Interior Decorating

» jmwilkins0622 - Japanese homes

The average owned residence in Tokyo is 91 m^2(980 sq ft) and in all of Japan 1300 sq ft. Measurement in Japan is the outside house dimensions, not 'living' area of rooms. Most homes have 1 or 2 bedrooms, a 'living'room, a normally combined kitchen/dining area. All rooms except kitchen are sized by multiples of tatami mat which are 180 cm X 90 cm (two of these mats is 3.3 sq m and is called a tsubo, a common measure.). I have never seen a Japanese home using free standing shouji screen. Sliding shouji doors are common. Homes also have a genkan (entrance place, a small room with a toilet, and a seperate room for the ofuro (bath).Most Japanese homes in cities have very little privacy and often man, wife and children sleep in the same room.

I know people where there teen aged children have small seperate bedrooms but thier homes cost more than $i million. In cities the closer to the city center and the closer to a train station increses the house,apt. price. That is why in places like Tokyo a two hour one hour commute is not uncommon.

When I lived in Tokyo we had a three bedroom house about 1800 sq ft. The rent was about $14,000 per month.

My wife is Japanese and I lived in Japan for nine years. We just returned from Japan this week where we spent one month living with my in-laws and friends homes.

-- posted by jmwilkins0622

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