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What is the size of unit 「畳（jou）」? The size of 6 tatami mats you often hear about and some tips for comfortable living.

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How big is 畳（tatami）?"
How big is a six-mat room?"

Many foreigners may have this question. Tatami, the traditional Japanese flooring material for Japanese-style rooms, is especially interesting to foreigners visiting Japan. However, even if a real estate agent explains that a room is 6 tatami mats, some people may not have a clear idea of exactly how large the room is.

In this issue, we will explain the meaning of the unit 「畳（jou）」, which expresses the size of a tatami mat, and the dimensions of one tatami mat in an easy-to-understand manner. We will also tell you exactly how large a "6 tatami room" is, which you often hear about. In addition, we will also introduce tips on furniture selection and layout for a comfortable 6-tatami room, so those who want to live comfortably even in a small room should not miss this article.

The contents of this website will provide you with practical information as well as a taste of traditional Japanese culture. We hope you will find it useful when starting a new life in Japan or looking for a place to live. Let's take a look now!

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What is the meaning of 「畳（jou）」 as a unit?

In Japanese property information, it is commonly described as "6 tatami (jou) Japanese-style room," etc. The 「畳（jou）」 here refers to the unit of measurement used to express the size of a Japanese-style room. While the size of a Western-style room is expressed in "square meters (㎡)," a Japanese-style room is expressed in "tatami" units.

The size of one tatami mat is defined by the real estate industry as "1.62 m2 or larger. 1 m2 (square meter) is a unit of measurement for a square area of 1 m x 1 m, and 1.62 m2 corresponds to a square of approximately 1.7 m. The size of a tatami mat varies slightly, but is roughly 955 mm x 1,910 mm. Although there are some differences in size, approximately 955mm x 1,910mm is considered to be the standard size of one tatami mat.

To find out the size of a room from the number of tatami mats, simply multiply the number of tatami mats by 1.62 m2. For example, a Japanese-style room with 6 tatami mats would be a room with 6 tatami mats laid out.

Although Western-style rooms have become the mainstream these days, living in a tatami room is a uniquely Japanese experience.

How many square meters is one tatami mat? How many feet? How many inches?

One tatami is a traditional Japanese unit of area, but it can be replaced by other units commonly used overseas, such as square feet and square inches, in addition to square meters (㎡). Let's take a look at how large 1 tatami is in each unit.

As mentioned above, 1 tatami mat is 1.62 m2 (square meters). Converting this to square feet yields approximately 17.44 ft². Also, in square inches, it is calculated to be about 2,511in².

1 tatami ≈ 1.62 m2 (square meters) 1 tatami ≈ 17.44 ft² (square feet) 1 tatami ≈ 2,511in² (square inches)

*Reference:metric conversion

Looking at the numbers alone, it may be difficult to get a clear picture of ざっくり. To get an idea, it may be easier to think of 1 tatami as a rectangle 3 feet wide by 6 feet deep (approx. 90 cm x 180 cm).

When sleeping in a Japanese-style room, remember that this one tatami mat is enough space for one person.

How big is the "6-mat room" we often hear about?

When you start a new life, you often see "6 tatami mat rooms" in "property information. 6 tatami mat Japanese-style rooms are often found in one-room apartments and are popular among people living alone. However, you may be wondering how big the room actually is.

The formula is "1.62 m2 x 6 tatami mats" as mentioned above, which results in approximately 9.72 m2. In square feet, this is approximately 104.63 ft², and in square inches, approximately 15,066 in².

6 tatami ≈ 9.72 m2 (square meters) 6 tatami ≈ 104.63 ft² (square feet) 6 tatami ≈ 15,066 in² (square inches)

If you want to get a sense of it, 6 tatami mats is almost a square shape of "about 3m x 3.3m". It may seem a little small to use as a living room. However, if a single bed is placed as a bedroom or compactly furnished with a sofa and a low table, it is a size that can be used adequately.

Many people may feel that Japanese rental apartments are small, but you can live comfortably in them with a little ingenuity. We will explain in detail about furniture selection and interior design tips later in this article, so please take a look at it for reference.

To learn more about Japanese floor plan notation and Japanese apartments, we recommend this article.
▶︎ What does "Madori" mean, including a list of terms such as R, K, S, etc. and recommended floor plans?
▶︎ What is a typical apartment in Japan like? Size, Facilities, and Rent Rates Explained

What are 4 tips for furniture arrangement and interior design for comfortable living in a 6-mat room?

Are you thinking, "A six-mat room is too small to be comfortable..."? It is true that the space is limited, but it can be transformed into a comfortable space by choosing and arranging furniture to suit your lifestyle. Here we introduce four points for comfortable living in a 6-mat room.

1. choose furniture that fits the size of the room

Considering the size of 6 tatami mats, avoid furniture that is too large, as it tends to create a feeling of oppression. For example, a sofa should seat no more than two people, and a table should be compact in size. A loft bed is a good way to make effective use of the space below. Be conscious of the size that fits in with the room.

2. utilize furniture with storage capacity

With limited space, you can rely on furniture with storage capacity. The key is to choose the type of furniture that allows you to use dead space such as under beds or closets as storage. Depending on the amount of luggage you have, you may want to combine taller furniture or furniture with drawers.

3. be conscious of furniture arrangement considering the line of flow

When arranging furniture, it is important to consider the lines of flow in and out of rooms and household chores. For example, keep things out of the way of the door to ensure smooth entry and exit. In the kitchen area, be careful about the position of the cooking table and refrigerator to facilitate meal preparation. Try to arrange them in a way that does not interfere with each movement.

4. choose furniture and interior decorations in light shades

Furniture and curtains should be as light in color as possible. Light-colored items can make a room appear larger. Installing mirrors on the walls is also recommended. Choose lighting that brightly illuminates the entire room to ease the feeling of oppression and create an impression of openness.

Japanese homes may seem smaller than those in other countries, but by keeping things simple, you can spend your time comfortably. We hope you will take a look at these examples and try your hand at creating a comfortable space to your liking.

And in fact, there are many advantages to small apartments in Japan. If you would like to know more about tips on how to use a small apartment in a spacious way and interior design recommendations, please check out the following articles!
▶︎ What are the advantages of a small apartment in Japan? How to use it spaciously and its interior design are also introduced!

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summary

In this issue, we introduced the meaning and size of the unit 「畳（jou）」 and tips for using a 6-mat room comfortably.

The tatami is the unit of measurement for the size of a Japanese-style room. 1 tatami is approximately 1.62 square meters in area. This equates to approximately 17.44 square feet or 2,511 square inches; a 6 tatami room is approximately 9.72 square meters in size and is approximately 3 meters by 3.3 meters square.

The key to a comfortable 6-mat room is to choose compact furniture that matches the size of the room, utilize furniture with good storage capacity, arrange furniture with an awareness of flow lines, and incorporate brightly colored furniture and interior design.

In your new life in Japan, you may often find yourself at a loss with unfamiliar units of measurement and lifestyle. However, Japanese housing is filled with Japanese wisdom. We hope this article will be of some help in your housing search.

We encourage you to try various ideas to create a small but comfortable room to live in. We wish you a comfortable and fulfilling life in Japan. We are rooting for you!

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