Whether you are coming, going or in between moves, there might be a time when you need to store furniture, belongings or luggage in Tokyo and across Japan. Here are the easiest and most popular options for foreign residents and international visitors.

How to find long-term storage facilities

Most places are obviously geared towards locals and the websites are only in Japanese. The best search term is usually トランクルーム, meaning simply 'trunk room'. If you don’t want to deal with arranging storage in Japanese, ask a moving company that services expats, they often offer storage services too. For example, Tokyo Helping Hands offers to store your belongings for several months.  Fees include both pick-up and delivery of your belongings.

English-speaking storage services

Trunk Room Tokyo

Managed by a Tokyo expat, Trunk Room Tokyo offers several locations across central Tokyo. These purpose-built storage units are self-service, meaning you can access them 24 hours a day, whenever you need and without the assistance of staff. Parking is available. They offer full online service, but you can also speak with on-site staff during office hours should you require more assistance. Check their website for rates and conditions. Basic information is available on their English website, for tailored service in English, drop them an email.

Quraz

Quraz is one of the biggest storage space providers in Tokyo. They offer 24-hour access, 365 days a year and have on-site staff during regular office hours. Locations are all over Tokyo and Japan, and contracts start from just one month. Rates are as low as JPY 4,800 for a 0.5 sq m space. One caveat: You must provide a Japanese driver's license, health insurance or resident card to use their service. You can also send a message via their English-language contact form.

Local trunk room chain (Japanese only)

Hello Storage

One of the biggest players, Hello Storage offers storage facilities all across Japan at low rates. All are self-service, climate-controlled, 24/7 and have parking facilities. The price range is quite similar to Quraz, but their service and website are Japanese only.

Nico Nico Trunk

This service, which literally translates to ‘smiling trunk room’, offers some of the lowest rates on the market, starting at under JPY 2,000 JPY for a 0.5 sq m storage space, depending on the location. Nico Nico Trunk’s website (Japanese only) is basic, but facility type and branches are easily searchable. They have locations in most of Tokyo’s 23 wards.

By Mareike Dornhege

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