We've been accumulating stuff we want to get rid of that's too big to put into the normal trash.... stuff that's become trash (an old couch, a large broken lamp, ...) or that we just don't need anymore (a photo printer, Anthony's old bicycle, an old LCD monitor...). There was a lot, and it was finally time to deal with it.

I searching on Yahoo! Japan (大型ゴミ 処分 京都) and picked 京都 不用品回収センター　とくとく, and I don't regret it.

I gave the guy a call, he came over an hour later with a little truck, and we looked at what I wanted to get rid of, and for each thing he told me whether he'd take it for free and if not, how much it would cost. I just wanted to get rid of everything, and was shocked when he told me the total fee would be only ¥7,800 (US$85). I was expecting 3×〜4× that amount.

He left with a very full truck, and I gained a commodity that in this country ranks in value behind only time and health: space.

If you're in the Kyoto area and want to get rid of stuff (and can speak Japanese), I highly recommend this guy.