There are people who adore tatami but there are just as many who avoid it at all costs. When it comes to searching for a home in Japan, knowing whether tatami is suitable for you is an important factor in deciding what best for you. And when you’re a person who couldn’t live without it, knowing how to take care of tatami will be essential.
Tatami mats are crafted from dried rush grass. They have a springy but firm texture, making them ideal for sitting or sleeping on all year round.
Below are some common reasons both for and against renting an apartment with a tatami room.
Flexibility:
Tatami mats make a comfortable base for futon(foldable mattresses). You can easily fold the mattress and duvet and tuck them away in the deep cupboard in the tatami room, transforming into a living space. Other traditional Japanese furnishings include, low-rise table, floor cushions, za.i.su (座椅子),こたつ(tables with an inbuilt heater, covered with a thick blanket)
Features and elements in Japanese-style rooms:
Fusuma (襖): 2-3cm thick, 90 cm (2 ft 11 in) wide by 180 cm (5 ft 11 in) tall, they consist a wooden understructure covered by cardboard and a layer of paper or cloth on both sides. They typically have a lacquer border and a round finger catch.
Shoji (障子): a door, window or divider, consisting of translucent sheets on a lattice frame. Shoji are valued for not setting a sharp barrier between the interior and the exterior; outside influences such as the swaying silhouettes of trees, can be appreciated from inside the house. While shoji block wind, they do allow air to diffuse through, important when buildings were heated with charcoal. Like curtains, shoji give visual privacy, but they do not block sounds. Shoji are also thought to encourage a home’s inhabitants to speak and move softly, calmly, and gracefully, an important part of the ethos behind 数寄屋造り architecture. Sliding doors cannot traditionally be locked. Shoji rose in popularity as an integral element of the 書院造 architecture.
Meandering leads to perfection 