Winter-Proofing a Japanese Short-Term Rental: Heating, Condensation, and the Guest Questions You'll Get
Every year, sometime in late November, it happens. A guest from Germany or Canada messages us at 11pm: “The apartment is freezing. Is the heating broken?” Almost every time, the heating works fine. They’re just meeting Japanese housing in winter for the first time: no central heating, single-pane windows, and a remote control written entirely in kanji.
October is the right time to get ready. It’s still mild enough that nobody’s complaining, and contractors aren’t booked solid yet. Here’s how we think about winter at our properties: heating, condensation, and the questions you can answer before guests have to ask them.