Hello! We plan to move to Tokyo in September. I’ve read and heard that some appliances were very expensive if aiming at same size/quality as in North America. Specifically we want to have a dishwasher installed in our future apartment (a 60cm should fit). Bosch makes very good dishwasher for a decent price in Canada but I saw the hefty prices of their products in Japan and so I thought it might be cheaper to bring one in our container. Do you know if a Canadian bought dishwasher would work properly in Japan? Is there some certifications needed when installing imported appliances in Japan? Any other things to consider like hoses sizes, amps…? Thanks!
7 comments
>Do you know if a Canadian bought dishwasher would work properly in Japan?
Work? Yes.
Fit? Almost certainly not. Most Japanese apartments do not have space for a dishwasher *at all*. If they do, they’re almost certainly not going to support a full-size dishwasher.
The reason dishwashers are so expensive here is because they’re a luxury item, reserved for people who can afford Roppongi penthouses.
Depends what kind of dishwasher it is. If it’s an underbench or drawer dishwasher, or any kind that installs into the kitchen unit – there almost certainly won’t be a place for it, and you won’t be able to install in a rental.
If it’s a freestanding or benchtop dishwasher, why not just buy one in Japan? You can get them from 45,000円 ($366 USD) – and the store will deliver and install it for you.
If it’s a freestanding/benchtop dishwasher and you’re absolutely set on getting a Canadian one – the voltage will be off and you’ll likely need a converter. You probably won’t need any certifications or anything like that, but most plumbers/electricians here wouldn’t touch it and you’d have to install yourself. Seems like a headache for a rather minor convenience.
Japanese benchtop dishwashers (Panasonic, Toshiba, Iris Ohyama etc.) are totally fine. I use a Panasonic one, and I have no complaints.
It will cost more money and be more risky to bring one over than just buy one when you arrive.
You should avoid bringing any electrical items unless they’re specifically rated to work at 100V. A dishwasher will not be.
If your landlord allows it, I would install a unit bought in Japan. If there’s anything going wrong, they’ll come and repair it. If you bring a Canadian unit, you are completely on your own for spare parts and repair work. So the slightest glitch will have you wash your dishes manually for weeks if not months on end until a spare part arrives if they even want to ship it to you.
Japanese dishwashers aren’t that bad, and 60cm units are readily available. Check kakaku.com to compare prices. Their “planned obsolescence” might be a few years shorter than in Canada, though (?).
Will it work?
Yes, but you’ll need a converter
Will your landlord allow it?
Debatable. Always ask before commuting
Will anyone help you install it?
Heck no, some regulations and whatnot. They won’t touch anything that isn’t made or available domestically.
You’ll have to install yourself and do all maintenance yourself.
I’d imagine between shipping the unit from Canada to Japan, installing yourself and doing maintenance, it’d be too much of a headache. I would just settle for a Japanese unit. I know that’s not what you want but it’ll make life easier. But if you insist, have the money, and the patience, nothing is stopping you from brining and installing your own except for consent from the landlord.
In case you wonder how hard it is to install one. It’s easy. We got a Bosch one we secretly swapped with the old disgusting and inefficient one our Canadian landlord has in, so we just went and bought a new one. Unhooked it by starting with the top (screws under the countertop) and the back (turn off hot water first, either there is a special valve under the sink, or it’s where the hot water tank is). It almost didn’t fit thought. We had to remove a small board under the countertop. There are also screws on the sides. You get access through under the sink wall and/or any other adjacent cupboard.
Bring standard tools.