Traditional Japanese House Design

Japanese homes tend to be small and situated close to one another, whether in urban or rural settings. Yet key features of traditional Japanese residential design ensure privacy, natural light, protection from the elements and contact with the outdoors — no matter the size of the house or its location.

Although most urban Japanese can’t afford single-family homes, their apartments often contain traditional features, such as soaking tubs and step-up entryways. And many Western-style homes in Japan contain a single Japanese-style room with a tatami floor. Elements of traditional Japanese house design, long an inspiration for Western architects, can be found throughout the world. Here are the essential concepts.

Gated entries. Because most residential streets in Japan lack sidewalks, the delineation between public and private space begins at a property’s gate. This traditional roofed gate in Kyoto separates the street from a hidden residence. An old cherry tree hints at an impressive garden inside the walls.

Walled properties. Privacy from neighboring houses is achieved through walls at the property line. Concrete block is the most common material for the walls, both in cities and villages, but some large houses in Kyoto boast stone walls topped with wood fences. This wall is topped with wattle and daub.

Tiled roofs with broad eaves. Japan is a rainy country, and its roofs are designed to drain large amounts of water away from the house. The eaves allow residents to open exterior doors for ventilation without letting in the rain. This two-story house in the Aoyama district of Tokyo sits on an atypically large lot for the city center.

Optimal siting. Japanese houses are sited north-south, with the main rooms facing south, to ensure steady sunlight throughout the day. Views — ideally of mountains or water but more often of a garden — are essential. Natural light is considered a human right in Japan for homeowners and apartment dwellers alike.