2020-03-06

6 of the Best Tiny Homes in Japan

  • Advice

The tiny home craze has been sweeping the globe, as more people are preferring to focus on minimalism and environmental responsibility. Tiny homes are not a new phenomenon in Japan, however, as the island nation has had to find ways to deal with a large population (Japan is the 10th most populated country in the world) and a dense urban living environment (Japan’s landmass is 70% mountainous). With the limited amount of liveable space available in urban city centers, the Japanese are used to living in smaller spaces. So if tiny homes are your thing, Japan may be the perfect fit.


First, let’s take a look at some of the reasons people have been flocking to the tiny home lifestyle.

Price 

This is one of the more obvious reasons why many customers are preferring to live in smaller spaces—with the cost of your home priced per square meter, the smaller the home, the less you may have to pay. This could also afford you the opportunity to live in a better neighborhood by sacrificing space.


Minimalism  

Today’s millennial generation seems less focused on collecting a large amount of material items. They would rather focus on buying fewer, but higher-quality items meant to last. With fewer items to store, tiny homes seem more appealing.


The Environment 

Tiny homes are constructed using fewer materials. This means less waste and damage to the environment. Tiny homes are also sometimes built “off the grid”, allowing the use of fewer resources.


Coolness 

Let’s face it, tiny homes just look cool. It’s a great way to wow your friends and it can make for some pretty awesome Instagram photos!

 

Now on to the best of Japan’s tiny homes:

1. O House by Hideyuki Nakayama

O house

Monorail in Naha by victorillen is licensed under CC BY 2.0 

Location:
Kyoto
Constructed:
2009
Architect:
Hideyuki Nakayama Architects

 

2. Window House by Yasutaka Yoshimura

Window House

image courtesy of Yasutaka Yoshimura Architects

Location:
Kanagawa
Constructed:
2013
Architect:
Yasutaka Yoshimura Architects

 

3. House in Ohasu by Arbol

House in Ohasuimage courtesy of Arbol

Location:
Osaka
Constructed:
2019
Architect:
Arbol

  

4. Little House with a Big Terrace by Takuro Yamamoto

Little House with Big Terrace

image courtesy of Takuro Yamamoto Architects

Location:
Tokyo
Constructed:
2015
Architect:
Takuro Yamamoto Architects

   

5. Love2House by Takeshi Hosaka

Love2House

image courtesy of Takeshi Hosaka Architects

Location:
Tokyo
Constructed:
2019
Architect:
Takeshi Hosaka Architects

   

6. Muji Hut by Konstantin Grcic

MUJI Hutimage courtesy of Muji

Location:
Tokyo
Constructed:
2015
Architect:
Konstantin Grcic for Muji

   

Sign Up For Free NewsletterWhat do you think of these Japanese tiny homes? Could you see yourself living in one? Contact us below to search for your own unique home in Tokyo today.


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