あまど are sliding door shutters made of wood or metal which are used to protect windows from heavy rain or strong wind. They are usually closed during winter to help keep the family home warm.

いま is a living room. It usually has a こたつ surrounded by ざぶとん, or sometimes a coffee table and sofa. The family relaxes here and watches TV together. Some houses have a かみだな in the いま.

ふとん, ざぶとん, clothes and furniture are stored in おしいれ , which has a sliding door (ふすま). おしいれ are found in わしつ.

かけじく is a long vertical hanging scroll which is usually displayed in the とこのま. It is made of either silk or paper with a roller at each end. A painting or calligraphy is displayed on the scroll.

This is an old style helmet which appears on May 5 when Japan celebrates こどものひ. This is traditionally Boy's Day, and かぶと are displayed on this day if the family has a young son.

This is a small wooden Shinto altar traditionally found in Japanese homes. It is usually displayed in the いま(living room), and offerings of water, food or sake are placed in front of it daily.

This is a cupboard used for storing shoes which is found in the げんかん. In Japan it is the custom to remove your shoes immediately upon entering a house.

げんかん refers to the entrance area of the house, including the area outside the front door as well as the interior entrance area. Traditional Japanese house entrances usually have sliding doors; contemporary houses have Western-style doors. In Japan, you take your shoes off in the げんかん, and usually slippers are provided for guests. There is a げたばこ in the げんかん in which the family’s shoes are kept.

This is low table which has a heating unit attached underneath it. A blanket covers the table, and it is usually the gathering spot for the family.

A ざぶとん is a square cushion on which people kneel, usually used on たたみ floors. The cushion is about 55 to 60 cm on each side and is usually made of silk or cotton stuffed with cotton wool. ざぶとん became popular in Japan during the Edo period, which was from 1603 to 1868. Before this, people knelt on straw mats.

This is the area outside the ふろば where you undress before taking a bath. Usually this area has せんたくき and a wash stand.

たたみ is the traditional covering used on Japanese floors. Mats are made of tightly woven rice straw with some grass and cloth hemmed edges. The standard mat is 180 cm by 90 cm and about 5 cm thick. The area of a Japanese style room is measured in たたみ mats, eg. a four and a half たたみroom or an eight たたみ room. たたみ should only be walked on with bare feet or wearing socks. Many Japanese people enjoy the smell of たたみ, believing it to be a great relaxant.

This is a low, round or square table used for meals. It has fold up legs, and people sit around it on ざぶとん.

Video games are popular in Japan with both children and adults. Role play and simulation games are extremely popular. Some adult games are banned for use by people under the age of 18.

Both Japanese and Western style toilets are used in Japan. A traditional Japanese toilet is much longer and lower in height than a western toilet. The toilet is built into a large rectangular step, and people squat above the toilet to use it. After World War II, Western style toilets began to gain popularity in Japan. However, many Japanese people still prefer the traditional style of toilet. Japanese people value cleanliness, and some consider it dirty to sit on a toilet someone else has previously sat on.

These are slippers used only in the toilet. They are usually cheap and made of vinyl or plastic. Often such slippers are clearly marked as being toilet slippers, with a picture of a toilet drawn on them.

Traditional Japanese rooms have a special raised area similar to an altar which is called a とこのま. It is a place of honour where a かけじく is often displayed, with a vase of flowers, candles and burning incense. Japanese people consider it extremely bad manners to step into this area. Today, とこのま are generally used to make a room more beautiful. They are also thought to help create peace of mind.

This is short piece of cloth hung at the front of a traditional shop or restaurant. It usually bears the name or symbol of the shop and is cut at intervals so people can freely enter. It was originally used to keep dust and dirt out of a shop.

Personal computers are extremely popular in Japan. More than 60% of all homes have at least one computer. Similarly to Australia, brands such as NEC, Sony, IBM and Dell are popular.

Pianos are very popular in Japan, and more than a quarter of all homes have one. Recently, the silent piano is becoming popular. This piano produces no external sound; instead the pianist wears headphones to hear the notes. Such pianos are much more expensive than normal pianos.

These are dolls displayed in the homes of families with daughters during the two weeks leading up to March 3. On this day ひなまつり, Girls’ Day is celebrated. The dolls are elaborately made and usually treated as family heirlooms. They may be a pair of dolls, the emperor and empress, or they may be a set, usually of 15 dolls, representing the emperor, the empress and their staff.

This is a plate placed on the front of a house to identify the family living there.

This is a wind chime. Japanese people believe the tinkling of the chime is an announcement that a wind has come up and the weather will now become cooler.

ふすま are sliding doors used to separate rooms in Japanese homes. They sit in wooden rails at the top and bottom. Both sides of the doors are covered with decorative paper.

This is a small Buddhist altar traditionally found in Japanese homes. Beside the figure of the Buddha there are usually tablets with the names of family members who have died. Food, flowers and incense are often placed before the ぶつだん.

This is the traditional Japanese bed. It is a mattress which is laid directly on the floor (usually たたみ). The futon is made with cotton or synthetic fibres. The futon is never placed so that it is facing north, as this direction is traditionally associated with death.

ふろ is a Japanese bath. It is much shorter in length but much deeper than a western bath. People sit in the tub with their legs bent up, spending time to enjoy the very hot water. Washing is done outside the bathtub and the bath is for soaking, getting warm and relaxing.

This refers to the bathroom, which is made up of an open tiled area and a bathtub. People wash their bodies in an open tiled area next to the bath, with low taps and a low stool, before entering the ふろ.

A ベランダ is a small balcony or space where the washing is hung out to dry. It is usually covered, whereas a バルコニー is open.

This is a particular style of study desk. Traditionally, they were built very low to the ground, but nowadays most homes use a normal desk with a chair placed underneath. They are often given as a present to a child when a s/he begins primary school.

This is the art of miniature tree making. Bonsai trees can take up to a decade to create, and are considered to be very beautiful.