🗺️ Accessible from the city center! The top 3 home centers chosen by a share house operator [Perfect for DIY & shopping]
"I'm out of screws," "I don't have enough wood," "Where can I find those electrical parts?"
When that happens, you can rely on home centers. However, places that are easy to get to from the city center and also have a satisfying selection are surprisingly limited.
This time, from the perspective of someone who actually does DIY and maintenance at share house sites, I will introduce my personal top 3 recommended home centers.
🎧 "Listen" to note | ▶️ Listen to the audio summary
《My personal evaluation items and criteria in the article》
Screws/Bolts | Electrical parts/Moldings |
Caulking/Tapes | Wood | Tools | Paint | Gardening |
※Each item is rated on a 5-point scale for "selection and practical use on-site."
⭐️5: Professionals and contractors are satisfied. Extremely high selection, stock, and expertise; enough to procure everything here.
⭐️4: DIY intermediate to advanced users can rest easy. Plenty of frequently used standard items.
⭐️3: Enough for beginners. Has all the basic DIY supplies, but a bit lacking.
⭐️2: Okay for emergency responses. Selection tends to be biased, feels unreliable.
⭐️1: Useless
🥇 [1st Place] Super Viva Home Toyosu (By far)
《Official》 Super Viva Home Toyosu Store
🔎 Google Search (Overview, reviews, etc.)
🗺️ Google Map (Map, access)
Honestly, this place is overwhelming.
First of all, it's huge. The selection is insane. And for some reason, the pet shop corner right at the entrance is super well-stocked, so I end up killing about 15 minutes there even when I don't need anything (the dogs and cats are so cute, I never want to leave😩).
The lineup of wood, tools, and electrical parts for DIY is also abundant, and it's easy to get to by car too🚗
As a share house operator, I value it as a store where "if you just go there, you'll manage somehow."
There is also a cutting option for purchased wood (extra charge), so you don't waste time while waiting for it to be cut by eating at the restaurants in the building or shopping at the 100-yen shop.
=Selection lineup (practicality)=
Screws/Bolts: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆
Electrical parts/Moldings: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆
Caulking/Tapes: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆
Wood: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tools: ⭐️⭐️⭐️☆☆
Paint: ⭐️⭐️⭐️☆☆
Gardening: ⭐️⭐️☆☆☆
For paint, to put it nicely, the selection feels like it has all the basics you can buy anywhere. To put it bluntly, I get the impression that there aren't many colors with the texture that overseas paints offer.
Gardening isn't that large considering the entire sales floor area of the store. It seems sufficient for a mother doing some gardening.
🥈 [2nd Place] Cainz (Asaka/Niiza)
・Official SNS | Instagram
《Official》 Cainz Asaka Store
🔎 Google Search (Overview, reviews, etc.)
🗺️ Google Map (Map, access)
《Official》 Cainz Niiza Store
🔎 Google Search (Overview, reviews, etc.)
🗺️ Google Map (Map, access)
It has an image of being rich in gardening materials and sundries.
It's also great for procuring supplies for flower beds and exterior landscaping.
What stands out most isthe good taste of their private brand (PB) products.
There are many tools that combine functionality and design, and the prices are reasonable.This one is especially recommended!
Cainz Original: Kumimoku Power Strip
[2,980 yen (incredible)]
おしゃれな電源タップで#新生活 のインテリアをランクUP⬆️
— CAINZ（カインズ）【公式】 (@cainz_official) March 18, 2021
「Kumimoku 4個口 スチールACタップ」
5カラーから選べる男前デザイン
✅スチール製で、耐久力抜群
✅3ピンプラグ対応差込口🔌
✅安全ブレーカー内蔵で、使用電力がオーバーすると自動で電源OFF
✅雷サージ対応⚡️#カインズ #kumimoku
I use it quite a bit at myshare house in front of Nerima Stationand other properties. The power cable is quite thick, so it seems to have incredible durability and electrical resistance, and the texture of the cable is soft and smooth, which is strangely addictive to touch.🤤
=Product Lineup (Practicality)=
Screws/Bolts:⭐️⭐️⭐️☆☆
Electrical materials/Moldings:⭐️⭐️⭐️☆☆
Caulking/Tapes:⭐️⭐️⭐️☆☆
Lumber:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆
Tools:⭐️⭐️⭐️☆☆
Paint:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐☆
Gardening:⭐️⭐️⭐⭐⭐
The slight downside to these Cainz stores is that you have to travel a bit from the city center, but if they are in the direction of my destination, I want to stop by every time. The PB paint also has a good variety and colors.
🥉 [3rd Place] Royal Home Center Minami-Senju
<<Official>> Royal Home Center Minami-Senju Store
🔎 Google Search (Overview, Reviews, etc.)
🗺️ Google Map (Map/Access)
A well-located home center that balances the perspectives of both residents and property managers.
My biggest attraction is thehuge Daisoacross the street.
It's one of the largest in Tokyo, so it almost always solves the problem of "Oh, I forgot to buy that."
=Product Lineup (Practicality)=
Screws/Bolts:⭐️⭐️⭐️☆☆
Electrical materials/Moldings:⭐️⭐️⭐️☆☆
Caulking/Tapes:⭐️⭐️⭐️☆☆
Lumber:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆
Tools:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐☆
Paint:⭐️⭐️⭐️☆☆
Gardening:⭐️⭐️☆☆☆
The surrounding area is well-equipped with facilities, including cafes, ramen shops, sushi restaurants, and Mister Donut, so it's fine even if lumber cutting requests are backed up and take time.This is the best place for "while you're at it" shopping.
☀️ Where to go for a quick trip in the early morning?
For those who are "early birds" and want to get things done before urgent maintenance or before the roads get congested before site work, these 3 stores are recommended:
• Shinagawa/Minato Ward area: "C’z PRO Shinagawa Seaside Store"
→Official Website
→Google Search
【Opening Hours】
Mon-Sat | 6:30 Sun | 9:00
They have a great selection of professional-grade materials, and they are reliable when you want to start work early in the morning.
• Nerima area: Ken-Depo Nerima Takanodai Store"
→Official Website
→Google Search
【Opening Hours】
Mon-Sat | 6:00 Sun | 8:00
This is the place to go if you want to quickly gather professional materials like electrical and plumbing supplies. The parking lot is also spacious.
• Ueno/Asakusa/Adachi area: "Royal Home Center Minami-Senju"
→Official Website
→Google Search
【Opening Hours】
Every day | 6:30
Not only do they have everything from daily necessities to DIY materials, but there are also many restaurants open in the morning, so you can grab breakfast before heading to the site.
🧢 Extra Edition
• Just missed the ranking...
｜Tokyu Hands Shibuya Store
A 5-minute walk from my office. Best access. The selection isn't bad... but it's just expensive. For serious DIYers and operators who need to manage budgets, the cost-performance feels like a bit of a bottleneck. It is a reliable place to go when you are in a hurry and absolutely need something right now.
| Joyful Honda Chiba New Town Store
A home center said to be one of the largest in the Kanto region. Its extensive product selection is well-regarded and often featured on YouTube and other platforms. However, it is quite a distance from central Tokyo. It's a place you want to visit at least once, but not somewhere you can easily drop by. 🥺
"A dreamland I'd rather visit than Disneyland" That is the kind of place it is.
✍️ Summary
Choosing the right home center is a crucial point that directly impacts efficiency and motivation on-site.
Especially when managing properties or doing DIY in Tokyo, the three elements of "access x product selection x refreshing change of pace" become very important.
I will continue to build a comfortable living environment while keeping a stock of "useful places from a field perspective."
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