Study Abroad in Japan (Part 5) Furniture Shop Recommendations

Welcome to Part 5 of our <Study Abroad in Japan> series!

Now, the real Japanese living experience begins! When you first move into a house in Japan, you’ll find a completely empty room. There’s so much to prepare, not just furniture but also home electronics and household items.

In my home country, rented rooms usually come with furniture, which was quite shocking. I never imagined there wouldn’t even be lighting, so for the first five days after moving in, I lived using only a flashlight.

Today, I’ll introduce multiple ways you can furnish your dream room, including rental shops, furniture retail shops, e-commerce websites, 100-yen shops, and second-hand shops!

Written by Sakura Mobile Blog Team

Hello readers! Sakura Mobile is a SIM WiFi service provider for international residents and tourists in Japan.

Our global editorial team living in Japan will introduce the country’s charms based on what we have experienced and felt.

Study Abroad in Japan (Part 5): Furniture Shop Recommendation

1. What To Consider Before Buying Furniture

Period of Stay

• Exchange Students (~1 year): Using rental shops might be handy, especially for home appliances. You can also make a reasonable purchase with cost-effective products.
• Regular Student (More than 1 year): Considering the long-term rental fee, buying furniture, either new or used, would be better than renting. Also, the cheapest might not be the answer. Think of the right balance between price and quality.

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2. Rental Sites

Renting furniture and appliances is particularly recommended for short-term international students studying for less than a year. It can be inconvenient to purchase everything only to dispose of or sell it a few months later. Here are three of Japan’s most well-known rental sites: Kasite Dotcom, RakuRaku Life, and Alulu.

Scroll right for more info for smartphones

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3. Furniture Shops

Here, I’ll introduce you to where you can buy new furniture! These large platforms sell not only furniture but also household items and/or house electronics.

(1) Top 5 Brands

Here are five popular and common brands in Japan known for their wide range of products and affordable prices. You should be able to find most of your furniture needs at these stores. If you plan to stay long and want a tasteful design, check out our next section: Higher Quality Furniture Shops!

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(2) Higher Quality Furniture Shop

LOWYA

LOWYA is a Japanese interior brand known for its clean and modern design. Although it has a somewhat higher price range compared to the brands introduced earlier, bedding and home accessories are surprisingly affordable. Even items in the 1,000-yen range come with free shipping, making it possible to find items even cheaper than at IKEA if you want to shop online!

FrancFranc

FrancFranc is a European-style interior shop that offers products with colorful and appealing designs. It’s also famous for its charming kitchenware. With almost 140 stores nationwide in Japan, the well-curated physical stores are enjoyable to browse.

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(3) E-Commerce Websites

If you don’t need to visit physical stores or want to explore a wider range of options, online shopping sites are the most convenient. Here are four popular e-commerce sites frequently used in Japan.

Amazon

Amazon is also widely used in Japan. If you plan on using Amazon, I highly recommend signing up for Amazon Prime (Membership fee of 600¥/month) when you first settle in.

1. Expedited shipping: Amazon offers free shipping and scheduled shipping on products shipped by Amazon. Sometimes, when settling in, you need something urgently or want free shipping.
2. Free entertainment: Amazon Prime members can enjoy easy shopping and access to all of Amazon’s entertainment platforms, such as Prime Video, Music, Reading, and Photos.

Rakuten Ichiba

Rakuten Ichiba is one of Japan’s largest online shopping malls, operated by Rakuten, Inc., a major e-commerce and internet company. It is often considered as Japan’s Amazon. Not only can you find furniture, but the site is also helpful for daily necessities.

Kakaku Dotcom & Yahoo Shopping

価格.com (Kakaku.com) and Yahoo Shopping are a prominent online price comparison and review platforms in Japan. You can compare the price of a certain product from multiple online shopping malls and stores.

4. 100, 300 Yen Shops

Everyone loves a bargain! Like dollar shops, there are several 100 yen shops and 300 yen shops in Japan. They are especially useful for miscellaneous goods such as clothes hangers, storage boxes, and cleaning products.

	Characteristic
	•Wide range of products: Most daily necessities, including food products •Items without a price tag are all 100 yen. Most unlabeled items are within 300 yen. •Seasonal goods and character collaboration goods
	•Trendier image •Wide variety of interior decor items, gardening supplies, craft-related products, and DIY materials. •A smaller number of stores that sell food items compared to other 100-yen shops.
	•More of a generalist image compared to Daiso or Seria. •Sometimes feature different character goods compared to Daiso
	•Range from 300 yen to 1000 yen. •A more sophisticated image than 100-yen shops, and you can find higher-quality home appliances!

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5. Secondhand Shops

Secondhand shopping is a great option to find reasonable items. Here are three ways to shop for secondhand items!

HARD OFF CORPORATION is a company that sells secondhand goods through direct management and franchise systems across Japan. Notably, HARD OFF encompasses seven major secondhand brands: Book-Off, Hard-Off, Hobby Off, Mode Off, Liquor Off, Off House, and Garage Off.

Treasure Factory is a comprehensive second-hand store. Some locations specialize in specific categories like sports equipment or fashion items. Their official website allows users to search by area or category to find nearby stores and explore affordable treasures.

Local Ward Recycle Centers: In Japan, recycle centers managed by local wards offer used furniture and other items at low prices. Centers in areas with many foreigners often have newer items available. Search your nearby recycle shops.

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6. Don’t Forget About Internet Connection!

Having a phone number and internet connection is essential when getting furniture. Shopping online at home at your leisure is much more relaxing and enjoyable than using the internet in a loud and crowded cafe. (You don’t want to rush and order the wrong item or furniture!)

In addition, rental companies and e-commerce websites may require a Japanese phone number when arranging deliveries, delivery confirmation calls, delays, etc. Make sure you don’t miss your package or furniture! If you don’t have a connection yet and aren’t confident in your Japanese, check out the following products from Sakura Mobile.

Phone Plan: Voice+Data SIM

Regardless of how long you study in Japan, Sakura Mobile is a popular option among international students. With 24-hour support available in English, you are sure to get help when you need it. Also, with different payment methods available, including using overseas credit cards not being a problem, you will not have to worry about complicated payment processes. Check the link below for more information!

LINK: Sakura Mobile Voice + Data SIM/eSIM

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