Culture Corner
Nowadays, some Japanese homes still have a traditional room called a washitsu (和室). The floor is lined with tatami (畳), mats covered with woven igusa (い草), a type of rush plant. Tatami has a unique, natural smell. People usually take off their shoes and slippers before entering a washitsu.
Washitsu often have shouji (障子) and fusuma (ふすま). Shouji are wooden frames covered with paper that let in soft light. Fusuma are sliding doors used to divide rooms. Some washitsu also have a tokonoma (床の間), where hanging scrolls or flowers are displayed.
People can sit directly on tatami or sleep on a futon (布団). Although Western-style rooms are more common in modern Japanese homes, washitsu remain a part of everyday life. They can also be found in traditional inns called ryokan (旅館), and temples.
Washitsu often have shouji (障子) and fusuma (ふすま). Shouji are wooden frames covered with paper that let in soft light. Fusuma are sliding doors used to divide rooms. Some washitsu also have a tokonoma (床の間), where hanging scrolls or flowers are displayed.
People can sit directly on tatami or sleep on a futon (布団). Although Western-style rooms are more common in modern Japanese homes, washitsu remain a part of everyday life. They can also be found in traditional inns called ryokan (旅館), and temples.
Vocabulary
Try using these words to describe the washitsu above or a room in your own home.
和室（わしつ）
washitsu
Japanese-style room
noun
畳（たたみ）
tatami
tatami mat
noun
い草（いぐさ）
igusa
rush plant
noun
香り（かおり）
kaori
scent, fragrance
noun
障子（しょうじ）
shouji
paper sliding screen
noun
ふすま
fusuma
sliding door
noun
光（ひかり）
hikari
light
noun
床の間（とこのま）
tokonoma
display alcove
noun
庭（にわ）
niwa
garden
noun
布団（ふとん）
futon
futon, bedding
noun
旅館（りょかん）
ryokan
traditional inn
noun
伝統的な（でんとうてきな）
dentouteki na
traditional
na-adjective
独特な（どくとくな）
dokutoku na
unique, distinctive
na-adjective
一般的な（いっぱんてきな）
ippanteki na
common, general
na-adjective
やわらかい
yawarakai
soft
i-adjective
敷く（しく）
shiku
to lay, spread
verb
脱ぐ（ぬぐ）
nugu
to take off
verb
入る（はいる）
hairu
to enter
verb
貼る（はる）
haru
to paste, stick
verb
仕切る（しきる）
shikiru
to divide, partition
verb
飾る（かざる）
kazaru
to decorate, display
verb
座る（すわる）
suwaru
to sit
verb
寝る（ねる）
neru
to sleep
verb
Have you ever stepped into a washitsu?
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