{"id":6498,"date":"2014-08-01T14:53:55","date_gmt":"2014-08-01T13:53:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/insidejapanblog.com\/?p=6498"},"modified":"2015-06-29T18:06:30","modified_gmt":"2015-06-29T17:06:30","slug":"inside-a-traditional-japanese-house","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2014\/08\/01\/inside-a-traditional-japanese-house\/","title":{"rendered":"Inside a traditional Japanese house"},"content":{"rendered":"<h4>Like this post? Help us by sharing it!<\/h4><ul class=\"wpfai-list\"><li class=\"wpfai-list-item facebook\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F6498&amp;t=\" title=\"Facebook\" class=\"wpfai-facebook wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-facebook fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item twitter\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F6498\" title=\"Twitter\" class=\"wpfai-twitter wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-twitter fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item pinterest\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F6498&amp;description=&amp;media=\" title=\"Pinterest\" class=\"wpfai-pinterest wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-pinterest fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item linkedin\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F6498&amp;title=\" title=\"Linked In\" class=\"wpfai-linkedin wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-linkedin fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item envelope\">\r\n      <a href=\"mailto:?subject=&amp;body=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F6498%20-%20\" title=\"E-Mail\" class=\"wpfai-envelope wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-envelope fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item stumbleupon\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.stumbleupon.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F6498\" title=\"Stumble Upon\" class=\"wpfai-stumbleupon wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-stumbleupon fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item reddit\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.reddit.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F6498\" title=\"Reddit\" class=\"wpfai-reddit wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-reddit fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><\/ul><p><a title=\"Richard Pearce\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2013\/04\/26\/favourite-place-in-japan-richard-pearce\/\">Tour leader Richard<\/a>, has recently moved house in Japan. He is not in a city apartment, but he is way out in rural Japan and in a huge traditional house. Want to know what a traditional country house looks like?&#8230;read on&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>When I am asked by Japanese people where I reside in Japan, my response\u00a0is usually met with a combination of disbelief and amazement. You see, I\u00a0live in a beautiful little village in a beautiful prefecture called\u00a0Tottori. With the smallest population for a prefecture in Japan, Tottori\u00a0is considered the most rural of them all. However, that&#8217;s why I love it\u00a0and that&#8217;s why I choose to stay. Tokyo and Osaka are great places to\u00a0visit, I often do, but they are not for me. Countryside all way, please.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Tottori, like many rural areas in Japan, is facing the double challenge\u00a0of urban migration and an ageing population. Evidence is never far from\u00a0sight. Most of my neighbours are in their 60&#8217;s and a few are in their\u00a090&#8217;s. Younger Japanese are at a premium in these parts, with the lure of\u00a0better jobs and wages nearer the major cities proving too irresistible\u00a0for many. And empty buildings. Lots of them. However, if you ask around\u00a0and the right people (i.e. NOT the government officials at city hall who\u00a0are supposed to be in charge of such matters) its possible to find some\u00a0really beautiful and huge places for the price it costs to rent a\u00a0cupboard in Tokyo. And that&#8217;s what happened to me recently. I would like\u00a0to share with you some photos and a brief description about some of the\u00a0special points of a traditional, countryside Japanese house.<\/p>\n<p><strong>1)<\/strong> <strong>Large, attractive entrance area<\/strong> with wooden screen. The inside of a\u00a0Japanese house is strictly a no shoes zone. The screen is useful as it&#8217;s\u00a0normal for guests (expected and unexpected) to open the door and walk\u00a0into the entrance area and announce their presence! Have never quite\u00a0gotten used to that custom.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/photo-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-6504 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/photo-1.jpg?w=468\" alt=\"Japanese House Entrance Area\" width=\"468\" height=\"624\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/photo-1.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/photo-1-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/photo-1-390x520.jpg 390w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 468px) 100vw, 468px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>2)<\/strong> <strong>Speaker\/tannoy system<\/strong>. One of the stranger features. Basically a public announcement system for the pocket of houses located together. Each announcement starts with the speaker (usually an older gentlemen) playing a few notes on a xylophone next to the microphone. Old skool.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/photo-3.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-6506 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/photo-3.jpg?w=468\" alt=\"Japanese Tannoy\" width=\"468\" height=\"624\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/photo-3.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/photo-3-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/photo-3-390x520.jpg 390w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 468px) 100vw, 468px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>3) Large Tatami room with low table<\/strong>. Tatami is type of straw matting,\u00a0originally associated with the nobility and aristocrats. To be used when\u00a0formally entertaining guests and having a party with friends and family.\u00a0No red wine allowed on my tatami! My house also has two other tatami\u00a0rooms for sleeping on.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/photo-2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-6505 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/photo-2.jpg?w=468\" alt=\"Japanese Tatami Room\" width=\"468\" height=\"624\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/photo-2.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/photo-2-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/photo-2-390x520.jpg 390w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 468px) 100vw, 468px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>4) Shrine!<\/strong> Used to pray to your ancestors. The finer detail really is\u00a0quite special.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/photo-4.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-6507 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/photo-4.jpg?w=468\" alt=\"Japanese Shrine\" width=\"468\" height=\"351\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/photo-4.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/photo-4-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/photo-4-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/photo-4-510x383.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 468px) 100vw, 468px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>5)<\/strong> Last, but not least, Japanese homes are a<strong> toilet heaven<\/strong>! The main\u00a0toilet comes with lots of bells and whistles including a washlet, bidet\u00a0and a drying function. There is also a separate urinal and even a\u00a0traditional squat style toilet in an outside room!<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/photo-5.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-6501 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/photo-5.jpg?w=468\" alt=\"Japanese Toilet\" width=\"468\" height=\"624\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/photo-5.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/photo-5-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/photo-5-390x520.jpg 390w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 468px) 100vw, 468px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4>Like this post? 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Help us by sharing it! Tour leader Richard, has recently moved house in Japan. He is not in a city apartment, but he is way out in rural Japan and in a huge traditional house. Want to know what a traditional country house looks like?&#8230;read on&#8230; When I am asked by Japanese [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":65,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_sitemap_exclude":false,"_sitemap_priority":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2355],"tags":[1208,1446,1740,2235],"class_list":["post-6498","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-first-trip-to-japan","tag-japan-travel","tag-culture","tag-japanese-house","tag-traditional-japanese-house"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6498","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/65"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6498"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6498\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8394,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6498\/revisions\/8394"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6498"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6498"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6498"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}