Demand for storage-related services is expanding against a backdrop of rising home prices and shrinking living spaces. The feature highlights the increase in locations operated by the largest self-storage company and the growth of delivery-based storage.
As home prices in central Tokyo rise and homes become smaller, more people are using storage services to keep their belongings outside the home. According to a LIFULL survey, the number of newly built small detached homes in the Tokyo metropolitan area has increased rapidly over the past 5 years, highlighting the shortage of storage space.
The largest company in the self-storage market, エリアリンク, currently operates approximately 130,000 units nationwide. The pace of new openings has accelerated, from approximately 3,000 units in 2022 and 6,000 in 2023 to approximately 10,000 in 2024 and 16,000 in 2025. As of the end of June 2026, the number of partner companies stood at 55 and the number of units at 13,556. The company plans to add approximately 75,000 units over the next 4 years, targeting 200,000 units and a 24% domestic market share by 2029.
Against a backdrop of smaller living spaces resulting from soaring home prices and the spread of teleworking, Mitsubishi Estate opened its first indoor self-storage facility. It plans to develop 2–3 buildings a year, mainly in central Tokyo, and is beginning to capture demand for self-storage.
The delivery-based storage service “minikura” (ミニクラ) allows users to store belongings in a warehouse outside the home from ¥320 per month and manage them online. Items can also be listed on Yahoo! Auctions or donated. Users store an average of 8 boxes, usage commonly lasts 3 years, and the service has achieved profitability.