Approximately 80% Nationwide Lack Storage, About 20% Have Used Trunk Rooms - 'Unconnected Layer' Indicates Market Expansion Potential [Storage Reality Survey 2026]

It has become clear from our company's survey that approximately 80% of people nationwide have experienced problems with insufficient home storage space. On the other hand, the trunk room utilization rate is about 20%, indicating that trunk rooms are not yet sufficiently utilized by those struggling with storage. However, over half of non-users responded that they would 'like to use if conditions are met,' suggesting a potential expansion of the market.

This report analyzes the reality of storage challenges and the potential of the trunk room market based on the survey.

**Survey Highlights**

* Experience with insufficient home storage: 76.1% * Trunk room utilization experience rate: 22.6% * Non-users willing to use if conditions are met: 53.4% * Utilization experience rate in Tokyo: 34.6%

While insufficient storage is a widespread lifestyle issue, trunk rooms may not yet be fully utilized.

The high willingness to use among non-users suggests a certain latent demand in the market.

*Note: The utilization experience rate in this survey is higher than the national household penetration rate for trunk rooms (approximately 1%). However, as this survey was conducted online, and respondents may include a certain number of urban residents (such as those in Tokyo) and those interested in storage services, a simple comparison with the national average should be made with caution.

Regarding national household penetration rate: https://www.syuno-pit.biz/example/trunkroom189.html

**Chapter 1: Current Status of Trunk Room Utilization and Characteristics by Region and Demographic**

**National Trunk Room Utilization Experience Rate** The current trunk room market is expanding, with 'long-term use' to supplement home storage space and 'temporary use' adapted to lifestyle changes becoming established.

* Approximately 1 in 4-5 people nationwide have experience using: The total trunk room utilization experience rate nationwide is 22.6% (5.3% currently using, 17.3% previously used). * Establishment of 'temporary use': The proportion of past users is significantly larger than current users, indicating that trunk rooms are utilized as rental storage for necessary periods, such as during moves or renovations.

**Regional Differences in Trunk Room Utilization Experience Rate** Focusing on urban areas, the utilization experience rate for trunk rooms is higher in the Tokyo metropolitan area, centered around Tokyo.

* Significant disparity between Kanto urban areas and regional areas: The overall trunk room utilization experience rate in the metropolitan area is 26.8%, and in Tokyo, it is 34.6%, with urban areas centered in Tokyo having an utilization experience rate of approximately 30%. On the other hand, Osaka is 13.1% and Aichi is 14.3%, showing regional differences even within urban areas.

**Trends and Regional Differences by Living Environment and Family Structure** Nationwide, trunk rooms are often used by single-person households, while in Tokyo, they are more commonly used by families.

* High demand from 'families' in Tokyo: By living environment nationwide, single-person apartments (32.3%) are among the highest, but looking at Tokyo alone, the utilization experience rate for residents of family-oriented apartments is exceptionally high at 57.1%. Furthermore, by family structure nationwide, single-person households (28.4%) are among the highest, but in Tokyo alone, nuclear families (40.9%) surpass single-person households (33.4%). It can be said that there is a high demand for trunk room utilization, mainly among families, for storage shortages unique to urban areas.

**Chapter 2: Market Potential and the 'Three Barriers' Faced by Non-Users**

**Awareness of Indoor Trunk Rooms** Awareness of indoor trunk rooms is high in the Tokyo metropolitan area, centered around Tokyo.

* High awareness of indoor trunk rooms in Tokyo/Metropolitan area: The awareness of indoor trunk rooms (know + know by name only) nationwide was 56.8%. In Tokyo, it was 72.8%, and for the entire metropolitan area, it was 61.4%, showing high awareness in urban areas centered around Tokyo. The cleanliness of indoor units and convenience such as unmanned reception and smartphone contracts are favored.

**Three Concerns Regarding Trunk Room Utilization** The concerns that non-users have when considering trunk room utilization were 'price,' 'location/distance,' and 'security.'

* Approximately 90% concerned about 'price': 'Price' was the most prominent concern when considering trunk room utilization, at 91.6%. It was high in the entire metropolitan area at 91.1%, especially in Kanagawa Prefecture (96.7%) and Chiba Prefecture (94.7%), but slightly lower in Tokyo at 83.3%. Also, in regional areas, it was 94.4% in Aichi Prefecture and 90.9% in Osaka Prefecture. It is thought that the proportion of people conscious of price is high in urban areas where trunk rooms are considered a realistic option, and in Tokyo, where they are becoming more integrated into daily life with more users, concerns about price are slightly suppressed.

* Over half concerned about 'location/distance' and 'security': 'Location/distance' (59.7%) and 'security' (57.4%) were also concerns for approximately 60% of respondents, followed by 'usability' (37.7%) at approximately 40%.