In Japan, furniture and electrical appliances are usually not provided when renting a room. In that case, you will need to purchase or rent necessary items by yourself.
Also, depending on the room, lighting and air-conditioning may not be installed (in the case of lighting, the fixtures will be there but no bulb provided). Please check this before choosing an apartment.
Summers in Japan are extremely hot and humid. In winter, you may occasionally see snowfall, even in Tokyo. People often use air conditioners (which can also be used as heaters in winter) to keep their rooms comfortable. Others use electric fans in the summer, and gas/kerosene heaters or oil stoves in the winter (There are some apartment buildings that prohibit the use of gas/kerosene heaters and oil stoves, so please check with your landlord before buying these items).
There are also apartments with no space for a washing machine. If that is the case, we think the best option is to look for the nearest coin laundry.
Furthermore, if you choose a room with no bath or shower, it is a good idea to check whether or not there is a public bath (in Japanese it is called a "Sento") nearby. Public baths are a long-standing part of Japanese culture. Even now, there are about 1,000 public baths in different area throughout Tokyo. It costs a few hundred yen to enter, and baths are generally open until late at night.
There is a saying in Japan "Hadaka No Tsuki-ai", which literally means "Naked Companionship". It basically stems from the idea that you can get along with people well by sharing a bath with them.
Even if you have a bath or shower in your apartment, you should experience a public bath for yourself at least once!
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