Rent or buy appliances in Osaka? About ¥30,000 apart over one year
Buying looks cheaper only because disposal has not been counted yet. Using Osaka City as the example, here is the full buy-use-dispose total next to KUMAGO's one-year Set A.
Total cost over one year (Osaka City)
We compare the same three items as KUMAGO's Set A (¥45,100 for one year): fridge, washing machine, microwave. All figures include tax; anything marked “approx.” fluctuates.
| Item | Detail | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Fridge (new) | Iris Ohyama IRSD-12B, 118L | ¥29,800 |
| Washing machine (new) | Iris Ohyama IAW-T504, 5kg | ¥26,800 |
| Microwave (new) | Basic single-function model, typical price | approx. ¥6,000 |
| Recycling fee (fridge) | 170L or under, statutory fee | ¥3,740 |
| Recycling fee (washer) | Statutory fee | ¥2,530 |
| Collection & transport (2 items) | Paid to a licensed hauler, approx. ¥3,000 each | approx. ¥6,000 |
| Bulky-waste fee (microwave) | Osaka City disposal ticket | ¥400 |
| Buying — total | Purchase approx. ¥62,600 + disposal approx. ¥12,670 | approx. ¥75,000 |
| KUMAGO Set A, 1 year | Delivery, setup and end-of-term collection included within Osaka City | ¥45,100 |
| Difference | That is the gap over one year | approx. ¥30,000 |
Bulky-waste fees differ in Kyoto, Kobe, and Nara. Both bulky-waste collection and appliance recycling are public schemes — the authoritative figures are on each city's official site and the RKC fee table.
The bigger cost is your last three weeks in Japan
Disposal is not something you can simply pay away. You book it yourself, buy the ticket, and carry everything out before the morning of the assigned day — all while packing to leave.
Doing it yourself: the three weeks before you fly
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1
Book the bulky-waste collection
Apply online or by phone. In busy seasons the collection date lands well into the future — you do not get to pick.
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2
Buy the ticket at a convenience store and carry it out yourself
Osaka City sells tickets in ¥200 / ¥400 / ¥700 / ¥1,000 denominations. Stick one on each item and get it to the collection point by 8:30 a.m. on the day.
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3
Fridges and washers cannot go out as bulky waste
They fall under the Home Appliance Recycling Act, so the city will not take them. You pay the recycling fee at a post office, then either haul them to a designated drop-off point yourself or pay a licensed hauler.
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4
Selling second-hand means photos, listings, and meetups
Photograph it, list it, haggle, agree on a place and time — and sometimes get stood up on the day.
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5
You are still hauling things in your final week
Whatever missed its collection date or got rejected simply rolls over into your last week.
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6
And your farewell trip disappears
The last places you wanted to see, the people you wanted to meet — eaten by disposal appointments.
With KUMAGO
Just tell us on LINE and we come and collect. End-of-term collection is free — no bulky-waste booking, no recycling-ticket transfer, no hauling.
Sources
- 大阪市「粗大ごみ処理手数料一覧表」 (microwave ¥400)
- 大阪市「粗大ごみの収集について」 (how to apply, tickets, 8:30 a.m. deadline)
- 大阪市「家電リサイクル法対象品目の出し方」 (fridge ≤170L ¥3,740 / washer ¥2,530; hauling paid separately to a licensed operator)
- 家電リサイクル券センター（RKC）「リサイクル料金 主要メーカー一覧」
- 価格.com｜アイリスオーヤマ IRSD-12B (new 118L fridge price)
- 価格.com｜アイリスオーヤマ IAW-T504-W (new 5kg washer price)
Retail prices move with the season and the store. Bulky-waste fees and appliance recycling fees are set by public schemes — check the official pages above for current figures. Per-item fees for Kyoto City and Nara City are not listed on this page.
Coming to Osaka on a working holiday? Our working holiday guide covers the full move-in checklist.
A year with nothing to throw away.
Set A is ¥45,100 for the whole year. Delivery, setup, and end-of-term collection are free within Osaka City.