The Typical Newish Japanese Home

One of my friends wants to know about typical life in Japan and a little about the environs I'm staying in. I have a few pictures from my last trip to share (This way, I have a head start on the blog in case I run into trouble over there computer-wise). Some of you may know that very little of the Japanese public have or know how to use computers. All their internet activity is done on their cell phones while traveling to and fro on the train. I'm lucky to have a family with a computer and internet connection.)

Here is the homestead.



The newer houses are close to the street like this but still have the wall between the house and the street. Despite being so small, the Japanese defend their little plots strictly: no encroaching, no one walks through a property, and they plant every last bit of land in a garden. To reduce city noise, the living parts are in the back of the house. The balcony is for drying clothes and airing futons rather than lounging on. The Japanese do not have clothes dryers in their laundry rooms to save space in the house (In fact, I've never even seen one on sale in stores!)

View from the left:


That lovely bay window on the first floor hides the bath/shower room!

Around back is where I'll be staying. It has a typical window.



These amazing bits of architectural achievement are useful as well as decorative. Japanese windows have many layers. Starting from inside you have the shoji screen that can be slide beside the window or in front of the window to shade sun. You then have the window itself. Then you have the wooden or metal panels that can be slide into the shutter box. These panels protect the house during deep cold, wind and typhoon rains. They are very tight and block out ALL light.

You typically close these at night to sleep. I find these very disconcerting. I am often very tired at first with jet lag and sleeping with these on and being so tired makes me not know if I'm up or down when I wake up (gravity not withstanding)! We are talking pitch black here! Not a hint of light even from the hall. I'm planning on finding a nightlight as soon as landing!