Setting up your new home or apartment in Tokyo definitely requires quite a bit of legwork, but once you’ve signed the lease, you can rest a little easier as the hard part is done. Compared to the first steps securing a house, furnishing your brand new home is the fun part thanks to the following stores. 

Wood You Like

By using only five types of premium wood — cherry, maple, walnut, oak, and Japanese ash — the Wood You Like Company is the ideal shop for those who love timeless, elegantly simple, rustic design and furniture that’s guaranteed to last a lifetime and beyond. In terms of their selection, customers can buy directly off the shelf; however, if you’re hunting for something a little more customised, they can make pieces to your specifications too. It’s a bit pricier than some of the bigger, mainstream stores but if you’re planning to make your Japanese house and home for the long haul, then it’s well worth considering. 

Web: https://woodyoulike.co.jp/ 
Address: 5-48-48-1 Jingumae, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0001

Nitori

Nitori is the Japanese IKEA for lack of a better term(note, though, that Japan does have IKEA too of course. With outposts across the country, this is a one-stop shop for all your homeware needs. From scented candles to television units, bedding, and mattresses, you can find it all here and typically at a very budget-friendly price point. If you’re moving into a Japanese apartment for the first time, and don’t know where to find locally relevant furniture (think low sofas and futon mattresses) Nitori is a great place to start. They also offer delivery and online ordering. The latter is in Japanese only though, so if you can, it’s best to check out the stock in store before committing to the more significant purchases. 

Web: https://www.nitori-net.jp/store/ja/ec/
Locations: Shibuya, Meguro, Shinjuku, Shinagawa, Setagaya, Toshima, Ueno, Kichijoji, Oita, Kita, Nerima, Koto, Taito

Sostrene Grene

It has to be a universally acknowledged fact that nobody does sleek, stylish furniture like the Scandinavians, and if you’re after something minimalistic, but playful, Sostrene Grene is the place to go. This Danish chain has four stores in Tokyo, so no matter where in the city you’re located you’ll be able to pop in and check out what’s on offer. What makes Sostrene Grene stand out it is that all of their pieces are very child-friendly but still don’t look at all childish. They have a few furniture pieces, but what Sostrene Grene does best is their homeware selection, like bedding, crockery, and storage accessories. 

Web: https://sostrenegrene.com/ 
Locations: Shibuya, Kichijoji, Kokubunji

Rigna

Rigna is a store that specialises in sophisticated higher-end furniture and interiors that still retain a sense of laid-back elegance. Their collections are sleek and minimalistic, but meticulously crafted. Rigna is where European influence and careful Japanese design ideologies intersect. Rather than producing goods under the Rigna name, the store is more old school in the way it operates, stocking a broad selection of products from around 100 hand-selected brands. Great for those vintage-style finds. Check out their showroom in Shinkawa, just outside of Nihombashi to see what they have to offer.

Web: https://www.rigna.com/
Address:1-9-3 Ligna Terrace Tokyo, Shinkawa, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0033

D & Department

Launched by designer Kenmei Nagaoka, D & Department is the one store for all your hard-to-find and one of a kind Japanese designer pieces. If you’re looking for that statement piece or are wanting to learn a little more about the nation’s most exciting artisans D & Department is an excellent place to start. Located in the stylish suburbs of Setagaya, this flagship store is part of a bigger project founded to showcase some of the best design objects and concepts in Japan. The store sells everything from sofas to crockery, as well as used and vintage furniture. It may be a little pricier than some of the other stores, but with D & Department, you get what you pay for. 

Web: https://www.d-department.com/
Address: 8-3-2 Okusawa, Setagaya City, Tokyo 158-0083

Muji

Taking the world by storm, in totally understated fashion, Muji is Japan’s ‘label-less’ label. It’s a name that’s now synonymous with high-quality, price-friendly, adorable homewares and clothing where simplicity and functional design trumps flashiness every time. There are plenty of Muji outlets and smaller outposts scattered throughout the city, including the recently opened Muji Hotel in the upscale neighbourhood of Ginza. If you’re looking for something that’s a little step up from Nitori — price, and quality-wise — but isn’t quite as high-end as D & Department, then Muji is your new favourite store. 

Web: https://www.muji.com/
Locations: Shimokitzawa, Shibuya, Sasazuka, Setagaya, Ebisu, Shinjuku, Shinagawa, Nakano, 

Tokyo Lease Corporation 

Perfect for those unsure of the length of their stay in Japan, or those wanting to do away with the hassle of selling unwanted furniture down the line, Tokyo Lease Corporation is one of the city's most convenient and tasteful furniture rental stores. Very English and foreigner-friendly, the store rents out everything you'll need to fully furnish your home or apartment at very competitive prices. The store was established half a century ago, making it the first of its kind in Tokyo, so you know you're in the care of capable and experienced folk. 

Web: https://www.furniture-rental-tokyo.com/ 
Address: 1 Chome-9-7 Azabudai, Minato City, Tokyo 106-0041

By Lucy Dayman 

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