Bed shopping habits in Japan

One of the realities of life in Japan as an expat is how much everyday purchases like beds are shaped by local housing conditions and finances. A recent survey by Interior Office One Co., Ltd. shed a bit of light on how Japanese couples decide on beds, and I thought there were quite a few interesting little nuggets in their research.

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The most common bed size for couples in Japan is not the double, queen, or king you might expect back home, but the single. Many respondents said they either use two singles pushed together or sleep separately altogether, with the reasoning coming down to limited room size and affordability. For expats accustomed to larger homes prior to moving here, this might feel like a downgrade, but here it seems that maximizing floor space often matters more than sprawling comfort.

Price also plays a role. The majority of couples spent between ¥50,000 and ¥100,000 (roughly $330 to $660 USD) on a bed, while around 12 percent invested more than ¥200,000, citing sleep quality as worth the splurge. Still, it seems that many prioritize size and budget over luxury.

About 80 percent of couples still prefer to buy beds in physical stores, wanting the chance to test comfort firsthand. However, online bed-shopping is growing, with points systems and flexible delivery adding financial incentives.

If you've opted to get a bed over futons here, what were your purchase considerations?