Have you ever been invited to visit a 和室 (washitsu)? In this post, we will walk you through the traditional and common words used for Japanese rooms in the house so that you won’t ever feel the need to scratch your head and wonder what a tatami room is and how it is different in a Western room (yep, there’s a huge difference!). But, if you are up for that, then let the learning begin!
Whenever we think about an apartment or a house in general, what usually comes to mind are the common areas like the bedroom, kitchen, dining room, bathroom, and living room. However, there is so much to that in the Japanese culture to the point that they have very specific rooms that we usually see in animes or when reading manga. And the best part of it all? All those paper-covered doors and wooden bases still exist today and are known as a “traditional Japanese-Style” room.
居間 (ima) living room (noun) その居間は日当たりがよい。 Sono ima wa hiatari ga yoi.
Vocabulary For Japanese Rooms In The House
Now that we have an idea about the features of a traditional Japanese house, let us now move on and give you a vocabulary list for some of the translations of the places inside the house. Please note that we will only focus on the most common ones you can see in Japanese homes, which is why you won’t find other translations here for specialty rooms popular in Western homes.
| English | Japanese | Pronunciation guide | Sound |
| House | 家 | Ie | |
| Bedroom | 寝室 | Shinshitsu | |
| Living Room | リビングルーム | Ribinguru-mu | |
| Kitchen | 台所 | Daidokoro | |
| Garage | 車庫 | Shako | |
| Bathroom | 風呂場 | Furoba | |
| Toilet | トイレ | Toire | |
| Garden | 庭 | Niwa | |
| Balcony | ベランダ / 縁側 | Beranda / Engawa | |
| Corridor | 廊下 |
Rouka | |
| Storehouse | 蔵 | Kura |
As you probably noticed above, we have one translation for the bathroom and toilet, and that is because it is usually separate in Japanese houses- one room for the toilet and one room for the bathtub and shower area. Japanese house kitchens are usually much, much smaller than the Western design.
In the early days, tatami was used only by the nobility who would sit on a single, stand-alone mat placed on the floor. Tatami became more widespread during the Muromachi Period (1333-1573); however, it was still common to use stand-alone mats as only the wealthy could afford to cover entire rooms by tatami. In the following centuries, tatami mats became increasingly more common, and they were found at virtually all Japanese homes until modern, wooden and carpeted floors started to replace them in recent decades.
The sukiya-style is a variation of the shoin-style with subtle artistic differences. The sukiya-style was heavily influenced by the tea ceremony and is commonly seen in tea rooms. Sukiya-style rooms tend to be more rustic and understated compared to the formal shoin rooms to better reflect the way of tea. Characteristics elements include unadorned clay walls, woven straw or bamboo ceilings, undecorated fusuma and unfinished wood.
The traditional Japanese rooms that can be seen today mostly come in two basic styles: shoin and sukiya. Shoin-style rooms originally served as study rooms in temples and typically incorporated a built-in desk, an alcove and built-in shelves. Shoin-style rooms became popular in Muromachi Period residences where their function was extended to receiving and entertaining guests. Additional characteristics that developed in shoin rooms of the time included floors covered entirely with tatami mats, fusuma sliding doors and shoji doors.
Traditional Japanese-style rooms (和室, washitsu) come with a unique interior design that includes tatami mats as flooring. Consequently, they are also known as tatami rooms. Their style dates back to the Muromachi Period when they originally served as study rooms for the wealthy before gradually becoming more commonplace as reception and living quarters.
What a Japanese Living Room is Like
FAQ
Do traditional Japanese houses have living rooms?
What are the types of rooms in a traditional Japanese house?
What are Japanese style houses called?
What is a traditional Japanese room?
History Traditional Japanese Room is a Japanese-style room, which is called a Washitsu (和室) in Japanese or frequently called a “Tatami Room” in English. The history of Japanese-style rooms dated back to ancient and medieval Japan (1185-1606 CE). Back then, they were first used as study rooms for the elite.
What is a Japanese living room called?
1. Ima and Chanoma – The Living Room of a Japanese House This room is called ima and is the living room of a Japanese house. This is where people relax, sip a hot cup of tea, watch some TV, and enjoy each other’s company. Chanoma is another name for such a living room.
What are traditional Japanese houses?
When we think about traditional Japanese houses, we immediately imagine tatami, the straw mats that are so characteristic of traditional Japanese living. It’s also common knowledge that it’s common to take one’s shoes off when entering a home in Japan, and that rooms are separated by sliding doors and paper walls.
What are the different types of Japanese rooms?
The traditional Japanese rooms that can be seen today mostly come in two basic styles: shoin and sukiya. Shoin-style rooms originally served as study rooms in temples and typically incorporated a built-in desk, an alcove and built-in shelves.