The Gap Next to Your Fridge Is Storage: Slim Rolling Carts, Japanese Style
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Almost every small kitchen has one: a narrow gap between the fridge and the wall, or the fridge and a cabinet. It’s too thin for a shelf, so it collects dust, paper bags and the occasional runaway onion.
Japanese buyers of the carts below have a name for using it: sukima shūnō, which means “gap storage.” In my own small apartment near Tokyo, the gap between my fridge and a cupboard is about 25 cm (10 inches) wide, and it holds a slim pedal trash can about 20 cm (8 inches) wide. It’s not glamorous, but it’s a spot that would otherwise go to waste.
If you’d rather use your gap for spices, oils and pantry stock, Yamazaki makes two steel carts that are just over 5 inches wide and roll in and out. To be upfront: I haven’t used either cart myself. This guide is based on the manufacturer’s listings and buyer reviews on Amazon, including buyers in Japan.
Before you buy: measure the gap properly
Both carts are about 5.1 inches wide, 19 inches deep and 31.7 inches tall. Here’s how to check that one will fit:
- Measure the width of the gap at the top, middle and bottom. Fridges and walls aren’t always perfectly parallel, so use the smallest number.
- Leave a little room to roll. A gap of exactly 5.1 inches will be a squeeze. One buyer in Japan fit the cart into a gap of about 15 cm (5.9 inches) and says it slides in neatly.
- Check the depth. At about 19 inches, the carts are shallower than most fridges, so they shouldn’t stick out past the front.
- Check your fridge’s manual. Fridges need some space around them to release heat, and the amount varies by model. Make sure a cart won’t block the side clearance your fridge needs.
One more tip from a buyer: the side of a fridge can get warm, so it’s not the place for wine or anything else that doesn’t like heat.
The two carts
| Slim Rolling Cart with Handle | Slim 4-Tier Rolling Cart | |
|---|---|---|
| Size (D × W × H) | 18.7 × 5.1 × 31.7 in | 18.9 × 5.12 × 31.7 in |
| Weight | 8.8 lb | 12.8 lb |
| Shelves | 3 shelves + wooden top | 4 shelves |
| Weight limits (listed) | Bottom 6 kg (13.2 lb), middle 3 kg, top 2 kg, top board 1 kg | 21 kg (46 lb) in total |
| Colors | Black, white, forest green | White, black |
| Rating | 4.2★ from about 2,500 ratings | 4.2★ from 42 ratings |
1. Tower Slim Rolling Cart with Handle
The better-known of the two: three steel shelves, a wooden top and a handle on the front for pulling it out of a tight corner. It arrives assembled; you just screw in the casters, and the tool is included.
- Size: 18.7″ D × 5.1″ W × 31.7″ H, 8.8 lb
- Holds: bottom shelf 6 kg (13.2 lb), middle 3 kg (6.6 lb), top 2 kg (4.4 lb), top board 1 kg (2.2 lb)
- Rating: 4.2★ from about 2,500 ratings
Buyers have tucked it between a fridge and the surrounding cabinets, between a stove and a fridge, and between a laundry sink and a washing machine. One fits all their spices, including big Costco jars, plus oils and vinegars. A buyer in Japan gave one to their parents after a move to a smaller apartment: it fit the roughly 15 cm gap between the fridge and the sink, with no wobble.
Good to know before you buy
- It can feel wobbly until it’s loaded. One buyer was ready to give it one star because it wobbled and wandered when rolled empty. After they put olive oil and water bottles on the bottom shelf, it became stable, and they changed their rating to five stars. Keep the heavy things low.
- Line up the casters. Buyers say the wheels need to be parallel and level, or the cart won’t roll straight in and out.
- One buyer says the wheels don’t swivel, so the cart only moves forward and back, and it nearly tipped over twice with glass bottles on it. Roll it slowly.
- Check it as soon as it arrives. One buyer received a bent cart (in an undamaged box), and others found small dents. Keep the box until you’ve checked.
- It’s pricey for its size, and several buyers mention it.
2. Tower Slim 4-Tier Rolling Cart
A newer, heavier version with four shelves instead of three and no wooden top. The bottom shelf is the largest, for heavy items, and the casters rotate.
- Size: 18.9″ D × 5.12″ W × 31.7″ H, 12.8 lb
- Holds: up to 21 kg (46 lb) in total, according to the listing
- Rating: 4.2★ from 42 ratings
A buyer in Japan bought it specifically for kitchen gap storage and says it fit perfectly between the fridge and the wall, finally putting to use a space they’d always thought was wasted. They use the four shelves for pantry stock, and like that they can roll it out to clean behind it. In the US, buyers have put it between a toilet and the wall and between a washer and dryer.
Good to know before you buy
- The casters can be stiff. Another buyer in Japan, who uses it between a washing machine and a sink, says it’s heavy and the wheels don’t roll smoothly, so pulling it in and out takes some effort.
- Quality control complaints: one buyer’s cart arrived leaning badly toward the top, and another’s had chipped paint. With only 42 ratings so far, it’s hard to say how common this is.
- It’s steel, so it can scratch an appliance or cabinet if it bumps into one.
Which one?
- Most kitchens: the Slim Rolling Cart with Handle. It’s lighter, has the handle, and has a much longer track record, with about 2,500 ratings.
- If you want more shelves for pantry stock: the Slim 4-Tier Rolling Cart, as long as you don’t need to pull it out often.
And if your gap is too narrow or too awkward for a cart, do what I do and use it for something that rarely moves, like a slim trash can or a stack of reusable bags. The point is the same: in a small kitchen, no gap is too small to be useful.
For more small-kitchen ideas, see my 7 Yamazaki kitchen picks for small kitchens and how to use the side of your fridge for magnetic storage.
Star ratings and rating counts are from Amazon.com product pages as of October 2026 and may have changed. Counts include ratings from other Amazon stores. Product details are from the manufacturer’s listings.
Sources:
- Yamazaki Home product listings on Amazon.com (models 3628 and 1806)
