The Japanese Apartment Layout Guide: Finding a Perfect Place

With millions of people living in apartments in Japan, you’d think apartment hunting in Japan would be easy, right?

But with many cultural differences, types of apartments, and specific vocabulary, it can be hard to keep track of everything one ought to know.

So here, we’ve created this Japanese apartment layout guide to go over the most common layouts you will see and explain their features.

What do Japanese apartment abbreviations mean?

There are 5 common Japanese apartment abbreviations you should know: R, L, D, K, and S. Many Japanese apartments will have a combination of these letters, but what do they mean?

Their overall meaning is:

• R = Room

• L = Living Room

• K = Kitchen

• D = Dining

• S = Storage

Typically you won’t see S, but instead, you might see 収納 on the floor plan which means storage area.

If there is a number before these letters, it indicates the number of rooms. For example, 1DK means an apartment with one room, a dining room, and a kitchen. A 2LDK apartment means a place with 2 rooms, a living, a dining, and a kitchen.

Continue reading to learn more about the most common Japanese apartment features you will encounter when apartment hunting. 

Japanese apartment types

Here are some typical apartment floor plans in Japan that you will see.  

1R

1R means an apartment with 1 room. Essentially, it is a one-room studio apartment. 

Common 1R Japanese floor plan layout

This Japanese apartment is the smallest type of room that you can have. It usually has a small kitchen space with one burner, a small counter space, a small cube mini fridge, a small built-in closet, and a unit bath. However, the amount of space for these items will depend on the apartment size itself.

Overall, a 1R Japanese apartment is where you will sleep, cook, eat, clean, and do laundry in one place.

Summary:

• Similar to a studio apartment 

• Floor space: 12-sqm to 20-sqm

• Price range in central Tokyo: ¥60,000 - ¥100,000

1K

A 1K apartment will have one room and a kitchen. You can think of it like a one-room studio apartment with a separate kitchen. 

Common 1K Japanese floor plan

Sometimes 1R and 1K apartments have a similar floor plan, but it depends on if the kitchen space is separated from the main room. Generally, a 1K apartment kitchen will have a slightly bigger kitchen and counter space than a 1R apartment.

Many 1K apartments have different additions. For example, some have built-in closets, some don’t. Some will have unit baths, others will have separate bathroom and toilet areas. Again, these living spaces will depend on the 1K apartment itself.

You might also see 2K apartments which are apartment spaces with 2 rooms and a kitchen area. I generally see them as one big 1K apartment with a wall that divides the space into two.

Summary:

• 1 room with a separate kitchen area

• Floor space: 20-sqm to 25-sqm

• Price range in central Tokyo: ¥70,000 - ¥150,000

1DK

This apartment has one room, a dining space, and a kitchen area. Typically, the kitchen area has enough space to add a table that will act as a dining space.

Common 1DK Japanese floor plan

Depending on the floor plan, 1DK apartments might have a separate or unit bath. But most will have some sort of built-in storage such as a closet or extra storage space.

You might also see the term, 2DK, which means an apartment with two separate rooms, a kitchen, and dining area.

Summary: 

• 1 room with a separate kitchen and dining space

• Floor space: 25-sqm and 30-sqm

• Price range in central Tokyo: ¥80,000 - ¥200,000

1LDK

This apartment is one of the biggest spaces you can have, not including the number of rooms.

Common 1LDK Japanese floor plan

It is a proper one-bedroom apartment. There is enough space for a living room, dining area, and a separate kitchen space. 

Most of the time, LDK apartments will have a built-in closest and separated space for the bathroom, toilet, and sink area. 

You might see 1SLDK, which is an LDK apartment with an extra room for storage.

Overall summary:

• A proper one-bedroom apartment

• Floor space: 40-sqm and 50-sqm

• Price range in central Tokyo: ¥90,000 - ¥250,000

Why are Japanese apartments measured in tatami mats?

You’ve probably seen that many rooms in Japan end with, 帖 or 畳. These are used for counting tatami mats in a room. But why?

Tatami mats have a long history in Japanese interior designs, resulting in many spaces being measured by tatami mats to accommodate how many can be placed in a room.

Examples of tatami mats measurements

While many Japanese apartments have leaned towards a Western-style room with hardwood floors, there are still some with Japanese-style rooms with tatami mats.

Japanese apartment vocabulary to know

Many Japanese floor plans will use abbreviations and words to showcase the different areas.

Common Japanese apartment layout terms and their meanings

There are other less common vocabulary such as UT for utility terrence, MB for meter box, and PS for pipe space. Here is a PDF vocabulary list that you should know if you are apartment hunting in Japan:

There are also keywords to know about when getting an apartment in Japan. Here is a list of them:

• 不動産会社 (fudousangaisha) - Real estate company

• 不動産屋 (fudousanya) - Real estate agent

• 借家人 (shakuyanin) - Tenant

• 家賃 (yachin) - Monthly rent

• 敷金 (shikikin) or 保証金 (hoshoukin) - Deposit. About 1-2 months’ rent

• 保証人 (hoshounin) - Guarantor. Someone who will cover your rent or damages in case you can not pay or if you leave Japan.

• 保証会社 (hoshougaisha)- Guarantor company

• 礼金 (reikin) - Key money. Gift money that is paid to the landlord

•  契約 (keiyaku) - Contract

• 更新料 (koshinryo) - Renewal fee. Leases are usually for 2 years, so there might be a renewal fee to continue living in that space.

• 解約金 (kaiyakukin) - Contract cancellation fee

• 保険 (hoken) - Insurance. The most common is 火災保険 (kasai hoken) or fire insurance

• アパート (apaato) - Tend to be older and wooden apartments

•  一戸建て (ikkodate) - Standalone house

• マンション (manshon) - Condominium-type concrete apartments

•  シェアハウス (sheahausu) - Sharehouse

Frequently asked questions

What is a Japanese apartment called?

There are two common Japanese apartment buildings: マンション (manshon) and アパート (apaato). The main difference is that アパート are usually 2 or 3 stories tall with stairs, while マンション are built with concrete and steel with more floors and an elevator.

How do you read Japanese apartment listings?

Many Japanese apartment listings use terms such as 1R, 1K, DK, and LDK. These indicate the type of room layout that the apartment will have. R means the number of rooms, K means kitchen, D means dining, and L means living. Sometimes you will see S which means storage room. 

What is the difference between 1LDK and 2LDK?

The main difference between them is the number of rooms. Both will have a living, dining, and kitchen area. But a 1LDK will have one bedroom, and a 2LDK will have two bedrooms. 

In closing

Whether or not the apartment you want has free internet access, is pet friendly, has neighborhood association fees, or has a car parking space, will depend on what you are searching for. So be sure to tell your agent exactly what you are looking for. 

But once you find your Japanese apartment, there are more steps you have to think about such as the moving out forms, address change, and Japanese companies. But don’t worry we have more articles to help you out.

👉 How to Submit a Moving-out Form in Japan: Tenshutsu Todoke

👉 A Guide to the Best Moving Companies in Japan in 2024

👉 How to Change Your Address in Japan: A Step-by-Step Guide