The first day back at a house in Japan can disappear into dust, damp futons and a cold bath. A little preparation changes that.

Two weeks before

  • Ask someone to air the house, check the water and gas, and test the heating or air-con.
  • Book a clean if it's been more than a season.
  • Order anything you'll need delivered and arrange for it to be received.
  • In winter, make sure the water system can be refilled after any drain-down.

On arrival

  • Open everything up and run all the taps for a few minutes.
  • Check the bathroom and kitchen for leaks under sinks.
  • Air futons in the sun if the weather allows.

When you leave

  • Empty the fridge and leave it propped open if you're switching it off.
  • Close shutters, set dehumidifiers to drain continuously.
  • In freezing areas, drain the water (水抜き).
  • Take photos of each room — your baseline for next time.

Tick it off with the opening-up and closing-up checklists. Or let us do it: our Arrivals & Stays service opens, cleans and switches the house on before you land, and closes it properly after.