Japanese Suburban House Living: What to Expect

If you are planning to buy a house in a Japanese suburb, you'll be surprised at how different the suburbs are in Japan compared to other Western countries.

This guide will walk you through what to expect when owning a Japanese suburban house and what it's like living in Japanese suburbia.

What are Japanese suburbs called?

You can use 近郊 (kōgai) to describe the Japanese suburb close to the city. 

Japanese suburbs vs Japanese countryside

The Japanese suburbs are residential areas outside major cities that balance the city and the countryside well. Most houses are single-family houses with good access to public commuter transportation. These areas are quieter than the city center, but you can still access urban amenities.

On the other hand, the Japanese countryside, also called inaka, is much further away from urban areas. It is known for its natural landscape, more traditional house architecture, and slower pace of life. Countryside homes are much larger, have limited amenities and services, and all residents rely on cars for traveling.  

Japanese suburban house floor plan explained

Suburban Japanese house plan | Mac Atelier

In general, Japanese land use has new houses being relatively affordable and easy to build. As such, they're not built to last long, take up less space, and are often in irregular lots, resulting in interesting shapes.

Nevertheless, many Japanese people take full advantage and, most of the time, will create custom homes that suit their needs and are up-to-date with earthquake-proofing materials.

A normal Japanese suburban house plan is similar to an apartment layout but with an extra space and maybe a floor or two, meaning you'll have a dining room, living space, and extra storage space. Depending on the age of the house, it might have a mix of Japanese-style and Western-style rooms. You can tell the difference between the separate rooms by the tatami mats.

A couple of items that you may be surprised are:

• No basement: reasons could be earthquakes, prevent mold, and safety reasons.

• Private parking: no separate garage due to lack of space.

• Balcony: as a space to dry clothing.

• Concrete or ground floor: also known as doma, now mostly used as a multipurpose space.

• Traditional rooms with shoji doors: if the owner wants one.

Additionally, it's rare to see a guest house or guest room in a Japanese suburban house.

What are the Japanese suburbs like?

The Japanese suburbs might look different from your home country's suburbia. Here, we explain what makes a Japanese suburb a Japanese suburb. 

No-street parking

For most, Japan bans on-street parking. So anyone who wants or owns a car must prove they have private parking.

So, Japanese streets are nicer to look at and more pedestrian-friendly, allowing people to cycle through and walk around their neighborhoods because of the lack of cars.

Narrow road

Japanese roads are narrower compared to the West. Because of the narrowness, drivers are more cautious and tend to drive slower. 

That adds another level of safety and quietness to these Japanese suburbs.

Compact and unique house designs

Many Japanese homes have been customized to their owner's preference, making each house look very visually different from North American suburbs, where every house is a cookie-cutter template. 

Japan's lot size is limited, yet many home builders can make a livable and functioning house. 

Additionally, due to Japan's location, many suburban homes are built with earthquake resilience materials such as reinforced concrete, flexible wooden buildings, and other construction techniques for safety without sacrificing aesthetics. 

Additionally, it's common to see apartment buildings next to houses due to Japan's unique zoning laws.

​Convenient amenities close by

Many Japanese suburban areas have amenities like groceries, pharmacies, schools, and convenience stores nearby that are within walking or biking distance. 

They'll also have public transportation that allows them in and out of the city if needed.

Unlike in North American suburbs, driving is not necessary in these Japanese suburbs. However, that doesn't stop people from owning one.

In closing

​​Owning a Japanese suburban house offers a unique living situation that's very different if you are used to living in the suburbs of North America.

It offers a mix of modern and traditional living, especially that tatami mat room or a "one-room" design, which combines living, dining, and kitchen areas into a single, open space.

If you decide to build your own home in Japan, you can add modern and new house features.