Hire a web designer in Japan – what to prepare, what to ask, how it works

Four things to decide before you hire a web designer

Most problems with a website order start before any design work. If the goal is vague, every studio builds its proposal on different assumptions and the quotes cannot be compared. Settle these four points first.

• Goal: inquiries, bookings, recruiting or online sales – the one action you most want more of
• Audience: local customers, corporate buyers, job seekers, visitors from abroad
• Who updates it: will your team post news and products, or do you want updates handled for you?
• Budget and timing: a rough upper limit, a target launch date and the reason for it (an opening, a trade show)

You can start a conversation with only some of these, but being able to state the goal in one sentence changes the quality of every proposal you get. For how to decide pages and their order, see planning your website structure.

Agency, freelancer or template service?

In Japan, website work is usually ordered from one of three types of provider. Costs vary widely with scope, but typically they differ like this:

• Web production agency: planning, design and development split across specialists. Often several hundred thousand to a few million yen; suits large sites and complex features
• Freelance designer: one person handles contact and production. Often in the range of one or two hundred thousand to several hundred thousand yen; fast communication, while skills and scope vary from person to person
• Template-based service: your text and photos go into a ready-made layout. Low upfront cost, though some plans come with ongoing monthly fees, limited design freedom, or a site you cannot take with you if you cancel

The right choice depends on your goal, budget and who maintains the site after launch. Once you have two or three candidates, check whether their past work suits your brand and whether communication with them feels easy.

Checklist: what to have ready when you order

The more material you have, the faster and more accurate the build. It does not need to be perfect – gather what you already have.

• Logo files (ideally AI, SVG or a high-resolution PNG) and your brand colors
• Basic details: business name, address, phone, opening hours, map location
• Service or product descriptions, a price list, notes on common customer questions
• Photos you want to use: interior, products, work in progress, finished projects
• Two or three sites you like, with what you like and what you want to avoid
• Login or contract details for any existing domain, hosting or social accounts

Bullet-point notes are fine for copy. If photos are missing, placeholder images can settle the layout while a shoot is arranged. Knowing early what is missing is what keeps the schedule on track.

Questions to ask before you outsource your website

Choosing on price alone often leads to surprises after launch. Ask every candidate these questions before you sign.

• Scope: how many pages, and are copywriting, photos, mobile layout and the contact form included?
• Revisions: how many rounds of design changes, and what triggers extra charges?
• Contact: will the same person handle the project from start to finish? Which channel, and how fast are replies?
• Ownership: can the domain, hosting and GA4 accounts be in your name? Do you receive the site files?
• After launch: can you edit the site yourself? What do maintenance and updates cost?
• Growth setup: are page titles, descriptions, Google Business Profile links and tracking tags included?

Our guide to website quotes in Japan explains how to read each line of an estimate. When comparing studios, ask the same questions in the same order – the differences become obvious.

Common problems when outsourcing web design – and how to avoid them

Most outsourcing problems come from things that were never checked or shared. Here are the usual ones with a simple fix for each.

• The result looks different from what you pictured – look at a real screen early and agree on the direction
• Launch slips while waiting for material – agree on a list of materials and due dates when you order
• You cannot update the site – confirm that the parts you will change can be edited from an admin panel
• Communication goes quiet – fix one contact person and one channel at the start
• Accounts are not yours – register the domain and analytics in your own name before work begins

See the website production process for what happens at each stage from order to launch, and when your input is needed.

Ordering from UNANOBO: all by message, starting with a free demo

Before you place an order, UNANOBO builds a free demo site around your brand. All we need is your business name, your current website or social media links, and the one thing you most want the site to achieve. You open the demo on your computer and phone and decide whether to go ahead once you like the direction.

The process is free demo, feedback, launch, growth. The founder handles every project personally, so you keep one contact from the first demo to improvements after launch. Everything runs by message in Japanese or English, and you get a reply within two business days. Read more about the free website demo.