The fine print, in plain words
Terms of stay
Every Kichi is a fixed-term residential tenancy of 30 days or more, under Japanese tenancy law. You sign a lease, you pay once before move-in, and you live in the house as a tenant, for as much of the term as you choose. This page explains what that means in plain English. The signed lease is always the governing document.
What Kichi is
Kichi is a property management and listing service operated by Property Pilot Japan, a bilingual property consultancy. We list furnished houses across Japan for stays of 30 days or more, and we manage those stays from enquiry to move-out.
Every stay booked through Kichi is a fixed-term residential tenancy, known in Japanese law as 定期借家契約. You become a tenant, with a tenant's rights and a tenant's home.
We are not a hotel, a ryokan, a minpaku (住宅宿泊事業) or a simple lodging (簡易宿所) business, and no lodging services are provided. There is no front desk, no daily housekeeping and no nightly rate, because this is not accommodation. It is a lease.
当サービスの滞在はすべて30泊以上の定期借家契約によるものです。旅館業・住宅宿泊事業（民泊)ではありません。
The 30-day minimum
The 30-day minimum is a booking condition, displayed clearly before any agreement is made. It applies to the lease, not to how many nights you are in the house. Leases cannot be made, shortened, amended or partially cancelled in any way that results in a tenancy of fewer than 30 days.
You are always free to leave early; that is your right as a tenant, and a guest who only needs two or three weeks can book a 30-day lease and use part of it. Leaving early does not shorten the tenancy term, convert the lease into a sub-30-day tenancy, or create a pro-rata refund below the 30-day floor. The lease runs its term, and the rent for that term is payable, whether or not you are in the house for all of it.
This rule is what keeps every stay a genuine residential tenancy rather than lodging, and it applies to every house, every guest, every time.
Who your lease is with
It depends on the house, and we tell you before you see any paperwork.
- Houses owned by Property Pilot Japan (currently Kichi Narao): your lease is directly with Property Pilot Japan. We are your landlord and your point of contact.
- Partner-owned houses: your lease is with the owner. It is prepared and executed by a licensed Japanese real-estate agent (宅建業者), who provides the statutory important-matters explanation (重要事項説明) required by Japanese law. We support that process in plain English, so you understand what you are signing before you sign it.
Payment
One secure prepayment via Wise before move-in, covering the full term of your tenancy. You pay from your own bank account, in your own currency, at the mid-market exchange rate. No Japanese bank account needed.
For stays beyond about three months, we agree a payment schedule with you in writing before you sign. We walk you through the details when you enquire.
There is no cash at the door and there are no per-night charges. The amount you agree before signing is the amount you pay.
Cancellation before move-in
Each house's cancellation terms are stated in writing before you sign, so you know exactly where you stand before any money moves.
Whatever those terms are, one thing never changes: no cancellation path can result in a tenancy of fewer than 30 days. Cancellation either ends the booking before it begins, or leaves the full tenancy in place. It never turns the lease into something shorter than the 30-day floor.
During your stay
You are a tenant, and the house is yours for the term. You have quiet enjoyment of the property, and the house rules that apply are the ones written into your lease.
There is no daily housekeeping and no front-desk service; no one enters your home uninvited. If you would like help keeping the place fresh, optional paid services such as cleaning and linen changes can be arranged. Just ask.
If something breaks or stops working, report it to us and we coordinate repairs with the owner. That is our job as managers, and it is one message away throughout your stay.
Questions
If anything on this page is unclear, or your situation doesn't fit neatly into it, write to [email protected]. A human replies, and we would rather answer a question before you book than after.
Operator details are on the operator disclosure page.
This summary is provided for clarity. The signed lease and its attachments are the governing documents for every stay; where this page and a lease differ, the lease prevails.