Why Japanese Apartments Feel Hard to Live In (and It’s Not Your Fault)

Many expats assume that if living in Japan feels difficult at home, they just haven’t adapted enough. In reality, the issue is rarely the size of the apartment—it’s the mismatch between how the space is designed and how you’re used to living.

Japanese homes are built around different cultural assumptions about space, storage, and daily routines. When those assumptions don’t align with your lifestyle, even small things can feel exhausting over time.

Creating a sense of home in Japan often starts with unlearning, then redesigning in a way that fits your life now.