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5 useful things Japanese houses have
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A random Japanese house
The chance to visit a house in a foreign country is always an interesting opportunity. Every country has their own unique household features that make their lives better, and Japanese houses are no exception. Here are five interesting features commonly found in Japanese homes.
In alphabetical order:
Bathtub rooms – Japan and baths go hand in hand. While onsen hot springs are great for a getaway, having a functioning bath in the house is wonderful. Many modern Japanese tubs can be set to automatically fill to desired levels and maintain favorite temperatures. A warm bath before bed always feels great. For hygienic purposes, bathtubs are generally separated from toilets. Please remember that you should at least rinse your body off before entering any bath in Japan.
Entryway steps – The first thing to notice about a Japanese house is the step up just beyond the entry way. This step up has one main purpose, to tell us to take off our shoes when entering – a commonly known Japanese practice. Also, since the Japanese are more accustomed to sitting on the floor, keeping dirty shoes off of matting only makes sense. The little effort it takes to remove one's shoes helps keep the house a lot cleaner. The only downside is bent in shoe backs from constantly trying to slip shoes on and off.
Kotatsu – Kotatsus are a wonderful winter invention. Basically, they are a blanket-covered table with a heating element underneath. They are warm and comfortable (and a great place to surf the web from). Be careful though, the Japanese warn against sleeping under them for too long to help prevent catching a cold.
Tatami mats – Tatami mats are another staple of Japanese culture. This woven straw floor is fairly soft to the touch. They are great for relaxing on or a quick nap.
Urinals – One last interesting part of many older Japanese houses (at least to men) is the inclusion of a small urinal room. Besides being useful, it is a great way to help reduce fights about leaving the toilet seat up.
There are certainly other great parts of Japanese houses. Leave a comment and let us know what your number one is!
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