If the wait for free furniture is dragging on, or maybe you’re just looking for the last few items or extra creature comforts that your Freecycle or Sayonara sale searches didn’t turn up, there is still the Japanese “recycle shop” where you can keep an eye on your budget, and find some attractive and unique pieces of furniture.
A little cultural insight:
Although Japan has a long history of buying and selling used things – especially clothes (kimono) and books come to mind – the culture of looking after things really well means most Japanese consumers tend to turn their nose up at used items that show any significant wear and tear – for this reason, many bargains are out there waiting for you!
Recently, there are even quite large chain stores selling used furniture, and the slightly upmarket ones seem to source some quite cool, designer style stuff that looks like it came from bankrupted boutique cafés, salons, and the homes of recently expired wealthy.
You will find the odd one or two places in the centre of town – and the map below shows one I know of Yoyogi, but more numerous are the lucrative outer streets from stations between 10 and 30 minutes outside the Yamanote line.
Do Buy
Sofas, chairs, tables – There is almost always an absolute bargain option in this category.
Shelving, odds & ends, unusual and designer objects
White goods – Although they will cost some money ( From ¥11,000 for a washing machine, ¥6000 for a 60cm³ fridge without freezer, ¥9000 for a small 1-2 person fridge with freezer) This is about half the price at an electrical store, and sometimes you’ll find much
cheaper options if the machine is a little old looking – only for those who have exhausted Freecycle and Sayonara Sale options first.
Rice cookers! Best buy
Lampshades for your ceiling
Don’t Buy
Lamps standing or desk – Why are these so expensive compared to everything else?? No great solution for this problem – can only suggest a trek out to ikea on this front.
Dishes & Cutlery – cheaper and less yuk factor at the 100yen store.
Anyone want to help me populate this map? Hit me up in the comments if you want to collaborate on this Recycle / Second-hand shop map of Tokyo
View Recycle Shops Tokyo in a larger map
