How much does a professional organizer cost in Tokyo?
It depends on the kind of help you need. In Tokyo, a professional organizer usually charges about ¥5,000 to ¥15,000 an hour, and many charge around ¥6,000. One session is often 3 to 5 hours. A cleaner costs less per hour, and a junk removal company charges by how much they take away.
If you are not sure which one you need, start here.
What kind of help do I need?
"Tidying help" can mean three different services in Japan. They do different jobs, so their prices are not comparable.
Housekeeping / cleaning: cleaning, laundry, putting things back. About ¥3,000–¥5,000 an hour, plus travel, at major services like CaSy, Bears and Pinay.
Junk removal (fuyohin kaishu): takes items away. Often about ¥50,000–¥150,000 to clear a one-bedroom apartment. More if you have a lot.
Professional organizer: helps you decide what to keep, and where it lives. About ¥5,000–¥15,000 an hour.
A housekeeper keeps a home clean. A junk removal company takes things away. An organizer works on the step before both: deciding. After that, cleaning is easier, and you know exactly what needs to go.
How do organizers in Tokyo charge?
There are two main ways.
Hourly or per session: you pay for time. Good for choosing the spaces that bother you most, one at a time. You decide how many sessions, one at a time.
Whole-home program: you pay for finishing the whole home. Good for a move, or a home that has felt heavy for years. You plan the sessions together at the start.
For example, one 4-hour session at ¥6,000 an hour costs ¥24,000. A whole family home usually takes several sessions, so the total depends on how many you book.
Hourly is easy to start. Some organizers also offer packages of several sessions. The risk with hourly booking: when work gets busy, it is easy to stop halfway and leave the home half done.
What costs are not included?
Most organizers in Tokyo, including me, do not take your items away. But a good organizer will help you plan what leaves and how. Plan for these costs too:
Large items (sodai gomi): You book a pickup with your ward and buy a sticker at a convenience store. The fee depends on the item and your ward. It is usually a few hundred to a few thousand yen per item. The pickup is often two weeks or more after you book, and it can take longer in March and April, when many people move. Book about a month before you need it gone.
Air conditioners, TVs, fridges and washing machines: These cannot go out as sodai gomi. Japan's recycling law says a store or licensed company has to take them, and there is a recycling fee.
Storage items: You may need fewer than you think. When you keep only what you need, the storage you already have is often enough.
Junk removal, if you have a lot to clear at once before a move. The price depends on how much you have. Ask for a written quote before they start, and choose a company with a local license. Consumer centers in Japan warn about ads like "one truckload, one fixed price" that end in a much higher bill.
What should I check if I am booking for someone else?
The person who contacts an organizer is often not the person who lives in the home. It may be an assistant, a secretary, or a family member. If that is you, these five points will help you compare:
Language: Can the organizer work in English, in person, with the person who lives there?
Timeline: Is there a date to work toward, like a move or a handover? Can the organizer finish the home before then?
Scheduling: Can they work on weekends or evenings, when the person is at home? How far ahead do you need to book?
Budget: Is it an hourly rate or one fixed price? What is not included, like garbage fees or junk removal?
Who talks to whom: Can you handle the booking and get updates, while the organizer talks directly with the person about their things? Is there a free first call?
Organizing works best when the person who owns the things makes the decisions. A short first call with them, even 30 minutes, makes everything after that easier.
How is my work different?
I am a KonMari® consultant in Tokyo. Here is what I offer, so you can see if it fits:
A Japanese organizer who works in English, in person. English-speaking organizers are hard to find in Tokyo. I know how Japanese homes and local rules work, like the garbage rules in each ward. And there is no language gap with you, your family, or your housekeeper.
I stay with you until the whole home is done. I do not sell hours. My program is one fixed price, ¥600,000 for 120 days. It includes 6 in-person sessions of 3 to 5 hours, Zoom check-ins between sessions, and message support until we finish.
You get a system, not just a tidy room. You keep only what you need, and every item has a place. A cleaner cannot do this part for you. It is the base that makes daily tidying easy.
A clear plan for what leaves. I do not take items away, but I make a plan with you: what goes to sodai gomi, what to sell or give away, and when to book each pickup, so everything is gone before your move.
If this sounds like what you need, let's talk. You can book a free 30-minute call on Zoom. We will talk about your home and your timing, and see if it is a good fit. If you want to know what we actually do together, read what the first session looks like.
