Moving apartments in Tokyo is expensive. Buying all new furniture and appliances can easily run ¥100,000–¥200,000. And when you move out, Japan’s large-waste (粗大ゴミ) disposal fees hit you for another ¥5,000–¥10,000. After 18 years in Tokyo and multiple apartment moves, I can tell you the solution is simple: Mercari Japan on both ends of the move. Buy used furniture and appliances when you move in, sell everything when you move out. This guide is the complete Tokyo moving playbook.
What to buy on Mercari Japan when moving into a Tokyo apartment
- Refrigerator (冷蔵庫): ¥15,000–30,000 for a 2–4 person fridge on Mercari vs ¥50,000–80,000 new. Biggest single saving. Note: large appliances require private delivery arrangements — confirm with the seller before buying.
- Washing machine (洗濯機): ¥10,000–20,000 on Mercari vs ¥30,000+ new. A 5kg machine is sufficient for one person. Confirm delivery.
- Microwave (電子レンジ): ¥5,000–10,000 on Mercari vs ¥15,000 new. Smaller saving but still worth it.
- TV: ¥5,000–15,000 for 32–40 inch on Mercari vs ¥30,000–50,000 new. If you’re just watching Netflix, you don’t need a new one.
- Desk, chair, shelving, clothing rack: ¥0–3,000 on Mercari for items that would cost ¥10,000–30,000 new. Many moving sellers price these to clear fast.
- Curtains (カーテン): Japanese apartments have standard window sizes. Mercari has curtains from ¥1,000 used vs ¥3,000+ new. IKEA is also cheap for curtains if you prefer new.
What to buy NEW when moving into a Tokyo apartment
- Mattress: Hygiene reasons. IKEA or Nitori single mattresses start from ¥2,000–8,000.
- Pillow and bedding: Same hygiene logic. Not worth buying used.
- Cleaning supplies: Cheap new, no reason to buy used.
- Kitchen items (pots, dishes): Unless it’s a full set, buy new at DAISO or Seria — 100-yen quality is fine for basics.
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GUJURR
Enter code GUJURR during registration. ¥500 credited automatically to your first qualifying purchase. Perfect for buying moving furniture.
📲 Download Mercari Japan →Selling on Mercari Japan before you move out
The biggest mistake Tokyo expats make: waiting until the week before moving day to start selling. Start 6–8 weeks before your move date for large appliances, 3–4 weeks for everything else. Japan’s moving seasons (March–April and September–October) create high buyer demand — if you time this right, your furniture and appliances will sell within days.
- Price from sold items, not active listings: Search your item on Mercari, filter by 売れた商品 (sold items). That’s the actual market price — active listings may be overpriced and sitting unsold.
- Use anonymous shipping for small items: ゆうパケットポストmini (¥160), ネコポス (¥210), and ゆうパケット (¥230) let you ship from convenience stores with full address privacy.
- Large appliances — arrange private delivery: Mercari’s standard logistics don’t cover large items. List them as 直取り (face-to-face pickup) or negotiate private courier with the buyer.
- Start ¥500–1,000 above your floor price: You have time. Japanese buyers often counter-offer (値下げ交渉). Setting a slightly higher starting price gives you negotiation room without underselling.
Tokyo apartment moving: Mercari savings calculation
💰 Tokyo apartment move cost comparison (one person)
| Refrigerator (Mercari used) | ¥20,000 |
| Washing machine (Mercari used) | ¥15,000 |
| TV (Mercari used) | ¥8,000 |
| Desk + chair (Mercari used) | ¥3,000 |
| Mattress (Nitori new) | ¥5,000 |
| Mercari-assisted total | ¥51,000 |
| All new estimate | ~¥120,000 |
| Saved | ~¥69,000 |
Avoid large-waste disposal fees by selling on Mercari
Japan’s 粗大ゴミ (large waste) disposal system requires advance booking with your local ward office and charges per item: refrigerator ¥2,000–3,500, washing machine ¥2,000–3,500, TV ¥2,000–2,700. That’s ¥6,000–10,000 to throw away appliances that could sell for ¥25,000–40,000 on Mercari. Start listing 6–8 weeks before your move and you avoid the disposal fees entirely while pocketing the difference.
Tokyo moving + Mercari: quick reference
- Buy used on Mercari: fridge, washing machine, TV, desk, shelves, curtains
- Buy new: mattress, pillow, bedding, cleaning supplies
- Start selling large appliances: 6–8 weeks before move date
- Start selling small items: 3–4 weeks before move date
- Large waste disposal (alternative to selling): book with ward office 2–3 weeks in advance
- Mercari referral code: GUJURR → ¥500 off → Download Mercari
- Seller fees: 10% flat, ¥200 withdrawal (Merpay free), 180-day expiry
- Full Mercari guide: Mercari Japan Expat Guide 2026
- Fee breakdown: Mercari Japan Seller Fees 2026
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