Traditional Japanese House Floor Plans (with Drawings)

The mere mention of Japan makes one think of sushi, anime, ramen, Godzilla, and Mt. Fuji. This “Land of the Rising Sun” is also a hotbed of the latest technology and avante-garde fashion. But, aside from these innovations, another rather unique thing about Japan is their traditional houses called “minka.”

Minka, as the Japanese call them, are traditional Japanese houses characterized by tatami floors, sliding doors, and wooden verandas. The minka floor plans are categorized in two ways: the kyoma method and the inakama method. The kyoma method uses standard tatami mats as measurement, while the inakama method focuses on column spacing.

“Minka” literally means “houses of the people,” referring to your typical resident farmer, fisherman, merchant, and the occasional low-level samurai. Geography, climate, and inhabitants’ lifestyle dictated the designs and materials used in the minka. In this article, the floor plans are according to the tatami mat or kyoma method.

Traditionally, people used the standard tatami mat to measure out the size of the rooms in a minka. The tatami mat method remains popular today, with rental ads connoting room size by the number of tatami mats. For instance, it might describe a kitchen as “3-tatami mat size” or “10-tatami mat size” for a living room.

A tatami mat generally measures 36 inches by 72 inches, or 18 square feet, or “jo” in Japanese. So do not be surprised to see Japanese floor plans that indicate a room to be 10J. This means that the room size is 10 tatami mats, or 10-jo’s.

Tatami mats are made of rice straw and woven rush grass, which makes them most effective in absorbing heat. They also have the ability to draw water from the air, helping ease humidity levels inside the home. This characteristic also soaks up moisture from the body when sleeping on the mat.

Because of its natural components, the tatami mat can also absorb carbon dioxide from the air. This makes it a natural air purifier without having to resort to chemical fresheners and sprays.

This Japanese home is not indicative of the typical minka of old. However, it is patterned after many Japanese homes that comfortably house single residents. Many such inhabitants comprise the Japanese elderly community living quietly and on their own.

This particular structure presents a more modern take on the traditional minka. The covered porch serves as the entryway to doff outside shoes and don slippers before stepping foot in the interior. The porch is also reminiscent of the traditional Japanese tataki, the ground floor right before the entrance door.

Upon further observation, this floor plan indicates one bathroom, which houses both the toilet and the bath. This bathroom layout is atypical of the traditional minka, where the bath is a separate room from the toilet. One may find these particular floor plans in bigger Japanese cities where space is a luxury.

This particular minka is roughly 1,000 sq feet of living space, built to suit 2-3 occupants. Take into consideration the presence of a Japanese garden, as being attuned with nature is especially important for the Japanese. You could turn this garden area into more living quarters, but here it is an area dedicated to nature.

Each bedroom is smaller than what you would find in a typical western home. However, this floor plan may not be suitable for cities like Tokyo, where space is at a high premium. The toilet and bath are distinct, indicative of most Japanese homes where one is kept separate from the other.

The L-shaped engawa is a familiar feature to traditional minkas. You might not always find this porch-cum-entryway in this shape, but it’s predominant in traditional Japanese homes. The engawa/entryway is typically unmatted, where one can enjoy the outdoors, sans footwear.

Floor Plan C is a Japanese home that showcases an ample living space for a bigger family. With multiple bedrooms to avail of, any multi-generational clan can make this house a home. As with most countries in Asia, Japan traditionally has three generations of the family living under one roof.

The bedrooms are tiny, with the exception of the master bedroom on the first floor. There is only one toilet for sharing on the second floor, and the bath is on the first floor. The “tatami” rooms are multi-functional and typically serve as storage areas or as extra bedrooms.

There is the requisite terrace to enjoy the outdoors and a balcony on the second floor for the same purpose. The main entryway on the first floor has ample space for footwear, which is not allowed in the home interior.

The tataki and the agarikamachi are technically the two entrances in a Japanese home. The tataki is on the ground floor right before the main door. In olden times, the tataki floor consisted of pounded earth, but nowadays, it consists of smooth concrete.

The agarikamachi is a step higher than the tataki floor and leads directly to the main entryway. You must take your shoes off at this point, leaving them on the tataki floor before venturing any further. This process ensures that no dirt from the outside comes into the house interior.

The tataki and the agarikamachi together signify an iconic distinction of a Japanese home. This entryway indicates a clear separation between the outside world and the sanctity of one’s home.

“Ima” or “Chanoma” translates to the living room of a home. As in any typical living room, this is the area of the house where people gather. It is a room for TV-watching, having drinks, and simply enjoying each other’s company.

You may find a small, low table in the middle of the room where people tuck their legs under and enjoy a meal together. In these modern times, this feature is a rarity as western-style furniture replaces tradition with cushioned comfort.

Oshi-ire is the space allotted for storage. In western homes, this would translate to either the attic or the basement where we stash random stuff. The oshi-ire is not a room per se but a storage space tucked away in a different room of the house.

Oshi-ire can be closets, or the little compartments above closets, used for expensive kimonos, beddings, or out-of-season clothes. These mostly hidden storage compartments are typical in a classic Japanese home. Children that grow up in these homes find these tucked-away spaces a delight for playing hide and seek.

The engawa is a very special and integral part of a traditional Japanese home. It does not simply serve as a terrace, but the engawa connects the living room to the garden. This porch-like structure is on the outside and functions as both an entryway and a corridor.

The engawa connects the outside to the inside and is the perfect place to situate oneself on a beautiful balmy day. When wandering between the garden and the living room, the engawa is a marriage between the inside and outside. This is the perfect area to enjoy a cup of tea, listen to birds trilling, and breathe in the fresh air.

Related Questions

Are tatami mats better than western-style mattresses?

Tatami mats are definitely better for the environment compared to western-style mattresses made from synthetic materials.  However, sleeping on a tatami mat is an acquired taste.  Due to the significantly less cushioning, tatami mats will feel much harder to sleep on than western-style mattresses.A tatami mat has just enough cushioning that it won’t feel like sleeping on a hardwood floor.  But due to its inherent qualities, you cannot sleep in the same positions as you would on a mattress.  Sleeping on a tatami mat takes some getting used to, but in the end, it is better on your back. 

Aside from tatami mats, what else can you find in a traditional Japanese home?

The other defining characteristic of a traditional Japanese home is shoji screens.  A shoji screen is a typical room divider made of translucent paper over a wood frame.  A shoji screen can either be over a window or a sliding room partition.  The shoji screen is an essential feature in a traditional Japanese home, inviting either privacy or openness.  As with the tatami mats, the shoji screen is also an age-old green alternative compared to other conventional housing materials.  Check Out These Guides For Other House Floor Plans