八万円です。», meaning "The rent is 80,000 yen per month." The customer then asks the general utilities question with «光熱費は家賃に含まれていますか。». The staff member replies with «いいえ、含まれていません。別に共益費が五千円かかります。», meaning "No, they are not included. There is a separate common area fee of 5,000 yen." Notice the structure: a clear no, then a separate fee. When you hear this, you know the monthly total is higher than the rent alone. Ask about other costs with «他に毎月かかるお金はありますか。» if you want to check further.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
光熱費は家賃に含まれていますか。
Are utilities included in the rent?
Kōnetsuhi wa yachin ni fukumarete imasu ka.
水道代は含まれていますか。
Is the water bill included?
Suidōdai wa fukumarete imasu ka.
共益費はかかりますか。
Is there a common area fee?
Kyōekihi wa kakarimasu ka.
他に毎月かかるお金はありますか。
Are there any other monthly costs?
Hoka ni maitsuki kakaru okane wa arimasu ka.
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
すみません、この部屋の家賃はいくらですか。
Excuse me, how much is the rent for this room?家賃は月に八万円です。
The rent is 80,000 yen per month.光熱費は家賃に含まれていますか。
Are utilities included in the rent?いいえ、含まれていません。別に共益費が五千円かかります。
No, they are not included. There is a separate common area fee of 5,000 yen.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided exchange: ask about utilities
Imagine you are a customer looking at a room. A staff member has just told you the monthly rent. You want to know whether utilities are included.
Your task: Play the recording for «光熱費は家賃に含まれていますか。» and listen once. Then say the same line yourself, slowly and politely. After that, play «光熱費は家賃に含まれていますか。» and notice that it is the same question in the recorded exchange. Say your question again, then pause and imagine the staff member answering.
Reply comprehension: included or separate?
Imagine the staff member has answered your question. You need to understand whether utilities are included and whether there is another monthly fee.
Your task: Play «いいえ、含まれていません。別に共益費が五千円かかります。» and listen for two pieces of information: whether utilities are included, and what separate fee is mentioned. Then choose the correct summary: A) Utilities are included, and there is no other fee. B) Utilities are not included, and there is a separate common area fee. After you choose, play «いいえ、含まれていません。別に共益費が五千円かかります。» again and check.
Recall and role switch: customer and staff
Now you will recall the recorded exchange and practice both roles. The customer asks about the rent and utilities. The staff member gives the rent and explains the separate fee.
Your task: First, play «すみません、この部屋の家賃はいくらですか。» and «家賃は月に八万円です。». Then play the customer role: say the question from «すみません、この部屋の家賃はいくらですか。» and pause. Next, play the staff role: say the answer from «家賃は月に八万円です。». After that, play «光熱費は家賃に含まれていますか。» and «いいえ、含まれていません。別に共益費が五千円かかります。». Say the customer question from «光熱費は家賃に含まれていますか。», then say the staff reply from «いいえ、含まれていません。別に共益費が五千円かかります。». Try to do this without looking at the English meanings.
Common questions
What is the difference between asking about utilities in general and asking about the water bill?
The general question «光熱費は家賃に含まれていますか。» asks whether utilities are included in the rent. The water question «水道代は含まれていますか。» asks only about the water bill. Use the general question first if you want one clear answer about the main monthly costs. Use the water question when you already know that water may be handled separately and you want to check that one item.
How do I know if the monthly cost is higher than the rent?
Listen for a separate fee in the staff reply. In «いいえ、含まれていません。別に共益費が五千円かかります。», the staff member says utilities are not included and mentions a separate common area fee. That means the monthly total is higher than the rent alone. You can then ask «他に毎月かかるお金はありますか。» to check whether there are any other monthly costs before you decide.
Sources and further reading
- japanese: ask about utilities includedChecked September 2026
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