Navigating Property Purchases and Utilities in Japan with Mailmate

Link to MailMate: https://mailmate.jp/

In this episode of the 'Buying a House in Japan' podcast, host Take welcomes John Cross, the founder of Mailmate, to discuss essential services for foreigners purchasing property in Japan. They delve into the importance of having local support to avoid missteps in areas such as setting up utilities and handling tax representations. John explains how Mailmate provides a virtual mailbox service that facilitates receiving and paying bills online, simplifies the setup of utilities, and offers additional services like tax representation and local coordination. Emphasizing the cultural nuances and challenges, the discussion highlights the 'Akiya Mate' package collaboration between Mailmate and Akiya Mart, designed to streamline these processes for foreign property owners in Japan.

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast

00:43 Meet John Cross: Founder of Mailmate

01:20 John's Journey in Japan

02:15 What is Mailmate?

03:27 Navigating Japanese Bureaucracy

07:10 Tax Representation in Japan

09:27 Challenges of Opening a Bank Account

13:06 Setting Up Utilities in Japan

18:46 Supporting Insurance Premium Payments

19:00 Handling Management Fees and Local Bank Transfers

19:17 Limitations on Payments for Owners Abroad

20:44 Setting Up Utilities and Internet Services

22:22 Mailmate's Can-Do Attitude

24:18 Rapid Fire: Can Do or Can't Do

27:28 Mailmate's Expertise and Services

30:00 Akiya Mate Package Collaboration

31:32 Onboarding Process and KYC Requirements

33:18 Why Choose Mailmate?

34:15 Contact Information and Closing Remarks