Working Holiday in Osaka: How to Sort Out Furniture & Appliances

The short version first: if you're staying in Osaka for six months to a year, renting usually works out cheaper. Set A (fridge + washer + microwave) is ¥45,100 total for one year, including delivery, installation, and free end-of-term collection. Buying new runs roughly ¥60,000–100,000 even by conservative estimates — plus recycling fees when you leave Japan. Here's the full breakdown.

What's usually missing from working-holiday housing?

Short answer: it depends on your housing. Rooms arranged through management companies and share houses usually come with the basics — bed, fridge, washing machine — so you can move in with just a suitcase. But a standard Japanese rental apartment (the norm here) is almost completely bare: no fridge, no washer, no microwave, often not even ceiling lights or curtains.

In other words, on day one all you get is four walls and a floor. Most working holidays run six months to a year, and a fridge and washing machine are hard to live without — the only real question is whether to buy them or rent them.

A quick tip for apartment viewings: check whether the washing machine slot is indoors or on the balcony, how wide that space is, whether there's a spot for a fridge, and whether the lights are included. Rent or buy, these details decide what sizes you can fit — measure first and save yourself the headache.

How much does buying everything new cost?

Buying new, a small fridge, a washing machine, and a microwave together run roughly ¥60,000–100,000 as a conservative estimate, depending on brand and model. Delivery usually costs extra, and some retailers charge separately for washing machine installation.

Secondhand is much cheaper per item, but you're usually on your own for hauling and installing large appliances — without a car, or in a walk-up building, just getting a washer up the stairs is a project. And used appliances rarely come with any warranty.

Don't forget the small stuff either: rice cooker, kettle, vacuum, lights, curtains. Together these odds and ends usually add well over ¥10,000 — leave room for them in your budget.

How painful is getting rid of appliances when you leave Japan?

This is the cost most people forget to budget for. Under Japan's Home Appliance Recycling Law, fridges and washing machines are designated recycling appliances — you can't put them out with regular trash. Disposal means paying a recycling fee plus a collection fee, typically a few thousand yen each.

Beds, desks, and other large furniture count as oversized garbage: in most municipalities you book a pickup in advance and buy a disposal ticket, and the pickup date may not fit your schedule. The last weeks of a working holiday are already packed with quitting your job, moving out, and paperwork — adding a room full of appliances to that timeline gets stressful fast. Selling is an option, but secondhand prices are low and coordinating with buyers takes time you may not have.

And no, you usually can't just leave it all behind. Move out with appliances still in the room and the landlord or management company will typically bill you for disposal — often at a higher rate than handling it yourself. Best to rule this option out from the start.

What does renting cost? KUMAGO's actual prices

KUMAGO is a local Osaka furniture and appliance rental service with fully public pricing. Take the most popular option, Set A (90–130L fridge + 4.2–6kg washer + microwave):

• 1 month — ¥28,400
• 6 months — ¥38,490
• 1 year — ¥45,100
• 2 years — ¥63,250

Want a bed too? Set B (A + single bed) is ¥55,080 for one year, and Set C (A + semi-double bed) is ¥72,320. For single items and other terms, see the full price table.

All prices are totals for the full term, paid once upfront — no monthly bills after that. Within Osaka City, delivery, installation, and end-of-term collection are all free. And if you head home earlier than planned, returning everything early costs nothing extra.

Put that next to the earlier numbers and the picture is clear: buying new costs roughly ¥60,000–100,000 even conservatively, while a year's rental at ¥45,100 lands around half that — with delivery, installation, and end-of-stay collection all baked in. The biggest difference: when you leave Japan, there's no disposal bill waiting for you.

Renting vs. buying: which wins?

For a stay of around a year, renting usually comes out cheaper in total — and it erases the three big headaches of hauling, breakdowns, and disposal. If you're staying two years or more and don't mind handling disposal yourself, buying is worth considering.

How do I rent? Four steps

1. Choose a plan — pick your set and term via LINE or the online order page.
2. Book a delivery date — timed to fit your move-in day.
3. Free delivery & installation — free within Osaka City, carried in and set up ready to use.
4. Free collection at the end — pick a date and we haul everything away.

Not in Japan yet? No problem — you can reserve and pay from overseas, then schedule delivery later, so your fridge is running the day you land. Payment is by credit card only.

What if I'm not living in Osaka City? (Service area)

Yes. Delivery is free within Osaka City; other cities in Osaka Prefecture carry a one-time delivery fee of ¥6,600–¥13,800. We also deliver across Kansai:

• Nara ¥15,800–18,000 — see the Nara page
• Kyoto ¥18,000–25,000 — see the Kyoto page
• Kobe & the Hanshin corridor ¥18,000 — see the Kobe page

FAQ

Do I have to rent for a full year?

No — terms start from just one month, though the one-year plan is the best value overall. Want to stay longer? You can extend month by month, prorated.

Can I communicate in Chinese?

Yes. We handle Chinese, Japanese, and English — just message us on LINE in whichever language you prefer.

Can I see the items first?

Yes — our showroom is open by appointment at 9-45 Seimeidori, Abeno-ku, Osaka. Book a time and come take a look.

What if an appliance breaks?

During an annual rental, breakdowns under normal use are repaired or replaced for free — no extra charge.