Furnishing Your Tokyo Apartment Without a Car: Costco Japan, Nitori & Delivery Hacks
By Ibuki — Affarah Friendly Homes · 2026-08-20
Moving into a traditional long-term rental apartment in Tokyo is an exciting fresh start. However, unlike monthly furnished rentals, standard Japanese apartments are completely unfurnished—meaning no bed, no refrigerator, no washing machine, and no ceiling lights!
If you don't own a car (like 80%+ of central Tokyo expats), the prospect of buying large appliances and heavy furniture might sound daunting.
Fortunately, Japan possesses one of the world's most sophisticated home freight delivery networks (Takkyūbin). In this guide, we reveal how to furnish your home seamlessly using Costco Japan, Nitori, and IKEA without ever needing a car.
1. Shopping at Costco Japan Without a Car
You can use your home country or Japanese Costco membership card at all warehouse locations in Japan (such as Shin-Misato, Kawasaki, or Makuhari).
How In-Store Delivery Works at Costco Japan:
- Browse & Select Big-Ticket Items: Pick out oversized electronics, LG/Samsung 4K TVs, mattresses, or office chairs in the warehouse.
- Request Home Freight Delivery at Counter: Bring item tag slips to the customer service/shipping desk near checkout.
- Flat-Rate Delivery: Costco handles home delivery for a small fee (typically ¥2,000–¥4,000 depending on item volume), delivering items directly to your apartment within 2 to 4 business days.
| Retailer / Store | Major Product Categories | Freight Delivery Fee | Delivery Scheduling Flexibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitori (ニトリ) | Complete bed sets, sofas, kitchenware | Free over threshold / Flat ¥2,000 | Select exact delivery date & 2-hour window |
| IKEA Japan | Flat-pack desks, wardrobes, cookware | ¥3,000 – ¥5,500 flat freight | Scheduled date delivery |
| Costco Japan | TVs, mattresses, bulk appliances | Weight/volume based freight | 2–4 business day home delivery |
| Bic Camera / Yodobashi | Washing machines, fridges, microwave | Free delivery & installation | Next-day or chosen move-in date |
2. Appliance Package Bundles (Kaden Setto) for Expats
If you want to equip your kitchen and laundry room in a single step, major electronics retailers (Bic Camera, Yodobashi Camera, and Yamada Denki) offer Appliance Package Bundles (Kaden Setto).
- What's Included: Refrigerator (120L–150L), Washing Machine (5kg–7kg), and Microwave Oven.
- Cost: Packages range from ¥55,000 to ¥85,000 ($360–$550 USD).
- Free Installation: Retail technicians deliver the appliances to your apartment, connect the washing machine water intake hose, level the fridge, and haul away packaging materials free of charge!
3. Coordinating Move-In Key Handover with Delivery
To ensure a stress-free move-in day:
- Key Handover Alignment: Schedule appliance delivery for the afternoon of your official lease start date (after you collect your physical keys from your realtor).
- Curtain & Light Fixture Priority: Japanese rental apartments do not include ceiling lights or window curtains. Purchase clip-in LED ceiling lights (Seiringu-Raito) and curtains at Nitori on Day 1.
4. Seamless Moving Support with Affarah
At Affarah Friendly Homes, our bilingual agents coordinate key collection times with your delivery schedules to guarantee a smooth, comfortable move-in experience.
Related Guides & Tools
- 📖 Setting Up Utilities & Internet in Japan: Coordinate utility turn-on dates with appliance delivery.