空き家 · AKIYA
Every abandoned house was once someone's home. We remember that.
MonoHaus was born from a love of Japanese houses. We don't just manage vacant properties — we bring them back to life.
“Every house tells a story of the people who built it.”
Our Story
Born from Old Houses Japan. Built on love.
Old Houses Japan started as a passion project — a platform to help people discover the beauty of Japan's traditional and abandoned homes. We watched as buyers from London, Berlin, Toronto, and Sydney fell in love with old machiya, crumbling kominka, and forgotten mountain retreats.
But we also watched what happened after the purchase. Without someone nearby who cared, these beautiful properties deteriorated. Roofs leaked. Gardens overgrew. Pipes froze in winter. The homes people had fallen in love with were slowly falling apart — and they were too far away to do anything about it.
That's why we built MonoHaus. Not as a faceless property management company, but as an extension of the care that brought these homes back into the world in the first place.
We care for our own 100-year-old property with the same attention we give yours. We know what it takes — the seasonal rhythm, the patience, the respect for materials that have lasted a century.
Traditional estate — 築150年
Wakayama Prefecture
Kyoto machiya — 築100年
Higashiyama, Kyoto
Seaside traditional house
Chiba Prefecture
Snow country kominka
Hokkaido
Why Akiya
9 million vacant homes. Each one is an opportunity — and a responsibility.
Japan's population is shrinking. In rural towns and even suburban neighborhoods, houses sit empty — some for decades. The government calls them akiya (空き家), and there are over 9 million of them. That number grows every year.
For international buyers, akiya represent something rare: affordable property in one of the world's most beautiful countries. A traditional wooden farmhouse for less than the price of a used car. A mountain retreat with views that would cost millions elsewhere. A piece of living Japanese history.
But owning an akiya is not like owning a modern apartment. These homes need care. Wooden beams need monitoring for termites and moisture. Tile roofs need seasonal inspection after typhoons and snow. Gardens need tending. Municipal regulations need navigating. And all of this needs to happen in Japanese, on the ground, with people who understand both the property and the culture.
9M+
vacant homes in Japan
¥0 — ¥5M
typical rural akiya purchase price
400+
municipal subsidy programs
25–55%
annual ROI range on renovated akiya
What We Do
From first visit to forever care.
Assessment
査定
We visit your property — or one you're considering — and document everything. Structure, utilities, pests, potential. You get a detailed report with photos, cost estimates, and our honest recommendation.
Monitoring
見守り
Monthly visits. We check security, weather damage, pipes, garden growth, and neighborhood conditions. Includes basic garden tidying, mail collection & forwarding, and photo reports with 25+ images. Your property stays safe even when you're on the other side of the world.
Renovation Support
修繕
From patching a leaky roof to a full kominka restoration. We coordinate local craftsmen, manage the budget, and send you weekly progress updates. Includes 3D scanning, floorplans, and architectural documentation. We've worked with over 200 contractors across Japan.
Tenant Finding
入居者
When your akiya is ready for tenants, we handle everything — listing, screening, lease preparation, move-in coordination. All in Japanese. All reported to you in English.
Legal & Municipal
法務
Akiya bank registration, subsidy applications, tax filings, fire safety compliance, waste regulations. We handle the paperwork so you don't have to learn Japanese bureaucracy.
Ongoing Care
永続管理
This is what makes us different. We don't just manage — we care. Full garden maintenance, mail forwarding, seasonal upkeep, emergency response, financial reporting, and the kind of attention that keeps a 100-year-old house standing for another century.
料金 · Pricing
Choose how we care for your property.
Every plan includes bilingual support, 24/7 emergency response, and monthly photo reports.
見守り · Monitoring
Keep your property safe and maintained while you're away.
- Monthly visits with 25+ photos
- Security & weather damage checks
- Basic garden tidying (weeds, trimming)
- Mail collection & forwarding
- Exterior upkeep & cleaning
- 24/7 emergency coordination
管理 · Full Management
Everything in Monitoring, plus active management of your investment.
- Everything in Monitoring
- Tenant finding & screening
- Lease management & rent collection
- Maintenance coordination
- Monthly financial reporting
- Full garden maintenance (seasonal care)
- 3D scan & floorplan of your property
- Renovation support & contractor quotes
修繕 · Renovation
Full restoration — from minor repairs to complete kominka revival.
- Everything in Full Management
- Dedicated project manager
- Contractor coordination & oversight
- Design consultation
- Professional landscaping & garden design
- 3D scan, floorplan & architectural docs
- Weekly progress reports with photos
- Budget tracking & cost control
Need something specific? All services are customizable. Try our cost estimator or talk to us.
See the Deliverable
Sample Inspection Report
See exactly what you receive every month — room-by-room findings, photo documentation, and actionable recommendations.
Our Commitment
Service Guarantee
4-hour emergency response, monthly inspections with 25+ photos, and credits if we fall short. Read our binding commitments.
Our Promise
Every house has a story. We make sure it keeps being told.
Old Houses Japan taught us that these properties aren't just investments — they're someone's heritage. A family's memories. A craftsman's life work. When you trust MonoHaus with your akiya, we treat it the way the people who built it would want us to.
“MonoHaus transformed how I manage my Kyoto property from abroad.”
Sarah C.
London · Kyoto Machiya