Complete Guide to Using Trunk Rooms and Rental Storage with Your Rental Apartment
Learn how to choose the right trunk room to tackle storage shortage even in small rentals, understand pricing, contract considerations, and move-out procedures—discover the smart way to combine rental living with external storage solutions.
When searching for a rental property, many people struggle with limited storage space. Studio and one-room apartments (1K) have restricted storage, and it's particularly challenging to find places for hobby equipment, seasonal items, and infrequently used belongings. This is where trunk rooms and delivery-based rental storage services have gained attention in recent years. By utilizing external storage starting from a few thousand yen per month, you can keep your room tidy while enjoying a comfortable rental lifestyle.
A trunk room is a self-storage service where you pay a monthly fee to store your belongings. There are broadly three types:
Outdoor containers are characterized by 24-hour access whenever you need it. Monthly costs range around ¥1,500–¥8,000 and are primarily available in suburban areas. They're ideal for storing sports equipment, bicycles, and moving items temporarily.
Indoor trunk rooms are located in climate-controlled buildings with proper temperature and humidity management, making them suitable for delicate items. Monthly costs typically range from ¥3,000–¥20,000, and you can safely store instruments, clothing, and books.
Delivery-based storage is a service where staff pick up items from your home and handle delivery. You can start from around ¥300–¥500 per box per month, with services like Summary Pocket and minikura being popular examples. It's ideal for items you don't frequently access and is easy to use even in a small one-room apartment.
Trunk Room Pricing and Total Cost Calculation with Your Rental
You might think trunk rooms mean extra expenses on top of rent, but a different perspective reveals potential savings.
For example, instead of choosing a one-bedroom apartment (1LDK) with abundant storage at ¥80,000/month, combining a one-room apartment (1K) with limited storage at ¥55,000/month plus an indoor trunk room at ¥5,000/month comes to ¥60,000 total. That's a ¥20,000 monthly savings, which equals ¥240,000 annually.
Here's a pricing overview:
•Delivery-based storage: ¥300–¥2,000/month (varies by number of boxes)
Initial costs may include a deposit (typically 2–3 months' worth) and administrative fees. Calculate the total cost before signing a contract.
Key Points When Choosing a Rental Property with Trunk Room Usage in Mind
If you plan to use trunk rooms alongside your rental, consider these points for a smarter choice.
Check if facilities are within walking distance. Having a trunk room within a 5–10 minute walk from your home makes daily use much more convenient. An effective reverse strategy is to check trunk rooms in the area using SUUMO and Google Maps first, then search for properties on SUUMO.
Verify access hours. Outdoor containers are usually available 24 hours, but indoor-type facilities may be restricted to hours like 9 a.m.–10 p.m. depending on the facility. If you might need to access items early morning or late evening, confirm this in advance.
Create a seasonal storage rotation schedule. Organize your items by planning to swap seasonal goods during spring and autumn wardrobe changes, keeping your room clutter-free.
Important Details to Confirm Before Signing a Contract
Before committing to a trunk room, always verify these points:
Prohibited items vary by facility. Food, hazardous materials, and living creatures are banned at nearly all facilities, but some restrict artwork and batteries.
Security measures are also critical to check. Ask about the number of surveillance cameras, entry/exit logging procedures, and whether staff are always on-site. Confirm whether you can use your own lock as well.
Humidity and temperature control is especially important when storing precision equipment, instruments, or clothing. Even indoor-type facilities vary in air conditioning management.
Mid-contract termination rules should be clearly understood. Most facilities allow monthly cancellation, but some require a minimum contract period (3 months–1 year). Plan your termination timing around your rental move-out date.
Smooth Item Transfer When Moving Out of Your Rental
When moving out of your rental, create a moving plan that includes items stored in your trunk room.
Have a moving company handle the trunk room as well. This requires the least effort. While additional charges apply, you can inform the moving company of the trunk room address and they'll manage it. Let the facility staff know in advance that a moving company will be visiting for a smooth process.
Use moving options provided by delivery-based storage services. Services like minikura and Summary Pocket offer delivery options to a new address. Once your new home is confirmed, you can have all items shipped there at once.
Don't forget to complete the cancellation procedure before moving and confirm the deposit refund schedule.
Summary: How to Effectively Combine Your Rental and External Storage
Trunk rooms are an effective way to supplement storage in properties with limited space, but remember they add monthly costs to your rent. It's crucial to evaluate the combined cost of rent and external storage, convenience of access, and types of items you can store.
Delivery-based storage is an ideal entry point to start easily. Begin by storing 1–2 boxes of off-season clothing and expand your usage gradually as it fits your lifestyle. This approach helps you optimize storage without pressure. If you're struggling with storage in your rental apartment, consider trunk rooms as a reliable solution.
