Japanese Style House
Era: Traditional; modern interpretations since the 1950s
A Japanese style house is built around restraint and nature. Traditional homes use exposed timber posts and beams, deep overhanging eaves, sliding shoji and fusuma screens, tatami rooms and an engawa — a timber veranda that links the rooms to a carefully composed garden.
Modern Japanese homes carry the same ideas into contemporary materials: charred or natural timber cladding, large sliding glass walls, minimal detailing and courtyards that bring light and greenery into the middle of the house.
Key features of a japanese style house
Natural timber
Exposed posts, beams and timber cladding, often unpainted.
Deep eaves
Long overhangs that shade walls and protect from rain.
Engawa
A wooden veranda or edge that blurs inside and outside.
Sliding screens
Shoji, fusuma or glass walls instead of fixed partitions.
Garden focus
Courtyards, moss, gravel and maples framed by the architecture.
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Restyle my house freeCommon questions
What are the key features of a Japanese house?
Natural timber structure, deep eaves, an engawa veranda, sliding screens, tatami rooms and a strong relationship with the garden.
What is Japandi?
Japandi blends Japanese minimalism with Scandinavian warmth, mostly in interiors. See the Japandi style renders in our styles gallery.
Can I make a Western house look Japanese?
Timber cladding, a deep roof overhang, a wooden deck edge, sliding glass doors and a Japanese-inspired garden go a long way.