Garry, AustraliaOwner of two apartments in Japan
“...it is like having a family member based in Japan to help you navigate the intricacies of the Japan property market and any language barriers.”
One Point of Contact for your Property in Japan
Mail, bills, tax notices, and practical help for your home away from home.
- Understand what arrives in Japanese
- Keep bills and property admin moving
- Get help coordinating local services
Brett, United States2 houses in Tokyo
“MailMate's been my go to for all my property purchases in Japan. Receiving and paying my taxes all in one place has been a huge help.”
Akiya CollectiveKomoro, Nagano
“MailMate took what used to be our biggest operational headache (handling akiya mail and payments from overseas) and made it effortless.”
We are a Concierge to your Property In Japan
We help make sure documents are received, bills are processed, and any of your needs are handled so when you are visiting you can focus on making the most of your time in Japan.
Reach out to a dedicated Property Hotline for help on anything
We’ll help you source local providers for regular maintenance and any needs that come up.
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Gardening
Overgrown gardens and seasonal upkeep
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Cleaning
Getting the home ready for your return
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Maintenance & repairs
Finding the right specialist for the job
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Snow removal
Seasonal access and property needs
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Pest control
Help contacting a local provider
Get a Virtual Mailbox and see Everything that Arrives in Real Time
See important documents and bills as they arrive, get English summaries, and take instant action from wherever you are.
Admin, Mail, and Bills all in one place
Manage your property expenses in one place from overseas.
Electricity, gas & water
Pay ongoing bills. Get help communicating with utility providers and understanding their notices.
Property tax payments
Property tax notices and payment requests. Get help receiving them and arranging eligible payments while you’re overseas.
Contractor payments
Invoices from plumbers, electricians, and other contractors. Get help understanding the bill and arranging an eligible payment from overseas.
Condo & association fees
Management fees, repair reserve funds, parking, and the building’s other mail: meeting notices, votes, and minutes. Each one shows up in the app with an English summary.
Internet
Keep up with monthly bills and contract notices. Ask about help arranging a connection for your property.
Home insurance
Read premium notices and renewal paperwork in English, with help coordinating correspondence and eligible payments.
Trash & local fees
Waste collection, bulky-item disposal, neighborhood dues, and shared service charges.
MailMate
Your property
Mail & payments, in one place.
Bills & payments5
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ElectricityTokyo Electric¥8,420 Paid
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Condo management管理費 · March¥12,600 Paid
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Repair fund修繕積立金 · March¥15,400 Paid
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Property taxNotice received¥46,200 To review
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PlumberInvoice¥38,000 Approved
Property mail2
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Meeting noticeOwners’ associationSummary -
Inspection noticeBuilding managementSummary
Start with the essentials. Add what you need.
Compare ongoing plans for your home in Japan.
Monthly
Yearly
Save up to 20%
Tax 🔧
Get the basics to buy and manage your property in Japan.
What’s included
- Receive and pay your property tax bills without a Japanese bank account.
- Register MailMate as your Domestic Point of Contact at the time of your property purchase.
- Receive your Japanese Mail digitally with English summaries & an interactive Mail Concierge.
Popular
Peace of Mind 🌱
Everything you need for peace of mind for your property in Japan, even when you are not here.
What’s included
- Receive and pay your property tax bills without a Japanese bank account.
- Register MailMate as your Domestic Point of Contact at the time of your property purchase.
- Receive your Japanese Mail digitally with English summaries & an interactive Mail Concierge.
- Local point of contact and bill pay for your condo or building association.
- Local point of contact for utility set-up and ongoing bill-pay.
¥14,800/ month
Billed annually · setup fee below
- One-time set-up & filing fee: ¥33,000
Fully Serviced 🏠
One-stop solution for everything you need for ongoing peace of mind for your property.
What’s included
- Receive and pay your property tax bills without a Japanese bank account.
- Register MailMate as your Domestic Point of Contact at the time of your property purchase.
- Receive your Japanese Mail digitally with English summaries & an interactive Mail Concierge.
- Local point of contact and bill pay for your condo or building association.
- Local point of contact for utility set-up and ongoing bill-pay.
- Get fiber optic internet set-up at your property (inclusive of monthly internet fees)
¥24,800/ month
Billed annually · setup fee below
- One-time set-up & filing fee: ¥66,000
Multi-Property 🛸
Manage bill-pay, utilities, internet, and everything else for multiple properties all in one place.
What’s included
- Choose anything from Tax, Peace of Mind, and Fully Serviced à la carte
Tax 🔧
Get the basics to buy and manage your property in Japan.
What’s included
- Receive and pay your property tax bills without a Japanese bank account.
- Register MailMate as your Domestic Point of Contact at the time of your property purchase.
- Receive your Japanese Mail digitally with English summaries & an interactive Mail Concierge.
Popular
Peace of Mind 🌱
Everything you need for peace of mind for your property in Japan, even when you are not here.
What’s included
- Receive and pay your property tax bills without a Japanese bank account.
- Register MailMate as your Domestic Point of Contact at the time of your property purchase.
- Receive your Japanese Mail digitally with English summaries & an interactive Mail Concierge.
- Local point of contact and bill pay for your condo or building association.
- Local point of contact for utility set-up and ongoing bill-pay.
Fully Serviced 🏠
One-stop solution for everything you need for ongoing peace of mind for your property.
What’s included
- Receive and pay your property tax bills without a Japanese bank account.
- Register MailMate as your Domestic Point of Contact at the time of your property purchase.
- Receive your Japanese Mail digitally with English summaries & an interactive Mail Concierge.
- Local point of contact and bill pay for your condo or building association.
- Local point of contact for utility set-up and ongoing bill-pay.
- Get fiber optic internet set-up at your property (inclusive of monthly internet fees)
Multi-Property 🛸
Manage bill-pay, utilities, internet, and everything else for multiple properties all in one place.
What’s included
- Choose anything from Tax, Peace of Mind, and Fully Serviced à la carte
Plan Comparison
| Tax | Peace of Mind | Fully Serviced | Multi-Property | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breakdown | ||||
| Tax Representative | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Domestic Point of Contact | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Property Management and Association Bill-pay & Local Liaison | X | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Utility Set-up, Bill-pay, & Local Liaison | X | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Fiber Optic Internet (10 Gbps) | X | X | ✓ | ✓ |
| Properties | Up to 2 | Up to 2 | Up to 2 | 3 or More |
| Home Insurance | X | Add-on | Add-on | ✓ |
| Akiya, Property Help & Support Hotline | X | Add-on | Add-on | ✓ |
| Property Visit & Check-in | X | X | Add-on | ✓ |
| One Time Set-up & Filing | ¥22,000 | ¥33,000 | ¥66,000 | Talk to Us |
| Virtual Mailbox & Mail Management | ||||
| Virtual Mailbox for Japanese Mail | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| English Mail Summaries & an Interactive Mail Concierge | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Complimentary Mail Opens * | 2 p/mo | 5 p/mo | 10 p/mo | ✓ |
| Auto-pay for bills * | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free Letter & Document Mail storage for 30 days * | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Customer Stories
See how property owners use MailMate
From akiya renovations to multi-property portfolios — real stories from second home owners managing their properties remotely.
Akiya Properties • Japan
Akiya Collective
How Akiya Collective manages tax and compliance for multiple rural properties across Japan.
Read story →
Property Management • Japan
Akiya Mart
Streamlining utility management and tax representation across a growing portfolio of akiya properties.
Read story →Frequently Asked Questions
What does MailMate do for overseas owners of property in Japan?
MailMate is a property concierge for owners who live outside Japan. We receive and digitize your Japanese property mail with English summaries, pay bills without a Japanese bank account, act as your property tax representative and domestic point of contact, set up utilities and internet, help arrange home insurance and security, and coordinate local help such as gardening, cleaning, and home check-ins.
Can I own and manage a property in Japan without a Japanese bank account?
Yes. With MailMate, overseas owners can receive and pay Japanese property tax bills, utility bills, condo and association fees, and contractor invoices without a Japanese bank account. Bills arrive in your MailMate account with an English summary, and eligible payments are arranged in Japan on your behalf.
Can you help before I buy, or if I already own a home?
Both. If you are buying a property in Japan, talk to MailMate about the mail, local contacts, tax representative, and services to arrange for your handover. If you already own a property, we can help you choose support for the bills, notices, and ongoing tasks you need covered.
How do I appoint MailMate as a tax agent for my akiya?
To appoint a tax representative in Japan, you submit a Notification Form of Appointment of Tax Agent (納税管理人の届出書) to the tax office responsible for your property. Book a call with MailMate, and we will help you with the details to use when filling out the form.
Can you help with property tax and utility bills?
Yes. Depending on your plan, MailMate can help with tax representative setup, Japanese tax notices, utility arrangements, and bill payments. If you need rental-income accounting or tax filing in Japan, talk to us about accounting support.
As a water and energy liaison for my akiya, what will you do?
As your utility liaison, MailMate calls the gas, water, and electricity companies in Japan to get your utilities turned on. Our bill payment service then pays the utility bills as they come in, so the services at your akiya or second home keep running while you are overseas.
How does MailMate receive my property’s mail?
There are two ways for MailMate to receive mail for your property in Japan: submit a change of address notification to the post office’s forwarding service, or register your MailMate address directly with the providers and other senders you use. Mail received by MailMate can be viewed online, with English summaries to help you understand what needs attention.
Is MailMate’s dashboard easy to use?
Yes. In the MailMate dashboard you can open, scan, forward, request shredding, share, request English translation summaries, and request bill payment for your Japanese mail. Anyone who regularly uses email can use it immediately.
Are there any restrictions on the size of mail MailMate can receive?
MailMate can receive everything from documents and envelopes that fit in a mailbox to packages measuring less than 170 cm in total width, depth, and height. Contact us if you would like to forward a package larger than 170 cm.
What does the property concierge help with?
The MailMate property concierge helps you understand Japanese correspondence, contact providers, and coordinate agreed tasks for your home in Japan. The support included depends on your plan. Additional coordination and specialist work are confirmed separately, so you know the scope before proceeding.
Can you arrange cleaning, gardening, or repairs?
Yes. MailMate can help contact local providers in Japan for gardening, cleaning, maintenance and repairs, snow removal, and pest control, and discuss access arrangements. Availability depends on the location and the job. Specialists carry out the work, and you approve it before it starts.
Enjoy your home in Japan. We’ll help with the everyday details.
Create your account to get started, or tell us about your property and we’ll help you choose the right support.