It can be hard to tell what sorts of things you need to buy for your bathroom when you first move into a new rental apartment. We’re here to help you out with our guide to bathroom essentials! 

When you move into your first apartment, it can be hard to know what to buy. Bathrooms can be especially overwhelming to purchase things for. It’s hard to know what items you need…until you desperately need them. Furthermore, you might shock your guests if they see your bathroom doesn’t have the basics. Avoid having your friends or partner ask, “how do you live like this?!” Make sure your bathroom is nice and well stocked with this guide to bathroom essentials. Just keep in mind that in many Japanese apartments and bathrooms, the bath and toilet are in separate rooms. If that’s the case in your place, you’ll have to decide which room the following items are more appropriately kept in. 

Bath and Shower Mats 

If you don’t want your floor to get wet, it’s a good idea to get a bath mat. Buy a nice, thick absorbent one that’ll soak up lots of water. Make sure the bottom is made of rubber and will keep you from slipping while you’re standing on it. Speaking of avoiding slipping, it’s also a good idea to take precautions while you’re in the shower. Get yourself a nonslip shower mat. It may save you a trip to the emergency room. 

Cleaning Supplies

You don’t want your bathroom to become yucky. Buy some cleaning supplies when you move in so they’ll be there whenever you need them. You can get them from 100 yen stores or make your own. Make sure to get some mirror/glass cleaner, a toilet cleaning brush (and container for it), and some surface disinfectant. 

Wastebasket 

One of the most important things that you should get for your bathroom is a wastebasket. It’s easy to overlook this bathroom essential until you need it, so it might not cross your mind when you first move in. However, we throw away lots of things in the bathroom – tissues, q-tips, shaving razors, etc. You don’t want to have to walk to another room every time you’re in the bathroom and need to dispose of something. 

Toothbrush Holder 

You need somewhere to keep your toothbrush. For the sake of hygiene, you shouldn’t just toss it into a random drawer. Using a toothbrush holder will help keep your toothbrush away from germs and bacteria. Getting a cute or fancy one can help make your bathroom look nicer. 

Storage 

Bathrooms aren’t the best place to utilize open storage. Many of us keep things in our bathrooms that we don’t want guests to see. If you’d rather not have your guests see your medications, period products, hair loss treatment, or other things you want to keep to yourself, save your cabinet space for these items. If you don’t have any cabinets in your bathroom (and aren’t allowed to install any), get some opaque boxes. If you get cute ones, they’ll serve as both decoration and discreet storage. 

In addition to discreet storage, it’s a good idea to install some hooks in your bathroom. You’ll want a place to hang towels or your bathrobe. You can also add over-the-door hanging storage to keep cosmetics and skincare in if your bathroom is small, you can easily find these supplies at 100 yen stores.

Towels, and a Place to Keep Them 

It’s always nice to have soft, fluffy bath towels. They make taking a bath or shower so much better. However, it’s easy to forget to take a towel into the bathroom with you. How many times have you had to ask a family member to bring you one or ran across your apartment naked in search of a towel? Solve this problem before it happens by keeping your towels in the bathroom. If there isn’t much storage space in yours, just keep a few towels there and stow the rest away in another location. 

Plunger 

Don’t wait until you absolutely need it – by then your toilet might be overflowing and it’ll be hard to run to the store – get a toilet plunger when you move it! If you’re from the United States, you might notice that Japanese toilets have a larger hole and don’t clog as easily as American ones. Still, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Get an inexpensive toilet plunger and keep it in your bathroom for emergencies. 

Most bathrooms in Japanese apartments have a similar layout with similar facilities so once you have the essentials, you should be able to use them even if you move again! If you’re looking for a new apartment to rent, please check out what’s available at Village House!