The High Cost of Moving In — And How to Avoid It
Moving into a new apartment in Japan already involves significant upfront costs — key money, deposit, agency fees, and the first month's rent. Furnishing and equipping the place on top of that can push initial costs to staggering levels if you shop at full retail. The good news: Japan has an excellent ecosystem of secondhand options, freebie networks, and budget-friendly stores that make starting from scratch far more affordable.
Step 1: Start with What You Actually Need
Before buying anything, list your genuine essentials. For most people in a standard Japanese apartment, these are:
- Futon or bed + bedding
- Curtains (critical for privacy and temperature control)
- Refrigerator
- Washing machine (most Japanese apartments don't include one)
- Basic cooking equipment (rice cooker, one pot, one frying pan)
- A table or desk and seating
- Cleaning supplies
Everything else is secondary. Resist the urge to "complete" your home in the first week.
Step 2: Check Recycle Shops (リサイクルショップ) First
Japan's recycle shop culture is exceptional. Major chains like Hard Off / Off House, Book Off, Second Street (2nd Street), and Treasure Factory sell furniture, appliances, and household goods in good condition at a fraction of retail price.
- A used washing machine at Hard Off might cost ¥5,000–¥15,000 vs. ¥40,000+ new
- Refrigerators, microwaves, and rice cookers are commonly found in working condition for ¥3,000–¥10,000
- Furniture (desks, shelves, chairs) can be found for ¥1,000–¥5,000
Important: Check that appliances come with a short warranty (most reputable recycle shops offer one) and test them before purchasing if possible.
Step 3: Use Freebie Networks
In Japan, it's common practice to leave unwanted items outside apartment buildings or near rubbish collection points, particularly at sodai gomi (大型ごみ — large item disposal) days. Keep an eye on:
- Junk Mail Japan / Freecycle-style Facebook groups — "Japan Free & For Sale" groups on Facebook are active in most major cities
- Jimoty (ジモティー) — Japan's Craigslist equivalent; a dedicated free items section (無料) often has furniture, appliances, and household goods
- Large garbage collection days — Legally retrieved discarded items are fair game; check your ward's collection calendar
Step 4: Budget Stores for New Items You Do Need
For items you want to buy new (bedding, curtains, kitchen basics), prioritize these stores:
- Nitori (ニトリ) — Japan's answer to IKEA. Excellent quality-to-price ratio on furniture, bedding, curtains, and kitchen items. Often runs set deals for new apartment movers.
- IKEA — Available in major metro areas; well-known internationally for affordable furniture
- Daiso / Seria — 100-yen shops for kitchenware, cleaning supplies, hangers, and storage
- Yamada Denki / Joshin / Bic Camera (clearance sections) — Look for floor model discounts and open-box deals on appliances
Step 5: Timing Your Purchases
Timing matters significantly in Japan's retail market:
- Late March — Peak moving season ends; recycle shops are flooded with items from people moving out. Prices drop and selection peaks.
- Late September — Secondary moving season with similar benefits
- Year-end / New Year sales (年末年始セール) — Major electronics and appliance discounts
Rough Budget Estimate: Setting Up a 1K Apartment
| Item | Budget Approach | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Washing machine | Recycle shop | ¥8,000–¥15,000 |
| Refrigerator | Recycle shop | ¥5,000–¥12,000 |
| Futon + bedding | Nitori or Daiso | ¥8,000–¥15,000 |
| Curtains | Nitori | ¥2,000–¥5,000 |
| Kitchen essentials | Daiso + recycle shop | ¥2,000–¥5,000 |
| Desk + chair | Recycle shop or Jimoty | ¥3,000–¥8,000 |
| Total | ~¥28,000–¥60,000 |
Compare this to buying everything new at mainstream retailers, where the same list could easily exceed ¥150,000–¥200,000. Shopping smart cuts the cost by more than half.
Final Advice
Resist the impulse to furnish everything immediately. Live in the space for two to four weeks before buying non-essentials — you'll quickly learn what you actually need versus what you thought you would. Japan rewards patient, strategic shoppers with genuine bargains; the infrastructure for buying secondhand is better here than in almost any other country.