Features
Traditional Japanese houses are primarily constructed from wood, a material well-suited to Japan’s humid climate due to its excellent breathability and moisture-regulating properties. Furthermore, as Japan is prone to earthquakes, the inherent flexibility of wood provides effective resistance against seismic shocks.
The floors are typically covered with tatami mats, known for their softness and distinctive, pleasant fragrance. Tatami also serves as a modular unit for defining room size. A dedicated tatami room often features an alcove called a tokonoma, which is used to display seasonal decorations such as a hanging scroll (kakejiku) and a flower arrangement, reflecting the owner’s taste and the time of year.
Rooms are divided by sliding partitions known as fusuma and shōji. Fusuma are opaque doors made of paper and cloth stretched over a wooden frame, functioning as movable walls for privacy and space division. Shōji, with their wooden lattice frames covered in translucent paper, allow soft, diffused light to enter while creating a gentle connection between the interior and exterior.
A distinctive feature is the engawa, a peripheral corridor that blurs the boundary between inside and outside. It serves as a transitional space for enjoying views of the garden and appreciating the changing seasons. Japanese gardens are carefully composed with elements like rocks, moss, and ponds to create a miniature landscape in harmony with nature.
The roofs, often tiled or thatched, feature deep eaves. These eaves are designed to protect the house from the intense summer heat and heavy rain while allowing ample sunlight to penetrate during the winter. Their specific form and size vary depending on the regional climate.
A defining characteristic of traditional Japanese houses is their spatial flexibility. The size and number of rooms can be easily reconfigured by opening or closing the fusuma and shōji, allowing the layout to adapt to different needs, occasions, and family structures.
Ultimately, coexistence with nature is a fundamental principle. Houses are designed with numerous windows and openings to facilitate natural ventilation and lighting. Great importance is placed on siting the house and designing the garden to achieve a deep harmony with the surrounding natural environment.
Parts
Byobu, Folding Screen: Originally, this was a type of furniture used for guarding against wind or dividing a room. Later, it evolved into a canvas for paintings and writings, reaching the level of excellent artworks. It adds an aesthetic touch of Japanese culture to rooms.
Tatami mat: Tatami mats are traditional floor materials made of Igusa. Covering the entire floor of a room with tatami mats began around the 15th century, and since then, Japanese people have used them in their homes. Room sizes are often measured by the number of tatami mats. For example, a room might be described as Hachi-jo or Yo-jou-han, where “jo” means tatami. When using a tatami-floored room, it is customary not to step on the borders of different colors. (This is because the cloth used for the borders is easily torn.)
Kami-dana, House Shinto Shrine: A miniature wooden altar with holy tools such as a religious writing card, a small mirror, a small sake bottle, and sakaki branches in vases is placed on a shelf set below the ceiling. A person is supposed to change the water and pray in a Shinto manner every day.
Tokonoma, Alcove in a Japanese Room: It is a recessed space for ornaments such as a hanging scroll (kakejiku), a flower arrangement, a vase, or a doll. It is an important element of the aesthetic appeal of a Japanese room.
Dozou: This is a storage house built of white mortar for wealthy households. It is a symbol of wealth. It is fireproof, protecting valuable items inside from being burned and lost.
Kakejiku, Artistic Scroll: A painting or writing is placed on a long piece of cloth for decoration and hung inside a tokonoma, an alcove. This is a traditional Japanese way of displaying artworks on the wall for appreciation. Some, created by famous artists, are very expensive.
Engawa, Narrow Wooden Passageway: It is a narrow wooden passageway on the edge of the house, facing a garden and connecting rooms. It is often used to view the garden scenery or to warm up on a cold winter day, like a sunroom.
Ikou, Rack: It is a rack for hanging kimonos. It is ideal for displaying the beautiful patterns and designs of kimonos.
Tea Room: A special room for tea ceremonies, often standing alone in a garden. The interiors are very simple, reflecting the spirit of the Tea Ceremony, which emphasizes simplicity. It is typically four and a half tatami mats in size, with several tools for making tea. The Tea Ceremony has become a discipline for learning proper behavior.
Shoji, Paper Sliding Door: They are used in traditional Japanese rooms. They consist of a wooden frame with Washi, Japanese paper, glued on. Washi is translucent, so Shoji doors diffuse light beautifully into the room. Fusuma is another type of sliding door, but it is thicker and not translucent. Fusuma often feature paintings. They are placed between the passageway and the room.
Shoin Zukuri: This refers to a Japanese architectural style. It is a fundamental style of traditional Japanese architecture, featuring tatami, shoji, tokonoma, and fusuma. This style developed during the age of the samurai.