WordPress maintenance service in Japan – updates, backups and monitoring in one monthly plan
WordPress is easy to run until the updates pile up. Skip core, plugin and PHP updates for a while and the risk of broken layouts or a hacked site grows quietly. If you are nervous about pressing "Update" or your original developer is hard to reach, it is time to sort out maintenance. This page covers what a WordPress care plan includes, typical costs, how to update safely and what to prepare – and how UNANOBO runs monthly maintenance.
- Free demo – decide after you see it
- By message, in Japanese or English
- One person from demo to launch
FREE DEMO
See your WordPress site updated – free
Send us your current site address. We build a free demo with updated core, plugins and PHP, so you can see what needs care before choosing a plan.
- A demo on an up-to-date WordPress setup
- See what breaks or is outdated on screen
- A clear list of monthly maintenance tasks
What happens when WordPress is left alone
WordPress maintenance is the regular care that keeps a site safe and working. Core applies small security releases automatically, but themes, plugins and the server's PHP version need someone to check and update them. On neglected sites, these problems are common:
- Hacks and break-ins: an outdated plugin is exploited and spam pages or ads are injected
- Sudden errors: the host upgrades PHP and an old theme shows a white "critical error" screen
- Silent form failures: inquiry emails stop arriving and nobody notices for weeks
- Update paralysis: years of pending updates make every change feel risky
- Lost access: nobody knows the admin or hosting logins, so nobody can fix anything
If Dashboard > Updates shows a long list, or you cannot say when the last backup was taken, set up proper maintenance now. Our guide to WordPress security explains how to protect the site from attacks.
WordPress maintenance checklist
"Maintenance" means different things to different providers. When you compare plans, check whether each of these tasks is included.
- Updates: WordPress core, theme and plugins, with a visual check afterwards
- PHP and hosting: PHP version, SSL certificate expiry, domain and hosting renewal dates
- Backups: scheduled backups of files and database, stored off the server
- Security: login protection, removing unused plugins and users, checking for tampering
- Monitoring: is the site up, do forms send, has speed dropped
- Content updates: swapping text and images for news, prices or staff pages
- Reporting: what was done this month and what should be handled next
Two things are often missed: whether a backup can actually be restored, and whether form emails really arrive. Beyond the task list, confirm in writing what the provider does when something breaks, and how far that support goes.
Send your URL and we will check it in a free demo and list the maintenance work it needs.
How to update without breaking the site
Most update disasters come from updating everything at once on the live site without checking. A safe routine looks like this:
- Back up: save files and database right before updating
- Read the changelog: look for major changes and compatibility notes
- Test on staging: update a copy of the live site first and check pages and functions
- Apply to live: update one item at a time, at a quiet hour
- Check after launch: home page, key pages, forms and the mobile view
A PHP upgrade touches the whole site, so it is planned after checking theme and plugin compatibility – see WordPress PHP upgrade for the steps. If your site already shows a white screen or an error, start with fixing WordPress errors.
What the free demo gives you
- 01A working demoA demo site you can open and click through on a computer and a phone.
- 02A structure proposalWhich pages you need, what goes on each and where visitors get in touch.
- 03Plan and estimateAfter you have seen the demo you get the plan to launch and an estimate.
Why it is safe to ask
- The demo is free. If you decide not to go ahead, it costs you nothing.
- Everything happens by message, in Japanese or English.
- Your domain, hosting, ad and analytics accounts stay in your name.
- The founder handles your project from the first demo to growth after launch – one contact all the way.
Demo sites we built
Renovation – KUTEstimate request, projects and prices
Dental clinic – ORATreatments, prices, doctors and booking
Car service – OBERTService and detailing prices, booking
Template demos with fictional brands. Yours is built with your own brand and content.
WordPress maintenance cost and choosing a provider
Cost depends on scope. As a typical range in Japan, a basic plan with updates and backups runs from a few thousand yen to just under 20,000 yen a month, and plans with monitoring, monthly content updates and improvement suggestions are often 20,000–50,000 yen a month. When comparing, also check:
- Which tasks the monthly fee covers and which cost extra (PHP upgrades, recovery, new pages)
- Whether content updates have a monthly limit on requests or hours
- Typical reply time and how you get in touch (email, chat, phone)
- Whether admin, hosting and domain accounts stay in your company's name
- Whether you receive the logins and backups if you cancel
A site built by another agency can almost always be taken over, as long as there is access to the admin panel and hosting. Before you ask, gather the admin login, the hosting and domain providers, the theme name and any notes on custom work. For sites on other platforms, see website maintenance.
Your URL is enough for us to build a free demo of your site on an up-to-date setup.
How UNANOBO handles WordPress maintenance: a free demo first
Before any contract, UNANOBO reviews your current WordPress site and builds a free demo of it running on an up-to-date setup. You see whether the site holds up after core, plugin and PHP updates and where work is needed, then decide whether to start a monthly plan.
Once maintenance starts, the founder personally handles updates, backups, monitoring and content changes. To change a price or post news, just send a message. We work in Japanese or English, and your admin, hosting and domain accounts stay in your name.
How it works
- 01
Free demo
We start with a free demo built around your brand.
- 02
Feedback
Structure, tone and details are refined with you, on the demo itself.
- 03
Launch
The site goes live on a solid SEO foundation.
- 04
Growth
SEO and ads take it further, guided by the numbers.
FAQ
What does the free demo include?
A working copy of your site, built from your current content, running with updated WordPress core, plugins and PHP. It shows what breaks and what is outdated, so the maintenance work becomes concrete. It costs nothing.
What if I decide not to go ahead after the demo?
That is fine, and there is no charge. You are welcome to use what the review found with your current developer or on your own.
Can you maintain a WordPress site another agency built?
Yes. With access to the admin panel and hosting, most sites can be taken over as they are. If there is a custom theme or plugin, we review it first and then propose how to handle updates.
What do I need to prepare?
Your site URL is enough to start. When maintenance begins, you provide the WordPress admin, hosting and domain logins. If some details are missing, we help you find out where the accounts are registered.
How fast are content updates done?
You get a reply with a schedule within two business days. Small edits such as a news post or a price change go live quickly once the content is ready. If something is urgent, just say so in your message.
Does it work well when the provider is not in Japan?
Yes. Everything runs by message, so there is no need to schedule calls. Requests and monthly reports stay in writing with screenshots, which makes them easy to share inside your company. Japanese or English both work.
Related pages
FREE DEMO
Check your WordPress site first
Send us your site URL and we will build a free demo running on an up-to-date setup, with a maintenance plan. Decide after you have seen it.