Dec 27, 2025
The stress of year-end tidying in Japan
I feel like the lead-up to the New Year brings that desire to start the next chapter feeling a little lighter, and a recent survey of 500 people in Japan conducted by a bulk waste collection service suggests this impulse is widely shared, albeit with a bit of stress.
Around 60% of respondents said they have worried about cleaning up as the year draws to a close, and the areas causing the most stress weren't the spaces people use every day, but storage areas and closets. I can understand that, since hidden spots in my house often become catch-alls for items that are difficult to throw away. Nearly 60% of respondents said they still had unwanted items they planned to dispose of before the New Year, most commonly blaming a lack of time, uncertainty about disposal methods, or the feeling that things might still be usable.
Image created via Canva
I do think as expats it can be a little extra tricky to do big declutters if you don't know the rules around bulky waste in your local area. If you search for 粗大ごみ and the name of your city office, you should be able to find the rules, regulations, and costs for disposing of big items.
2 Comments
TonetoEdo
on Dec 28
I just decluttered and reorganized my kitchen. I cook nearly every day, so cleaning and organizing is valuable. Um, scary thing is the closets. I've acquired a lot of stuff, much valuable, and have to figure out how to make the most of it or dispose of it.
helloalissa
on Dec 29
I'm attempting not to think about it too much although ideally I want everything to be decluttered and clean for the new year every year. It's more that there's a break in the trash and recycle pick up over the holidays for about a week. (I'm in agreement about the trash collectors getting that much needed time off for sure.)