The Convenience Of Living In a Small Japanese Apartment

A small Japanese apartment could not be the first choice of many if you were looking for a second home. But there are certainly upsides to renting a small Japanese apartment. Depending on where you are, they may be some of the least expensive places in the city, so in that respect, they could save you a lot of yen on cheaper rent alone. It is no surprise then that more people are choosing a small Japanese apartment over a bigger house in the suburbs. In some cases, it is not uncommon for them to be located within a walking distance of the best shopping and eating establishments in the area. This makes them very convenient for anyone looking for some or all of those things.

About Japanese culture

But you need to understand something about Japanese culture before you decide to rent a small Japanese apartment. Most of the time, the term "small" here refers to the size of the apartment rather than its size in relation to its location. This is not to say, however, that the Japanese consider themselves small. Many Japanese people prefer the term "hideaway". It is because they like to spend their days mired in thought, reading books, or enjoying a quiet time alone. Some prefer a one-room Japanese apartment, which could be considered one room inside a larger structure that encompasses the apartment.

When it comes to living in a small Japanese apartment, the main aspect will be preserving as much vertical space as possible. The main challenge in this regard is preserving the floor area around the apartment. The Japanese use a lot of small flat-type buildings as storage for seasonal items. They also use these types of structures as entryways to a garden or yard. So if you do not have much vertical space to start with, then you may want to look at a small Japanese apartment as a viable option.

Best choice of apartment sizes

Speaking of the vertical space, there are several options available to you if you wish to preserve your current apartment size. One option would be to turn your small Japanese apartment into a one-room studio. This can easily be achieved by adding a small tatami mat directly in the center of the room and hanging some hanging strips along the walls. You can then cover the mat with a wide tatami mat and place some hand towels or carpet on it. You will immediately have a one-room studio.

Another option would be to create a small bedroom. Since the Japanese typically have a bed in a small apartment, they utilize small Japanese-style beds that are simple in design and construction. One option would be to use small Japanese-style mattresses on the floor and place small tatami mats underneath them. You can then add small pillows and blankets on top of the mattress to make it even cozier.

Inspiration for small kitchen designs

For another small kitchen design in your Japanese-inspired small Japanese apartment, you may wish to look around for some old rice paper lanterns that hang on the walls. These lanterns can be an interesting way of lighting the way when you are cooking on the small kitchen table. You can also use these lanterns to place over the sink when you are washing small pots and utensils. Place one inside the door to save it from spills.

Creating a small refrigerator is an easy solution if you live in a small Japanese apartment. Using a small refrigerator is actually a great way to conserve space since it takes up very little space. Place all of your small Japanese-style appliances like small pots and pans in the refrigerator. You can then stack some small bowls on top of them to use as condiment containers. Place some small Japanese-style mats in the bottom of a small kitchen sink area to help organize the small kitchen.

A small Japanese apartment can be very stylish if you utilize the small appliances and accent items that you can find. If you have the money and the time, consider a small Japanese-style home gym. Some of these places have beautiful small treadmills. This will be a perfect way to get in shape and impress your friends. Having a small kitchen with these accent items is a real asset for anyone who lives in a small space!