"Japan's trunk room market has the potential to grow tenfold," said Mr. Kurachi.
Arealink Co., Ltd. held a media roundtable on the 17th, where Ryo Kurachi, Executive Officer of the Storage Division, discussed comparisons with developed countries (such as the U.S.), domestic market trends, and strategies for overseas expansion.
The company’s “Hello Storage” brand has expanded nationwide, now operating in all 47 prefectures. The number of storage units has surpassed 100,000, with a goal to double that to 200,000 by the end of 2029.
Japan’s trunk room penetration remains low compared to developed countries like the United States, Germany, and the United Kingdom. The U.S. has approximately 13.5 million storage units, covering 10.6% of households, while Japan has fewer than 600,000 units—just 0.85% utilization. “If we can raise the usage rate to match that of the U.S., the market could support up to 6 million units,” Kurachi noted, suggesting a tenfold growth potential. The domestic market is expected to grow at an annual rate of 4–5%, from 569,800 units and ¥74.7 billion in 2022 to 860,000 units and ¥112.3 billion by 2030.
Kurachi also pointed out that the culture of using trunk rooms has yet to take root in Japan, and that the market is fragmented, with many small or part-time operators lacking operational know-how. To address these challenges, the company launched a Partner System in April 2024. This one-stop solution supports everything from setup to operations, including customer acquisition, contracts, cancellations, regular cleaning, and first-line issue response. As of May 2025, the system supports over 7,000 units.
Additionally, Arealink has acquired properties in advanced storage markets such as Texas (USA) and Germany, which are managed by local subsidiaries. The company is also engaging with local associations to gather insights on systems, marketing strategies, and customer needs to enhance its services.
Reprinted from: Real Estate Distribution Research Institute Co., Ltd.
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