Initially, Japanese houses didn’t have screens to separate rooms, they were just open rooms with little or no privacy. After people began distinguishing rooms with particular functions (eating, sleeping, cooking), the use of screens to partition and separate rooms became popular. These screens are unlike the ones used now in the Western world on our windows, they were self-standing (byobu) and permitted limited privacy for dressing and sleeping. After this came the paper-covered sliding doors called shoji or fusuma, which are still found in traditional homes. These doors allow light to come through and give more privacy, but don’t offer much by way of soundproofing a room. A nice attribute of these doors, for those who like the open areas, is that they can be removed to open up the space.

Traditional designs tend to think of the inside and outside of a house as a continuous element, not two separate environments. This can be seen in the Japanese veranda (engawa) which is essentially a transitional space for going in or out of the house. These houses were also designed for people to be sitting. The doors, windows and alcoves are situated for the most advantageous viewing of the gardens or artwork, in a seated position.

In spite of modernization, Japanese traditions have not been eradicated. As with most Asian countries, removal of the shoes before entering a house is customary and in even Westernized homes, a room can be found with a tatami (Japanese mat) covering it.