Kyoto, Japan
Independent stewards of your Kyoto home.
We aim to lower the barriers of living in Kyoto.
What we do
01
Monthly visits
A scheduled walkthrough of the building and grounds. Rooms aired, mail sorted, the home returned to itself.
02
House care between visits
House cleaning before and after your visits, garden watering, and similar care tasks. Tailored to the rhythm of how you use the home.
03
Reports in English
After each visit, a written report with photographs, in English.
What time does to an unattended home
Quietly, and then all at once.
When the rainy season comes, moisture seeps into walls that were never opened. Mould begins to grow on tatami mats, leaving them sticky to the touch. Mail accumulates, including notices that need a response. Electrical fixtures, untouched for months, may have stopped working — and there is no one obvious to call. Typhoons leave eaves loosened and gardens broken. None of this is dramatic on any single day. It becomes visible only after months, when a returning owner finds a home that needs more than it should.
Who this is for
Current owners
Owners who keep a Kyoto residence but live elsewhere most of the year — and want the house ready whenever they return.
Future owners
Future owners who plan to buy in Kyoto but cannot be here year-round — and need someone to hold the house while they are home abroad.
Why we do this
Ryo Kambayashi — Founder
During my time living in France, I personally experienced the significant challenges that foreigners face when adapting to life in a new country. At the same time, I was deeply touched by the local people who helped me navigate those difficulties, turning moments of struggle into lifelong lessons.
While Japan is highly regarded as a country to visit, it often scores lower as a place people wish to live. This is because there are few situations where English is understood, and there is an exclusive aspect that does not always welcome foreigners. Yet Japan offers an unparalleled quality of life — a place where you can always buy a warm drink from a vending machine and walk safely alone at night.
My dream is to foster deeper connections with people from around the world and transform Japan into a welcoming environment where anyone can feel at home. By offering those who love Japanese culture an experience of the finest lifestyle this country has to offer, I believe we can turn Japan into a home for all.
Being mindful of your neighbors and exchanging greetings — that is what community is all about.
Plans
The same work, scaled three ways.
Every plan rests on the same principles and the same monthly retainer.
Essential JPY 80,000 / month tax excluded For homes up to ~120m², within Kyoto city. | Premium JPY 150,000 / month tax excluded For homes up to ~200m², or with a garden needing regular care. | Heritage From JPY 300,000 / month tax excluded For larger residences, machiya of historical value, or owners of multiple properties. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| We visit | Monthly | Every two weeks | Weekly |
| We air the rooms | Included | Included | Included |
| We collect the mail | Sorted and forwarded monthly | Sorted, photographed, forwarded | Same, with urgent items flagged same day |
| House cleaning | Not included (quoted separately) | Not included (quoted separately) | Monthly |
| We report | Monthly | Monthly | Monthly |
Essential
JPY 80,000 / month
tax excluded
For homes up to ~120m², within Kyoto city.
We visit
Monthly
We air the rooms
Included
We collect the mail
Sorted and forwarded monthly
House cleaning
Not included (quoted separately)
We report
Monthly
Premium
JPY 150,000 / month
tax excluded
For homes up to ~200m², or with a garden needing regular care.
We visit
Every two weeks
We air the rooms
Included
We collect the mail
Sorted, photographed, forwarded
House cleaning
Not included (quoted separately)
We report
Monthly
Heritage
From JPY 300,000 / month
tax excluded
For larger residences, machiya of historical value, or owners of multiple properties.
We visit
Weekly
We air the rooms
Included
We collect the mail
Same, with urgent items flagged same day
House cleaning
Monthly
We report
Monthly
Optional
When a home needs more than upkeep.
Some homes need restoration, not only maintenance — a roof, a wall, or a room brought back. In such cases, we may be able to coordinate specialist contractors on your behalf. A separate quote is required, and as coordination with Japanese contractors takes time, the schedule may extend accordingly. We appreciate your understanding of local practice.
How pricing works.
Prices are a monthly baseline, tax excluded. The final fee depends on the size, location, and condition of your home, and is confirmed in a written proposal before anything begins. Homes beyond these sizes, or properties outside Kyoto city, are quoted individually.
Each plan begins with an initial three-month period. After that, it continues month to month — you may end it with one month's notice. Payment can be made by credit card or via WISE transfer.
Scope of service
Villa Care Kyoto provides residential maintenance services for homes used by their owners. The scope of what we do and do not do is defined below.
What we provide
- Scheduled visits
- Mail confirmation and forwarding
- Airing and running water
- Written reports
What we do not provide
- Security services
- Real estate brokerage
- Property registration procedures
- Legal, tax, or travel advisory
- Tasks requiring permits or licenses (representation before public authorities, regulated professional work)
- Payment on your behalf (taxes, purchase payments, other charges)
- Contract execution, negotiations, or performance management on behalf of either party
If your Kyoto home needs a quiet, capable hand.
We respond within two business days. In English or Japanese.