Japanese Houses

[Yuzuki Asahina]

Houses In Japan

Housing in Japan includes modern and traditional styles. Houses in Japan consist of possessing thin walls for the shelter of the clement climate. The slanted and slightly curved roofs serve their purpose seeing as how there is plenty of rain especially during early summer. Many Japanese houses are made of wood because they are more than appropriate for the damp climate of Japan due to the fact that wood absorbs moisture when it is wet, and releases moisture when it is dry. Earthquakes often occur in Japan; therefore Japanese houses are made to absorb the shaking of earthquakes. Timber is the traditional building material for Japanese houses because this makes it more probable for ventilation, which is important during the humid summer months however there are disadvantages that appear such as the house’s fragile condition that makes it vulnerable to earthquakes and fires. Nowadays, concrete and steel are, of course, widely used as well.



Inside The House



When entering a Japanese house outdoor shoes must always be replaced by slippers at the doorway (Genkan) which will most likely to be provided by the host. When entering a room with Tatami floors, slippers are to be taken off and should only be stepped on with socks or in bare feet. Finally, there are special toilet slippers for special usage inside the washroom and your usual house slippers are left outside the door while using the washroom.

Tatami flooring material is made of grass, which is used for a traditional Japanese room. Modern Japanese houses have both traditional Tatami rooms and Western-style wooden floor rooms, both are perfectly acceptable.



Japanese Baths



Japanese people adore bathing immeasurably, who wouldn’t? First things first, washing your body before hopping into the actual bathtub. Next step is to immerse yourself in a deep bathtub filled with plenty of hot water for maintaining a higher degree of warmth for the body and relax at the same time. Never use soap or towels in a traditional Japanese bath to keep the water clean because other people are also going to be using the water in the near future. Bathing is essentially about washing the dirt off your body, but in Japan bathing is a lot more than a good wash. Japanese baths are meant to revitalize not just the physical, but also the mental and emotional self.

In the West, a bath is a place one goes to cleanse the body of dirt, imperfections and physical impurity. In Japan, one goes there to cleanse the soul. In Japan, there is a lot more about Baths than cleanliness: it is about family and community. It is about being alone and contemplative, time to watch the moon rise above the garden and start a new beginning in life. The Japanese Bath delves into the aesthetic simplicity and magic of bathing Japanese style and the innate beauty of the steps surrounding the process.

A Zen meditation, the Japanese bath indeed cleanses the soul, and one emerges refreshed, renewed, and serene.



Bathrooms



There are two types of toilets in Japan: "Japanese style" and "Western style". Public washrooms usually have Japanese style toilets, but the number of public washrooms that actually supply Western style toilets have increased significantly, especially in tourist areas. Public washrooms with both Japanese and Western style toilets are also common in Japan, however toilets in private homes are mostly Western style. Many modern toilets feature luxury options such as a heated seat, a built-in shower and dryer and an automatic lid opener, sometimes even a music player. When using the washroom in a private home (minshuku or ryokan) you will find toilet slippers for absolute usage inside the washroom. Leave your usual slippers outside the washroom, and do not forget to change back into them, after you have finished.



Fusuma



A Fusuma is an opaque sliding door which is able to slide from side to side which acts to divide Japanese rooms. You can easily remove them and turn two rooms into one large room without even breaking a sweat. Historically, fusuma were often painted with scenes from nature such as mountains, forests or animals. These days, many are only displayed on plain rice paper or have been illustrated graphics of images such as mountains, trees, autumn leaves, etc. which were printed on industrially. Patterns for children featuring popular characters can also be purchased.



Shoji



A Shoji is a huge feature in Japanese architecture, which is similar to a sliding door but is instead a transparent screen made up of a wooden frame covered in rice paper. When closed, they softly spread the source of light throughout the entire house, leaving more room for comfort without having to light an electric lamp. They are often set at the windows facing the outside but can also be utilized as a curtain to control direct sunlight.. Summer is the season that they are most adequetly used because they can slide backwards or even be completely removed, thus opening the house to the outside word and in turn purges the humidity.



Kotatsu



The "Kotatsu" is a small table with an electric heater underneath. A Kotatsu futon is placed over the frame of the Kotatsu to entrap the heat and keep people warm, especially during cool climates and is often the center of domestic life during the winter months. In the evening family members gather around the Kotatsu to enjoy food, television, game play and conversation, keeping their bottom half warm under the Kotatsu. Once under the Kotatsu, all of your worries slip away as a familiar warmth takes over and you become completely relaxed. In the summer, the quilt can be removed and used as an ordinary table.