Furnishing a Japanese Apartment: What Is Not Included and What It Costs
When a Japanese listing says the apartment is unfurnished, it means it more literally than you might expect. Tenants routinely walk into their new place on move-in evening and discover there is no light — because ceiling fixtures are the tenant's property here, and the previous one took theirs with them.
This guide lists what is and isn't included, what furnishing realistically costs, and the three measurements to check before you buy anything.
What is included, and what isn't?
| Item | Usually included? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Air conditioner | Usually yes | Check every room — often only the main one |
| Curtain rail | Yes | The rail, not the curtains |
| Curtains | No | Buy before move-in day |
| Ceiling light fixtures | Often no | Usually just a ceiling socket |
| Gas cooker / hob | Often no in 1R and 1K | A space and a gas outlet, nothing more |
| Built-in IH or gas hob | Common in newer 1LDK+ | Check the listing photos |
| Bath, toilet, water heater | Yes | Fixed equipment |
| Fridge, washing machine, microwave | No | Unless the listing says kagu kaden tsuki |
| Toilet seat with bidet | Varies | Sometimes left by a previous tenant |
Why does the gas type matter?
If you need to buy a hob, find out first whether the building uses city gas (都市ガス) or LPG / propane (プロパンガス). Appliances are manufactured for one or the other and are not interchangeable — running a city-gas hob on propane is genuinely dangerous, not merely inefficient.
The gas type is stated on the listing and in your contract. Buy the matching model, and if you're bringing a hob from a previous apartment, check it still matches. The same question applies when arranging your gas connection — see setting up utilities.
What should you measure before buying?
- The washing machine pan. Most apartments have a moulded plastic tray (防水パン) that the machine must sit inside. The common internal size is around 64 cm square, but older buildings can be smaller. Measure it — a machine that doesn't fit cannot be installed, and delivery crews will simply take it away again
- The route to the kitchen. Fridge width matters less than the narrowest doorway, corner or stairwell between the entrance and its final position. Japanese hallways are tight; measure the entrance door and the tightest turn
A third, easier one: curtains. Japanese ready-made curtains come in standard sizes — commonly 100 cm wide sold in pairs, with drops around 135 cm for a standard window and 178–200 cm for a floor-length one. Measure from the hook on the rail, not from the top of the glass.
What does furnishing cost?
| Item | New | Secondhand or budget |
|---|---|---|
| Fridge (compact) | ¥30,000–50,000 | ¥10,000–20,000 |
| Washing machine | ¥35,000–60,000 | ¥12,000–25,000 |
| Microwave | ¥10,000–20,000 | ¥3,000–8,000 |
| Bed and mattress | ¥30,000–70,000 | ¥10,000–25,000 (or a futon set) |
| Table and chair | ¥15,000–35,000 | ¥5,000–15,000 |
| Ceiling light | ¥4,000–12,000 | ¥2,000–5,000 |
| Curtains (one room) | ¥5,000–15,000 | ¥3,000–6,000 |
| Gas hob or portable stove | ¥8,000–25,000 | ¥3,000–8,000 |
| Kitchenware and daily goods | ¥15,000–25,000 | ¥8,000–15,000 |
| Total | ¥152,000–312,000 | ¥56,000–127,000 |
Furnishing a first apartment therefore runs somewhere between ¥60,000 and ¥300,000 — a range wide enough that it belongs in your budget from the start, alongside move-in costs.
Where should you buy?
- Nitori and IKEA — the default for furniture and homeware. Nitori has more small-apartment sizing; IKEA has better delivery bundles
- Home centres — lights, curtains, storage, cleaning supplies, all under one roof
- Recycle shops — secondhand chains sell tested appliances, often with a short warranty and delivery
- Flea-market apps — cheapest for furniture, but you usually collect it yourself
- Sayonara sales — departing foreign residents selling whole apartments' worth of goods, common in expat community groups around March and August
- Rental furniture services — monthly subscription sets, sensible for stays under a year or two
What will it cost to get rid of it all?
Everything you buy has to leave the apartment when you do. Furniture goes out as oversized waste (booked in advance, ¥300–2,500 per item), while fridges, washing machines and TVs fall under a separate recycling scheme with its own fee.
If you expect to be in Japan for a year or two, this changes the maths: cheap secondhand or rented items you can pass on easily may cost less overall than new ones you'll pay to dispose of. Selling on before you leave is common and straightforward — see moving out of a Japanese apartment.
Frequently asked questions
What is not included in a Japanese rental apartment?
Curtains, ceiling light fixtures and, in many 1R and 1K units, the gas hob. Fridges, washing machines and microwaves are not included unless the listing says the apartment is furnished.
What does furnishing a Japanese apartment cost?
Roughly 60,000 to 130,000 yen buying second-hand and budget items, or 150,000 to 310,000 yen buying everything new.
Why does the gas type matter when buying a cooker?
Appliances are manufactured for either city gas or LPG/propane and are not interchangeable. Running a city-gas hob on propane is genuinely dangerous, so check the listing and your contract before buying.
What should you measure before buying appliances?
The washing machine pan, which is commonly around 64cm square but smaller in older buildings, and the narrowest doorway or corner between the entrance and the kitchen.
Summary
- Ceiling lights, curtains and often the hob are the tenant's responsibility
- Check whether the building uses city gas or propane before buying any gas appliance
- Measure the washing machine pan and the route to the kitchen before ordering
- Budget ¥60,000–300,000 depending on new versus secondhand
- Factor in disposal costs if your stay will be short
Save on the apartment, spend it on the furniture
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