1. Tatami flooring: Tatami mats are used to cover the floors of traditional Japanese buildings. They are made of rice straw and rush and are soft and comfortable to sit and sleep on.
2. Fusuma: Fusuma sliding doors are made of thin wooden frames covered in paper or cloth. They are used to divide rooms and create flexible spaces.
3. Shoji: Shoji are paper sliding screens used as partitions in traditional Japanese buildings. They let light through and can be opened or closed to create different spatial configurations.
4. Engawa: An engawa is a narrow porch or veranda that surrounds a traditional Japanese building. It is often used as a transitional space between indoors and outdoors.
5. Wooden beams and posts: Japanese buildings use large wooden beams and posts to support the roof and hold up the structure. The wood is often left exposed and treated with natural oils to protect it from the elements.
6. Earthen walls: Many traditional Japanese buildings are made with earthen walls. The walls are a mixture of clay and rice straw and are designed to be breathable and regulate humidity.
7. Sloping roofs: Japanese roofs are designed with a gentle slope to help with snow and rain drainage. The roofing material is typically composed of tiles, bamboo, or thatched grass.
8. Ornaments and decorations: Traditional Japanese buildings feature a range of ornamental features such as lanterns, sliding screens painted with landscape scenes, and traditional calligraphic/religious scrolls.
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