手入れ · The Art of Care
These homes have stood for generations. They deserve to stand for generations more.
In Japan, there's a word — 手入れ (teire) — that means more than maintenance. It means the ongoing, attentive care that keeps something alive. A garden pruned with thought. A roof checked after every storm. A house treated not as an asset, but as something worth preserving.
MonoHaus grew from Old Houses Japan — a community that helps people discover akiya and traditional properties. We watched buyers fall in love with these homes from thousands of miles away, then struggle to care for them. Roofs leak, gardens overgrow, mail piles up.
We built MonoHaus to be there when you can't — to give your home the 手入れ it was built to receive.
Backed by Old Houses Japan
500K+
Community members
Old Houses Japan
9M+
Akiya in Japan
And growing every year
47
Prefectures covered
Nationwide reach
100%
Bilingual team
English & Japanese
自分の家 · Our Own Home
We don't just manage old homes. We live in one.
Our own 100+ year old home in Mie Prefecture has been in our care for years — ongoing renovations, seasonal maintenance, the full 手入れ.
It's where we learned that caring for a traditional Japanese home isn't a service. It's a way of life. Every lesson we've learned restoring our own kominka goes directly into how we care for yours.
守り方 · How We Care
Tell us about your property. We handle everything else.
From your first enquiry to monthly reports years down the line — one team, one relationship, one standard of care. Everything in Japanese, reported to you in English.
Protect
守る
Monthly visits with 25+ photos. Garden care, mail collection, seasonal maintenance. We notice what the seasons do to your home — before they do damage.
Manage
管理
Tenants, finances, legal compliance, 3D documentation. The entire business side — handled in Japanese, reported to you in English.
Transform
変える
From patching a leaky roof to bringing a century-old kominka back to life. Vetted craftsmen who understand traditional construction.
流れ · How It Works
From first enquiry to full peace of mind.
Day 1
Tell Us About Your Property
Fill out our simple form — location, condition, what you need. Takes 5 minutes.
Within 48 hrs
Personalized Care Plan
We assess your property and send a tailored plan with transparent pricing. No surprises.
Week 1
First Inspection
Our team visits your property for a thorough 25+ photo assessment and condition report.
Week 2
Dashboard Goes Live
Your owner portal activates with your first report, photos, and property details.
Every month
Ongoing 手入れ
Monthly visits, seasonal maintenance, and detailed reports. We handle everything from here.
四季の手入れ · Seasonal Care
Japan has four seasons. Your home needs care in all of them.
Traditional Japanese homes are built to breathe with the seasons — but that also means each season brings specific risks. We follow a proactive maintenance calendar so nothing catches you off guard.
Spring
Mar – May
- Post-winter damage inspection
- Gutter and drain clearing
- Garden pruning & planting
- Pest prevention treatment
- Ventilation check after humid winter
Summer
Jun – Aug
- Typhoon preparation & shutters
- Mold and humidity control
- Air conditioning servicing
- Overgrowth management
- Storm damage rapid response
Autumn
Sep – Nov
- Roof tile inspection
- Winterization prep
- Leaf clearing & garden care
- Heating system check
- Exterior wood treatment
Winter
Dec – Feb
- Pipe freeze prevention
- Snow load monitoring
- Moisture & condensation control
- Emergency storm response
- Interior ventilation checks
管理画面 · Your Dashboard
See everything. From anywhere.
Your owner portal gives you real-time visibility into every property. No phone calls. No guessing.
Inspection Report — May 2026
MonoHaus Team · 8 areas · Good
預かり物 · In Our Care
Homes we look after.
声 · What Owners Say
Real owners. Real peace of mind.
I live in Portland and haven't worried about my Kyoto machiya in two years. Their monthly reports are so detailed I feel like I visited myself.
Sarah M.
Portland, OR
Kyoto Machiya · 築90年
After buying through Old Houses Japan, MonoHaus was the obvious choice. They found roof damage during their first inspection that would have cost me ten times more to fix later.
James K.
London, UK
Wakayama Kominka · 築120年
The language barrier was my biggest fear. MonoHaus handles everything with contractors and the city office in Japanese, then sends me a clear English summary. It just works.
Marc D.
Lyon, France
Chiba Traditional House · 築70年
創業者 · From the Founder
“I bought a 100-year-old house in rural Mie because I couldn't stop thinking about it. Then I spent years learning what it actually takes to keep an old Japanese home alive — the craftsmen, the seasons, the language, the paperwork. MonoHaus exists so you don't have to figure all that out alone.”
Founder, MonoHaus
A sister company of Old Houses Japan
よくある質問 · FAQ
Questions we hear every week.
Can foreigners actually own property in Japan?
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Yes — Japan has no restrictions on foreign property ownership. You don't need residency, a visa, or citizenship. You can buy freehold land and buildings in your own name. It's one of the most open property markets in the world.
What happens if there's a typhoon or earthquake?
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We monitor weather alerts for every property in our care. Before a typhoon, we secure shutters, clear drains, and prep the property. After any major event, we conduct an emergency inspection within 24 hours and send you a full report with photos. If there's damage, we coordinate repairs immediately.
How do I pay from overseas?
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We accept international bank transfers (SWIFT), Wise, and PayPal. All invoicing is in English with transparent line items. We also handle paying your Japanese property taxes, utility bills, and contractor invoices on your behalf — so you never need a Japanese bank account.
I don't speak Japanese. Is that a problem?
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Not at all — that's exactly why we exist. Our entire team is bilingual. We handle every interaction in Japanese (contractors, city offices, neighbors, tax authorities) and report everything back to you in English. You never need to make a single call in Japanese.
How often do you visit the property?
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Our standard monitoring plan includes monthly visits with 25+ photos and a detailed condition report. For full management properties, we visit as often as needed — weekly during tenant turnover, after storms, or for renovation oversight.
What if I want to rent out my property?
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We handle the entire rental process: tenant screening, lease agreements, rent collection, and ongoing management. Our rental management fee is 5% of monthly rent. We can also advise on minpaku (vacation rental) licensing if you want to go that route.
What if I want to sell later?
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Properties in our care are well-documented and maintained — which makes them easier to sell and typically at a better price. We can connect you with trusted bilingual agents, and our inspection history and 3D scans make the listing process much smoother.
Do you handle renovations?
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Yes — from minor repairs to full kominka restorations. We manage the entire project: sourcing vetted craftsmen who understand traditional construction, overseeing the work, and keeping you updated with regular photo reports. Many of our renovation partners have decades of experience with heritage buildings.
出口戦略 · Exit Strategy
And if you ever want to sell?
Properties under professional management sell faster and for more. With our documentation — monthly condition reports, 3D scans, maintenance history, and renovation records — your property tells a compelling story to the next buyer. We'll connect you with trusted bilingual agents when the time comes.
Your home deserves 手入れ.
Tell us about your property — where it is, what condition it's in, what keeps you up at night. We read every enquiry ourselves.
No sales team. No call center. Just us — the same people who'll be inspecting your home — writing back within 48 hours with a personalized care plan.