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Title: The "Staircase Width" Issue: Will Your Furniture Fit in a Japanese House?

  • Writer: Dwell Japan
    Dwell Japan
  • Jan 27
  • 1 min read

You are planning a new life in Japan with your favorite large furniture. But there is a physical reality you need to know: the width of the hallways and stairs. This is a common issue, especially for those with large imported items.


While dimensions vary slightly by manufacturer, the "effective width" (clearance) of hallways and staircases in typical Japanese homes is generally around 80cm.

While domestic furniture is usually designed to pass through this space, large imported sofas, king-size beds, and overseas-standard refrigerators may exceed this limit or have difficulty turning on landings.


The Cost of a Crane


Even if you tell the movers, "It's okay if the wallpaper gets scratched a little, just bring it in," Japanese moving companies are careful about avoiding damage to walls or the item itself.

If they judge that manual delivery is difficult without damage, they may propose using a **Crane Lift** through a window or balcony. This will result in higher moving costs.


Often, moving companies will check this during their preliminary site visit, but it is surprisingly easy to forget to consider the delivery route during the home design or selection phase.

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