If you own a house in Tokyo but live somewhere else, the garden doesn't need you standing in it. Leave the gate or fence open on the day and we can do the work with nobody at home. Many of these houses belonged to parents. Some have been empty for years.
Photos of the finished garden can be emailed to you if you'd like them. For a flat garden that's easy to cut, weeding alone usually comes to about ¥20,000 to ¥30,000.
We are Daruma Ueki, a small gardening business based in Ota, Tokyo, and we go anywhere in Tokyo. You can ask in English by email or LINE.
In this article
All we need: the address, the gate and a few photos
Send us the address, tell us how the gate or fence opens, and add a few photos of the garden if you can get them. We take it from there. Find the row closest to your situation:
| The garden now | What to do next |
|---|---|
| The weeds have just grown | Ask for weeding. For a flat garden, about ¥20,000 to ¥30,000 is a typical guide |
| Branches reach next door or over the road | Ask for pruning at the same time |
| Lots of vines, or steps and slopes | Send photos for an estimate. These take longer, so cost more |
| There may be a wasp or bee nest | Mention it and we check it when we come for the estimate |
| Nobody can take photos | Send the address only. We go and look |
| It has been tidied once already | Twice a year around summer. Once a year at least |
Who sends the message doesn't matter. A brother or sister in Japan, a relative, or the real estate company handling the property can contact us on the owner's behalf.
If the gate is locked, simply say so and we can talk about how it gets opened on the day. Please don't put key codes or the place a key is hidden in your photos.
Gardens we often hear about
- Weeds up to your waist, so you can't reach the front door
- A tree that has grown until its branches cross into the neighbour's garden or over the street
- Vines climbing the fence or the wall of the house
- A neighbour has asked you to do something about the garden
- You plan to sell or rent the house and want the garden presentable first
In Japan an empty house like this is called an akiya. If a neighbour has already said something, it's worth booking soon.
How it works when you can't be there
From the first message to payment, nobody has to come to the house.
- Tell us the address and what the garden looks like, by LINE or email. No photos? We'll go and see.
- We visit within a week and send you an estimate. In Japan this on-site quote is called a mitsumori, and ours is free.
- We agree a date. Please leave the gate or fence open for us. This is garden work, so we don't go inside the house.
- If you'd like, we email you photos of the finished garden.
- Payment can be made by bank transfer, so nothing has to be handed over in person.
After the estimate, the work itself usually happens within a month. Allow up to about a month to be safe.
DarumaCan I really book this if there's nobody at the house?
TatsuroYeah, we do jobs where no one's there. It's garden work, so if you leave the fence or gate open for us, that's fine.
DarumaThen how do I know it's done?
TatsuroIf you want, I'll email photos afterwards. Usually, though, you just see it with your own eyes, and if nothing looks off, that's it.
DarumaAnd if it's only the weeds?
TatsuroAbout twenty to thirty thousand yen. It depends on the vines and how the house is laid out, but if it's flat and easy to cut, it doesn't get that expensive.
So you can book with no one at home, as long as the gate or fence is open. Usually you check the result yourself the next time you're there. If that's months away, ask for photos by email.
What it costs
Weeding a flat garden that's easy to cut tends to come to around ¥20,000 to ¥30,000. Thick vines, or a house layout that makes cutting awkward, push the price up. These are our guide prices for the work itself, tax included:
| Work | Guide price (tax incl.) |
|---|---|
| Machine mowing | From ¥330 / m² |
| Hand weeding | From ¥660 / m² |
| Tree pruning, under 3 m | From ¥3,300 / tree |
| Tree felling, under 3 m | From ¥5,500 / tree |
Collecting and disposing of the cut grass and branches is charged separately. The estimate shows the total before anything is booked, so you can decide from wherever you are.
If a tree has grown over the neighbour's side, see When your tree hangs over the neighbour's side.
After the first tidy-up: how often?
Once a year at the very least. Twice a year, around summer, is what we suggest, because weeds shoot up between spring and summer. If it's mainly the weeds that bother you, spraying weed killer or pulling them yourself in between makes a real difference, if someone can get to the house. Regular visits can also come with photos by email.
DarumaOnce it's tidy, how many times a year should you come?
TatsuroOnce a year minimum. I'd say twice, around summer. Twice a year and it's in pretty good shape. It depends a lot on what's growing and the situation, though.
DarumaIf we leave it for a while, will the trees die?
TatsuroThere are houses left for ten years, so no, leaving it won't kill them. It's really about how tidy you want it to look, and whether you want it off your mind.
The trees won't die if the garden is left for a while. If you want the house to look looked-after, book at least one visit a year. Not sure? Start with two, around summer.
Questions owners abroad ask
Q. Do I need to come to Japan, or visit the house at all?
A. No, as long as we can get into the garden. Just tell us beforehand how to open the gate or fence.
Q. Will you always send photos of the finished work?
A. We send photos by email after the work if you ask for them.
Q. Can a relative or a property agent arrange it for me?
A. Yes. We also take requests from someone other than the owner, such as a relative or a real estate company.
Q. There might be a wasp or bee nest in the garden.
A. We can remove nests as well. We look at it together with everything else when we come to give the estimate.
Q. Can I arrange everything in English?
A. Yes, by email or LINE. If English-speaking staff need to be arranged for a visit, an additional fee may apply. That is not a charge on every English email or LINE message.
Send the address and a few photos
Send the address and some photos of the garden by LINE or email. The estimate is free, and we come to look within a week. We work anywhere in Tokyo.
English is fine by email or LINE. An additional fee may apply if English-speaking staff need to be arranged for a visit. This does not mean every English email or LINE enquiry carries an extra charge.