Architecture in traditional Japanese houses is a harmonious combination between humans and nature. In this Blog, Sobokuya Vietnam will share with you the features of traditional Japanese houses that are still preserved today.

Basic principles for building a traditional Japanese house

Throughout the history of Eastern countries, Japan has experienced many changes, influences, and cultural interferences, of which the most powerful is Chinese civilization. However, this influence is not negative; it is a premise to help Japan make strong and distinct steps. These steps have brought Japanese culture and architecture to a new level of development.

One of the typical principles when building a traditional Japanese house is that the house is made mainly of wood through the construction method called Jikugumi, and the Japanese Kigumi wood joining technique.

Looking inside the houses, you will see that traditional Japanese ones often use Shoji sliding doors or Fusuma partitions instead of hard walls. This helps to optimize space and create a sense of serenity in the design. In addition, the design of the tiled roof and wide veranda also gives the feeling that life is close and in harmony with nature.

Imagine that you are sitting in a tea room paved with Japanese Tatami mats and enjoying tea in a quiet space. Time seems to stop for you to enjoy the relaxation and comfort from the depths of your soul.

Features in the architecture of traditional Japanese houses

Traditional wooden house architecture represents Japan’s way of life and its people. Despite going through many historical periods full of ups and downs, Japanese people have always preserved their national identity, cultural beauty, and architecture through traditional wooden houses.

Flexibility in design

One of the features of traditional Japanese houses is their freedom and flexibility in design. The rooms are designed with functions suitable for each family member to create a comfortable space for daily life. And a multi-purpose room was born to help change the function of the room to suit the purpose of its use at different times.

The Japanese always consider convenience when using things. People use Shoji sliding doors or Fusuma partitions to separate living spaces or connect the living space with the porch or garden with just a light hand push.

Close to nature

The flexibility in traditional Japanese house design is a unique expression of the carpenter’s ingenuity through the skillful use of space and the character of wood. The use of wood as the main material in traditional house construction is also a way the Japanese show respect for nature and life.

The flexibility in traditional Japanese house design is a unique expression of the carpenter’s ingenuity through the skillful use of space and the character of wood. The use of wood as the main material in traditional house construction is also a way the Japanese show respect for nature and life.

A minimalist lifestyle is preferred

Danshari is the word for the minimalist Japanese way of living, which involves keeping items to a minimum level. With the desire to get rid of material obsessions and eliminate unnecessary things in life, the Japanese have turned Danshari into a famous trend all over the world.

The meaning of the Danshari lifestyle is simpler, happier

• Dan – Refusing to bring home unnecessary items
• Sha – Throw away unused items
• Ri – Stay away from the temptation of shopping

Ignoring the desire to own a lot of things, cutting down on unnecessary needs, and freeing up living space is how the Japanese are making the minimalist lifestyle better. We only live once in a lifetime, so instead of wasting time and money on unnecessary things, try living the Danshari style once to enjoy a simple, uncluttered life.

Features of a traditional Japanese house

Gate

The Japanese often value privacy, so each house uses a gate to separate the house from the public space outside. Most gates are always designed with a roof that both protects the gate and creates an antique look for the whole house.

Fence

In the past, most houses used fences to separate and divide space from public places or other houses. Today, instead of fences, the Japanese use high walls to surround the whole house. Therefore, the “closed-out, open-in” design will help the house become more airy, which is suitable for the Japanese lifestyle.

Soil wall

Since ancient times, people have used a mixture of sand, clay, and straw to mix well and cover a mesh frame (Kimai) made from bamboo. Wood and soil are both materials that have the ability to absorb and release moisture. Therefore, the soil wall will always create a cool feeling because the air is always conditioned, balanced, and especially good for the health of the families living in traditional Japanese houses.

Extended eaves

Japan is a country with 38 prefectures bordering the sea, so the climate in Japan is often hot, humid, and rainy in the summer. Extended eaves are also a feature of traditional Japanese house architecture.

Due to receiving a large amount of rain during the year, the extended eaves help the house to withstand the weather well. There are four types of roofs commonly found in traditional Japanese house designs: the Yosemune roof, the Irimoya roof, the Hogyo roof, and the Kirizuma roof.

With the extended eaves design, you will not have to worry about heavy rains affecting the inside of the house. You can open the door to help the house cool and balance the air inside and outside the house. Feel the coolness of the summer rain as if it were washing away all your sorrows.

Genkan

Genkan is the foyer area, an integral part of a traditional Japanese wooden house. Genkan is the place where the owner welcomes guests before entering the house, so this place is also beautifully decorated to make a good impression when guests come to visit the house.

Japanese people often have the habit of taking off their shoes and slippers before entering the house, so in Genka, there are often shoe cabinets and slippers available. In addition, Genka is also a place to welcome unexpected guests, be it a gift from a neighbor or an item from a delivery man.

Engawa 

Houses with large areas of traditional Japanese architecture often design Engawa for their homes. Engawa is a passageway created by extending the floor outside the window. You can move through the rooms by the engawa or sit on the engawa to feel the change of nature because this is where there is the most sun and wind in the house.

Tokonoma

Tokonoma is a recessed space often used to display works of art such as Ukiyo-e paintings, bonsai, calligraphy paintings, etc. This is also the most solemn place in traditional Japanese houses, so we often see Tokonoma located in the living room, traditional tea ceremony room, or Tatami room.

Cửa trượt Shoji

Shoji doors are doors that use Washi paper glued to a Kumiko wooden frame for the purpose of separating living spaces. The distinctiveness of Shoji sliding doors from other types of doors is due to their ability to move quickly and smoothly on rails without using wheels, thanks to the clever design of the carpenters.

Fusuma partitions

Unlike Shoji sliding doors, Fusuma partitions often use thick Washi paper or fabric to separate rooms to both create privacy and save space. Fusuma partitions are often decorated with paintings of landscapes, mascots, etc. to help the room look beautiful and aesthetically pleasing.

Tatami mats

Tatami mats are a type of mat woven from Igusa grass used to cover the floors of traditional Japanese wooden houses. Tatami mats not only create beauty for traditional Japanese houses but also show the respect of people who love national culture.

Multi-purpose room

In each house, there is a clear division of uses such as living room, bedroom, tea room, etc. before construction. But there are also rooms called multi-purpose rooms with the ability to change their use.

The old Japanese often did not use beds, but used blankets and mattresses to spread directly on Tatami mats when sleeping, folding and storing them in cabinets after use. The room will become spacious and suitable for different purposes such as dining, resting, receiving guests, etc.

Ishibadate – The technique of erecting pillars on stones

Instead of erecting pillars directly on the ground, which easily causes wood to be damaged by external agents, the carpenter uses the technique of erecting pillars on Ishibadate stone to make the wood durable over time and easy to replace when the column is damaged. 

The pillars are placed on the stones, so the entire traditional Japanese house will not need to be directly connected to the ground. In the event of an earthquake, the force acting on the whole house will be smaller when using this method. In Sobokuya’s 8MATO project, we also applied the Ishibadate technique during the construction process.

Jikugumi – The method of building a wooden frame house

Jikugumi is the traditional Japanese method of building wooden frame houses. The Jikugumi method is built through the use of beams, posts, etc., put together through the techniques of wood joining,

The Jikugumi method has become one of the most popular methods of building wooden houses in Japan due to its good earthquake resistance and ease of repair when damaged.

Kigumi – Japanese wood joining technique

To build large houses, we need to use wooden trunks of equal length. This makes it difficult for us because each type of wood usually has a certain length after harvesting and processing. Therefore, we often join wood, and Kigumi is a Japanese wood joining technique that we use often because of its superiority in construction.

Kigumi is a way of joining wood with wood without using metals like nails, screws, etc., but still ensuring the durability and toughness of wood when subjected to large earthquakes. This technique is still used in the construction of traditional Japanese houses today.

Small garden

One of the features of a traditional Japanese house is the garden. No matter how big or small, the Japanese always own a garden that makes the house full of life and energy thanks to the green color of the trees. A small garden is diverse, with different sizes and design styles, to help connect the living life inside with the nature outside the house.

Summary

The architecture of traditional Japanese houses is the interference and development of the country’s culture and history. The features of the traditional wooden house show the elegance in design, the love of traditional beauty, and the green lifestyle of the Japanese.

If you want to take a look and experience the space in a traditional Japanese wooden house, then visit our Sobokuya Vietnam office. Come and feel the peace and quiet behind the door.

Contact us for a detailed consultation on Japanese architecture.

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Sobokuya Vietnam – Consulting, design, and construction in Japanese style
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