Buying a kotatsu for a 90-day Tokyo winter stay

A こたつ (kotatsu — low heated table used with a quilt) can be a comfortable addition to a winter stay if you enjoy sitting at a low table. Before buying one for three months, check the space, the apartment's rules and how you will remove it when you leave.

A kotatsu warms you while you sit at the table. You’ll still need the apartment’s normal heating when you get up to cook, work elsewhere or go to bed.

Try the seating position first

If you can, sit at the height you are considering before ordering. Think about getting up, where your legs go, and whether you would use a floor chair. A setup that is pleasant for a short meal may not suit several hours of laptop work.

Measure the usable floor area with the quilt spread out, not just the tabletop. Leave enough room to open storage and move between the entrance, kitchen and bed. In a furnished apartment, ask before moving or storing the existing table; do not assume there is somewhere else to put it.

A separate desk may still matter. If your workday needs a supportive chair, monitor or space for two people, keep that arrangement intact and decide whether you also want a low table for evenings.

Price the whole setup

Check what the sale includes. The table, heater, quilt and floor covering may be separate items. Add delivery and any collection or disposal charge to the purchase price. Used furniture can be useful, but check the model, condition and included parts rather than assuming a low price buys a complete set.

Here is an illustrative budget, not a current shop quote:

Across a 90-day stay, that is ¥200 per day before electricity. If you only use it on 30 evenings, the same purchase works out at ¥600 per evening. Think about how many evenings you’ll actually spend at the table.

Budget for the full cost unless you have a confirmed buyer; you may not be able to sell it before your flight.

Estimate electricity without assuming full power all evening

For a rough calculation, multiply average power in kilowatts by hours used and the unit price on your electricity plan. The wattage on a label may describe maximum power rather than average use. The heater may switch on and off to maintain its temperature, so it may not draw that maximum for the whole evening.

Using made-up assumptions, an average draw of 0.2 kW for five hours uses 1 kWh. At an assumed ¥35 per kWh, that would be ¥35 for the evening, or ¥3,150 over 90 identical evenings. It is an example of the calculation, not a promised running cost. Check the model's published power use and the electricity rate you will pay.

If electricity is included in your rent, ask whether there is a limit and how much you pay for use above it.

Use it according to the instructions

NITE's electric-heating guidance advises keeping combustible materials away from heating parts, checking the cord, and unplugging the appliance when sleeping or leaving. Do not dry clothes under the table or push the quilt against the heater.

A kotatsu is not a bed. NITE also warns about sleeping under one. Follow the model's instructions and check for recalls, particularly when buying used. If a supplied heater or cord appears damaged, stop using it and contact the accommodation team or seller.

Plan how to remove it before buying

Ask whether the accommodation has an approved way to pass on or remove furniture. Do not leave it for the next guest without permission. If using municipal collection, follow the ward's current booking instructions and fees; the bulky-waste guide explains the process.

There can be more than one item to book for collection. Shinjuku's current fee list, checked in September 2026, lists ¥400 for a kotatsu whose longest side is under 100cm, explicitly excluding the tabletop, which needs a separate booking. A kotatsu quilt has its own ¥400 entry. That is already ¥800 before the tabletop fee; ask the collection center how to list the complete set.

If you sell it, tell the buyer how big each piece is and agree where you will meet and who will carry it out of the apartment. Do not assume the buyer will collect on your final day.

If the apartment already has comfortable seating and reliable heating, live with that setup for a few days before buying anything. You may still want the kotatsu, but you will know where it belongs and when you would use it.