Working from home, remote working or teleworking. Whatever the wording, this may very well set a new precedent as a widespread lifestyle worldwide, and setting up a home office or an environment where one can work comfortably on business-related tasks need not be a chore.
Consider it a chance to flex some creativity or exercise a right to choose colors and items that a regular workplace may not allow. Discover office goods and furniture from suppliers such as Costco and Ikea that make life a little easier, much more interesting, extra stylish and possibly more fun.
Don’t forget ergonomics. Furniture that supports optimal health is a must. Standing desks are another option while energy-saving devices and products to help cope with summer’s relentless humidity are also must-haves for the home.
Meal, food and beverage delivery services, meanwhile, help save time and minimize risks during times of requested physical distancing and self-isolation.
Looking after one’s health — both physical and mental — is highly recommended. Online classes and consultations are plentiful; it’s just a matter of choosing the most appropriate option for one’s circumstances.
All information is subject to change.
Online shopping
Costco
Online shopping is a recent, but well-received service offered by Costco; browse here for (home) office equipment, snacks and other teleworking essentials such as noise-canceling headphones.
URL: https://www.costco.co.jp/
Minimum order: ¥5,000 (including tax)
Payment options: Major credit cards
Shipping: Varies
Ikea
The Swedish furniture behemoth offers various home office options, from ergonomic chairs to desks, storage and even plants. Teleworking tips and virtual “home” backgrounds for office calls are welcome extras.
URL: https://www.ikea.com/jp/en/ or
https://www.ikea.com/jp/en/customer-service/shopping-at-ikea/online-store-pub8679c890
Minimum order: N/A
Payment options: Major credit cards accepted
Shipping: “Click & Collect” at ¥990; pick up delivery (for online shopping) from ¥3,990; basic delivery from ¥990
Lohaco
Internet retail portal and one-stop marketplace selling various items — think groceries, home decor, office supplies — to help ease the transition to remote working.
URL: https://lohaco.jp (Japanese only)
Minimum order: Varies
Payment options: Cash on delivery, credit card, PayPay, (telephone) carrier billing, bank transfer
Shipping: Free for purchases of ¥3,300 or more. Exclusions apply for larger items and those sold via the Lohaco Marketplace.
Takeout & food delivery
Rakuten Realtime Takeout
Support local restaurants by pre-ordering online to pick up meals directly. Rakuten Realtime Takeout touts itself as safe, fast and seamless. Currently operating in central Tokyo, the service will soon expand nationwide.
URL: https://takeout.rakuten.co.jp/landing/
Minimum order: N/A
Payment options: Payment is made using the card details linked to the customer’s Rakuten ID account.
Shipping: N/A
FineDine
Servicing Tokyo and parts of Kanagawa and Saitama prefectures, FineDine’s easy-to-use delivery service brings quality dining from some of the city’s finest restaurants to customers’ homes.
Minimum order: Typically ¥2,000 (including tax)
Payment options: Cash on delivery, credit card or bill (advance registration required).
Shipping: Varies by restaurant (generally 15 percent of total order).
Harnet Corporation
Meat lovers will rejoice with the wallet-friendly offerings at the Mega Meat Mart from Harnet Corporation, a food supplier to the business-to-business sector for over 21 years.
Minimum order: ¥500
Payment options: Cash on delivery, credit card
Shipping: From ¥1,050
Kiwi Kitchen
From savory pies to comforting pastas to mouthwatering curries — Kiwi Kitchen Home Packs are freshly made to order and ideal for times when cooking does not appeal.
URL: https://kiwikitchen.com/english/
Minimum order: ¥5,000
Payment options: Cash on delivery or PayPal.
Shipping: A ¥500 fee applies for orders up to ¥9,999; delivery is free for orders over ¥10,000. Delivery limited to Tokyo’s Minato Ward and nearby areas.
Wine & coffee
AWines
Perfect for when work winds down or to enjoy at a virtual dinner party, AWines’ boutique wines speak of their maker’s passion, dedication and terroir.
URL: https://awines.jp/
Minimum order: N/A
Payment options: Cash on delivery, credit card, PayPal, online bank transfer, Rakuten Pay, (telephone) carrier billing
Shipping: Varies according to prefecture, but free for orders over ¥16,500
Blue Bottle Coffee
Third-wave coffee pioneers keep customers caffeinated through the supply of freshly roasted coffee beans and aesthetically pleasing goods.
URL: https://store.bluebottlecoffee.jp (Japanese only)
Minimum order: ¥2,850
Payment options: Credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Shop Pay
Shipping: ¥750 flat rate
Staying healthy
Club 360
Tokyo gymnasium offering online physiotherapy appointments, nutrition consultations, personal training and exercise classes to help people achieve their fitness goals in a time when physical health is of utmost importance.
URL: https://www.club360.jp/fitness-programs/#onlineservices
Minimum order: ¥2,000 for the first class, a five-pack is ¥10,000 thereafter
Payment options: Credit card online via Square, bank transfer also possible
Shipping: N/A
My Body My Pilates
Counteract the physical stress of working from home with a pilates class that improves strength, posture and flexibility. My Body My Pilates is now livestreaming classes via Zoom — choose from child, prenatal or adult options.
URL: https://www.mybodymypilates.com/home
Minimum order: From ¥1,000
Payment options: Bank transfer; major credit cards accepted except Discover, JCB and Union Pay
Shipping: N/A
Tokyo Mental Health
Need help adjusting to new working circumstances and coping with COVID-19? Tokyo Mental Health offers online counseling and has run support groups dealing with the pandemic. TELL (https://telljp.com/) offers similar programs.
URL: https://www.tokyomentalhealth.com/
Minimum order: N/A
Payment options: Bank transfer; major credit cards accepted except JCB. Note: Services are not covered by Japanese National Health insurance.
Shipping: N/A