1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing and using AkiyaHub's services, owned and operated by Kintsugi Group GK ("Kintsugi Group," "AkiyaHub," "we," "our," or "us"), you agree to comply with and be bound by these Terms of Service, our Privacy Policy, and any additional policies referenced on this page. If you do not agree to these terms, you must not use our services.

2. Services Provided

AkiyaHub offers a paid online platform and related support services for individuals interested in purchasing, researching, and understanding akiya and other properties in Japan. Our services may include:

• Membership access to resources, Visa and Language tools, forums, guides, and educational content
• A property feed and related research tools
• Communication tools and translation-assisted coordination features
• Additional individual services and programs as announced from time to time

Certain services may be offered on a subscription basis, as one-time purchases, or as custom-priced services or programs depending on the member's needs and the scope of work.

3. Membership Eligibility

To use our services, you must:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Be capable of forming a legally binding contract under applicable law

4. Account Registration

You must provide accurate, current, and complete information during the registration process and keep it updated. You are responsible for safeguarding your password and for all activities under your account.

5. Fees, Billing, Renewals, and Refunds

Certain AkiyaHub features and services require payment. These may include subscription memberships, one-time individual services, and custom-priced programs or support services.

• Membership Subscriptions: Memberships may be billed monthly or annually and automatically renew unless canceled before the next billing date.
• Lifetime Membership: When expressly offered, Lifetime Membership is a one-time membership purchase with no monthly or annual AkiyaHub membership renewal. It applies to the AkiyaHub platform membership offering identified on the applicable offer when purchased. New products, premium features, add-ons, or services that AkiyaHub offers separately are not automatically included. Included service credits and their quantities are limited to what is stated on the applicable offer and checkout. The stated usage timeframe is a planning expectation; extensions are reviewed by the team case by case rather than automatically enforced by the platform. Additional property services, third-party costs, and a Home Steward's own service fees remain separately payable unless expressly included.
• One-Time Services: Certain individual services may be purchased separately.
• Custom-Priced Services and Programs: Some services or programs are priced based on the member's needs, the scope of work, timing, third-party involvement, or other service-specific factors.

Except as required by applicable law, fees are non-refundable once a billing cycle has started or once a purchased service has been completed or substantially performed.

For subscriptions, cancellation stops future renewals but does not create a refund for the current billing period. For custom-priced services and programs, the final price, scope, and applicable cancellation/refund terms will be disclosed before the order is confirmed. When a custom program fee includes a 7-day money-back window, that window is shown before the order is confirmed and applies only to that custom program fee. It does not apply to membership, Lifetime Membership, one-time property services, or any other fee.

Lifetime Membership is tied to the purchasing account, is non-transferable, and remains subject to these Terms and permitted use of the platform. Except where required by applicable law, a Lifetime Membership purchase is final sale. Expiration of an included service credit does not end the underlying Lifetime Membership access.

We reserve the right to change fees, pricing structures, and available plans with prior notice where required.

6. Platform Tools

The property feed tool and related tools may use AI, third-party data, user-submitted information, or automated processes to identify, organize, translate, or summarize properties and related information. We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of any information presented. You are responsible for conducting your own due diligence before making any purchase or investment decision.

Communication tools, including direct messaging with the AkiyaHub team, public forums, and real-time translation features, are supplementary to the platform's primary services and may rely on third-party hosting providers, APIs, and translation systems. Misuse, reverse engineering, scraping, unauthorized modification, or abusive use of these tools is prohibited and may result in account suspension or termination.

7. Community Guidelines

Members must adhere to guidelines prohibiting:

• Harassment, discrimination, or abusive behavior
• Posting illegal or harmful content
• Unauthorized commercial activities
• Sharing personal information without consent

Violation of these guidelines may result in suspension or termination of membership or access to services.

8. Intellectual Property

All content, software, branding, site materials, and service-related materials are the property of AkiyaHub, Kintsugi Group GK, or their respective licensors and are protected by applicable law. Unauthorized use, reproduction, distribution, or modification is prohibited.

9.1 Property Viewings: Visual Documentation Only

Property viewing services offered by AkiyaHub (including Remote Viewings, In-Person Viewings, and any "Accelerated" viewing tier) are a visual documentation service. They are not a home inspection, structural assessment, pest inspection, or code compliance review.

In providing a viewing, AkiyaHub is not acting as a real estate broker, real estate agent, licensed Japanese real estate transaction business, or transaction representative. We do not provide brokerage, mediation, agency, Important Matters Explanation, contract execution, or other regulated property sale transaction services.

What a Viewing is

Our team captures photographs, video, and written notes of what is visible and accessible at the property on the day of the visit.

What a Viewing is not

We do not diagnose or evaluate structural integrity, termite or pest damage, moisture, mold, electrical systems, plumbing, HVAC, roof condition, or legal code compliance. No representations, warranties, or professional opinions are made about the habitability, safety, or investment merit of the property.

Conditions that limit documentation

Weather, snow cover, debris, overgrowth, locked rooms or outbuildings, unsafe areas, and legal access restrictions may prevent parts of the property from being documented. AkiyaHub is not liable for conditions that were not visible, not accessible, or that would require a licensed specialist to identify.

Your acknowledgment at purchase

Before purchasing a viewing, you will be required to tick a checkbox acknowledging these limits. Your acknowledgment (including timestamp, IP address, user-agent, the version of this disclosure you saw, and the exact text you saw) is stored on the corresponding service request as a permanent audit record. Purchasing a viewing means you understand you are receiving limited visual information only, and that AkiyaHub is not responsible for conditions that are not visible, not accessible, or that would require a licensed specialist to identify.

9.2 Comprehensive Reports: Pre-Contract Research

The Comprehensive Property Report (including any "Accelerated Comprehensive" or bundled variant) is your initial pre-contract research phase. It is a research service based on information available from multiple parties at the time of research. It is not the legally binding disclosure of the property. In Japan, the binding disclosure is the Important Matters Explanation (重要事項説明書 / jūyōjikō setsumeisho), which the seller's licensed professionals provide on contract day.

In providing a Comprehensive Report, AkiyaHub is not acting as a real estate broker, real estate agent, licensed Japanese real estate transaction business, or transaction representative. We do not provide brokerage, mediation, agency, Important Matters Explanation, contract execution, or other regulated property sale transaction services.

What the Comprehensive Report is

AkiyaHub gathers information available at the time of research from multiple parties, including (as applicable) the listing agent or seller, official public records, municipal and prefectural zoning and hazard data, and AkiyaHub's local partners and network. We deliver a written summary covering availability and pricing context, zoning and land-use notes, ownership type, land and building details (structure, year built, materials, earthquake standard, utilities), hazard-map exposure where applicable (flood, landslide, seismic, etc.), estimated fixed-asset and city-planning taxes, expected closing and ongoing costs, neighborhood and accessibility context, and non-binding offer context with discussion points to consider with the seller's agent.

What the Comprehensive Report is not

The Comprehensive Report is not the legally binding Important Matters Explanation (which the seller's licensed professionals provide on contract day), not a legal title or transactional opinion (which requires a licensed judicial scrivener or attorney), not a tax or financial opinion (which requires a licensed tax advisor or CPA), not a property appraisal (which requires a licensed appraiser), and not a home inspection or structural, pest, or environmental assessment (which requires a licensed inspector or specialist).

Limits of the analysis

Findings reflect only the information that was available to us from the above parties at the time the report was produced. Public records, hazard-map data, and agent-provided disclosures may be incomplete, outdated, or inaccurate. Final legal verification and current property condition are confirmed later, particularly on contract day via the Important Matters Explanation. Any offer context provided is informational and non-binding; final price and contract terms remain between the buyer, the seller, and the seller-side licensed professionals, and outcomes depend on the seller, the agent, and market conditions. AkiyaHub is not responsible for conditions, claims, or liabilities that were not discoverable from those sources.

Your acknowledgment at purchase

Before purchasing a Comprehensive Report, you will be required to tick a checkbox acknowledging these limits. Your acknowledgment (including timestamp, IP address, user-agent, the version of this disclosure you saw, and the exact text you saw) is stored on the corresponding service request as a permanent audit record. Purchasing a report means you understand the report reflects AkiyaHub's best-effort research using only the information the parties above made available at the time of research, that the report does not replace the legally binding Important Matters Explanation provided on contract day, and that AkiyaHub is not responsible for conditions, claims, or liabilities that were not discoverable from those sources.

10. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, AkiyaHub is not liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, exemplary, or punitive damages arising out of or related to your use of our services.

11. Disclaimer of Warranties

Our services are provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, whether express, implied, or statutory, except as required by applicable law.

12. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless AkiyaHub, Kintsugi Group GK, and their officers, directors, employees, contractors, and affiliates from any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses arising from your misuse of the services, violation of these terms, or infringement of any rights of another person or entity.

13. Governing Law

These terms are governed by the laws of Japan. International users may also have rights under local consumer protection laws to the extent those laws apply and cannot be waived.

14. Changes to Terms

We may update these terms periodically. Updated terms will be posted on this page. Continued use of the services after such changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the updated terms.

15. Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns regarding these terms, our privacy practices, or any of our services, please contact us at [email protected]. AkiyaHub is owned and operated by Kintsugi Group GK, registered in Japan.

16. Termination

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account or access to services for any reason permitted by law, including breach of these terms, misuse of the platform, or conduct that may harm AkiyaHub, its users, or third parties.

17. Severability

If any provision of these terms is found invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect.

18. Entire Agreement

These terms, together with the Privacy Policy and any additional policies expressly incorporated by reference, constitute the entire agreement regarding your use of our services and supersede prior agreements relating to the same subject matter.