3. जापानी घर कैसे चलता है / How a Japanese Home Works

Welcome after the long trip—your time in Japan starts now. Daily home routines here are a little different from India, especially around waste sorting, being quiet, and how bathrooms and laundry spaces are used. Nothing to worry about—we’ll go through the basics together.

In large cities many families live in condominium apartments rather than standalone houses; roughly one‑third of residents do. A typical family layout is similar to a 2BHK/3BHK: two to three rooms plus a combined living–dining–kitchen (LDK) area. The floor plan above will help you picture the space.

At the entrance there is a small raised step. Stop here, take off your shoes, and put on the indoor slippers provided. Shoes are always left at the entrance in Japan. Please line your shoes up neatly.

शौचालय / Toilet

जापान के ज़्यादातर घरों में टॉयलेट और बाथ अलग‑अलग होते हैं। बहुत छोटे स्टूडियो में ही जगह बचाने के लिए दोनों को साथ रखा जाता है। सुना है कि भारत में पारंपरिक रूप से टॉयलेट और बाथ अलग थे, पर हाल में “वेस्टर्न” संयुक्त लेआउट स्टाइलिश माना जा रहा है और फैल रहा है—सच हो तो यह रोचक अंतर है।

यहाँ आम तौर पर होज़ नहीं, टिश्यू पेपर उपयोग होता है। वॉशलेट लगा हो तो spray से पानी, stop से बंद करें, और दबाव, पानी का तापमान, सीट‑हीटर समायोजित कर सकते हैं। कई टॉयलेट में क्यूबिकल के अंदर छोटा हैंड‑वॉश बेसिन होता है, इसलिए बाथरूम व्यस्त हो तब भी हाथ धोना आसान रहता है।

In most Japanese homes the toilet and bath are separate. Very small studio units may combine them purely to save space. I’ve heard that in India they were traditionally separate, but lately the “Western” combined layout is seen as stylish and is spreading—if so, an interesting contrast.

Hoses are uncommon—toilet paper is standard. If there’s a washlet (bidet seat), use the controls: spray to wash, stop to finish, and adjust pressure, water temperature, and the heated seat. Many toilets also include a small hand‑wash basin inside the cubicle so you can wash your hands even when the bathroom is occupied.

In Japan, bathing is usually an evening wind‑down. Most homes have a deep tub for soaking; add bath salts if you like. Showers are fine on busy days, but please try soaking—warm water relaxes muscles and eases fatigue.

Many tubs have one‑touch controls. About 10 minutes before, turn the system on and press Fill; it stops automatically and a chime/voice announces it’s ready. If the water cools, the unit reheats and keeps the set temperature and level.

Families typically share the same bathwater. Please wash your body outside the tub first, then soak. When you finish, lightly rinse the tub and floor with the shower, and switch on the fan/dryer to clear humidity.

The bathroom connects to a changing area with a lock, so privacy is protected. Place the bath mat at the door and step out onto it when you finish.

Japanese homes traditionally used tatami—sweet‑smelling woven rush (igusa) mats—and people slept on futons laid directly on them. Modern apartments usually have wood flooring with chairs and sofas, yet many families still keep one tatami room or choose a futon instead of a bed. In a tatami room you generally sit on the floor.

Because tatami rooms use a lot of wood and paper (sliding shōji/fusuma doors), Japan is often described as a “wood culture,” unlike Europe’s “stone culture.” These materials may look delicate, but in a country of earthquakes and typhoons, being light, flexible, and easy to repair is an advantage; historic wooden buildings are preserved by replacing parts rather than the whole.

A futon folds away in the morning, so the same room can serve as living space during the day. We also use futons at home. They’re firmer than a spring mattress, so please don’t jump onto them—lie down gently.

The kitchen has all the basics—stove, microwave/oven, rice cooker, pots and pans, knives, boards, and tableware. You won’t find a belan or atta, and our masala rack is modest. But in return you’ll meet some very Japanese gadgets: a built‑in fish grill and a rice cooker that makes perfect rice at the push of a button. Think of it as a little kitchen treasure hunt—please explore and use whatever you like. We’ll cover ingredients and where to buy them in the food section.

Our washing machine is in the bathroom and has a dryer function. Select Wash & Dry and let it run; clothes will come out dry. Detergent is beside the machine. For items you don’t want tumble‑dried (easily wrinkled or delicate fabrics), hang them in the bathroom and run the bathroom dryer/vent. If any setting is unclear, we’ll help—just ask.

Japan’s waste system is quite different from India’s. Rubbish is sorted in detail so as much as possible can be recycled. We have to separate items as below; the ward/city collects each category on specific weekdays. We keep matching bins at home, and our building has a 1st‑floor garbage station that residents can use any time.

• Resource waste: Paper, plastics, PET bottles, cans, and glass bottles. Rinse and dry before putting them out.
• Non‑burnable waste: Metals, ceramics, and small appliances.
• Burnable waste: Almost everything else—food scraps, tissues, used paper, etc.
• Large furniture & appliances: Book a bulky‑waste pickup online and pay the fee.

Keeping public spaces clean is taken seriously in Japan. From the early grades, children clean their own classrooms every day, and many people regard tidy surroundings as a point of civic pride. If you’re ever unsure about sorting, just ask—we’ll help.