12 Items To Add Japanese Flair To Your Home

There’s a reason why so many people tend to be obsessed with this little country. While they are in no way perfect (and you should definitely think twice and do your research before planning to move there), they do have a lot of admirable traits in their culture. I personally was attracted to the sense of community, embracing cute and innocent characters, respect, and cleanliness.

When it comes to their homes, everything serves a purpose. Japanese homes and apartments can be quite tiny, yet they are organized and do their best to take care of their possessions. They also still care a lot about tradition and culture, so there are many items you’ll find in the majority of homes.

Some of these items will of course require you to change your lifestyle or learn to take care of them, but many people who use them seem to love them.

Tatami Mats

If you have a hardwood floor and wanted something a bit more comfortable to walk on, why not look into tatami mats? These are a stable in a Japanese household and give a more natural appearance. Of course, this is only recommended if you intend to keep them clean. They can be vacuumed, or wiped with a damp cloth, but it is best to prevent dirt and stains from getting on them in the first place. This leads to the next point..

Slippers

Japanese people love their slippers. After taking off their shoes at the door, many would change into their indoor slippers. They will also change into another set of slippers when they use the washroom. You’ll also find slippers when visiting certain establishments and restaurants. It is truly embedded in their culture. If you got cold floors, or just want to keep your floors extra clean, why not invest in some yourself?

Futon

In the west, a futon is usually seen as a couch that can transform into a bed, but a real futon (considering it is a Japanese word), is a *** that many Japanese people use to sleep on the floor. While many Japanese people now have beds like the west, floor futons are still quite common, and is said tohelp with posture***. If you don’t plan to sleep on one, it’s still worth the investment in case you have visitors as they can easily be stored in your closet.

Kotatsu

Kotatsus are an amazing thing. It’s essentially a floor table, but some can be heated and thus they come with blankets to help trap in that head. It is still common for Japanese people to kneel and sit on floors, thus these floor tables are a common Japanese item.

My band member has a floor table without the blanket, and I will say, it definitely makes his place feel more roomy. It’s nice to sit together in a more comfortable position than one would at a regular table.

Shoji Screens

If you didn’t know what these were called, now you do. Shoji screens are essentially a foldable wall, usually made of light material like bamboo or paper. They have various uses. They can be used to divide a room, as a changing area, as a kind of blind, or simply as decor. Definitely worth checking out if you just want that add Japanese touch.

Bidets

Let’s get one of the most popular items out of the way, the toilet bidet. While the west has gotten used to toilet paper, Japan has been using bidets for quite some time now. Toilet paper can suck some times, especially as a woman, so having something that can spray you down there can help you stay extra clean.

Luckily, you can buy these in the west, and set them up with relative ease. These will make your home not only extra cool, but your bottom extra clean and happy.

Rice Cooker

What’s an east Asian household without a rice cooker? With rice being their staple and a daily meal for some, a rice cooker is a necessity. Even if you’re not Asian, it is totally worth it! Once my family got one, we have never turned back.

All you have to do is measure and wash your rice, add the right amount of water, and you can leave it to do it’s own thing. The rice cooker also keeps your rice warm so you can prepare it in advance. Some rice cookers have additional options for soups, porridges, and stews, so it’s definitely worth a spot in your kitchen. I totally get why Uncle Roger is so passionate about his.

Tea Set

Many asian countries love their tea, and Japan is no different. Similar to rice, tea is served alongside most meals, and is offered instead of water at some restaurants. When a guest comes over, they will prepare tea in their tea set.

They have made many strains of tea, from matcha, hojicha, sencha, bancha…and if you haven’t noticed, “cha” is the Japanese word for tea. When I visit bubble tea shops, I often noticed flavors named after regions of Japan, like Hokkaido and Okinawa.

So, if you’re trying to give your home a more traditional Japanese feel, you better have your tea leaves ready, and a tea set to accompany it.

Bento Boxes

I don’t think there is an anime or Japanese fan who has not heard of bento boxes. That’s just how iconic this. In Japan, packing meals for school and work is very common, and thus their version of a lunch box is a ‘bento’ box.

The main difference being, though, western lunch boxes are usually just a bag or box, so you can’t just put your food directly into it. Bento boxes are more of a container, and it can have multiple compartments or stackable layers.

While these can come in many sizes, they would still generally be smaller than a western lunch box. These can usually fit in your bag, but they are more traditionally wrapped and carried with Furoshiki clothes.

Hashi (Chopsticks)

Last, but definitely not least, get yourself some decent pairs of chopsticks. Chopsticks aren’t just used for noodles or ramen, they are used as the main utensil in Japanese cuisine, even used to cook. Definitely invest in a quality reuseable pair and adopt them into your meal time.