17+ Japanese Kitchen Ideas for Ultimate Zen

Get Inspired with our beautiful Japanese kitchen ideas

In this post, we take a look at Japanese kitchen ideas. Japanese kitchen styles are everywhere at the moment, and are available in many of the major retailers. including IKEA and Home Depot. In this post, we will showcase some great designs, and offer some commentary on aspects of them. 

Listen to this post…

A modern Japanese kitchen design is known for its minimalism

Japanese interior design is well known for its minimalism and simplicity. With its understated cabinetry, the aim is functional design, rather than anything particularly fashionable. This is definitely the case with small kitchen cabinets. In fact, there is now a new trend that combines Scandinavian design and Japanese minimalism, the result being what is widely known as a Japandi kitchen space. 

Much of the modern and traditional Japanese house styling comes from Japanese culture. Japanese cuisine has influenced how we cook, and indeed the Japanese food…from miso soup, sushi to Japanese curry. Indeed, you will find a kitchen appliances like a rice cooker, in many a Japanese style kitchen. Japanese cooking is perfectly suited to a traditional Japanese kitchen. 

What are the differences between traditional Japanese style kitchen and western kitchens?

Japanese kitchens are designed to be small, since the people in a Japanese household prefer to eat at the dining room, or sitting area, rather than the kitchen. Japanese people also prefer to keep the kitchen clean and simple, often this space is integrated into the wider living space. You will find plenty of bamboo materials, be it in the flat panel cabinets, or the countertops in a small Japanese kitchen. 

Are Japanese kitchens designed to be open plan?

When you consider Japanese architecture, you find that the Japanese kitchen is an open space with no dividing walls. Indeed, it is far more open than what your see in western countries.

The typical Japanese kitchen is not small, but has no walls or cabinets to block the space from view, and it’s integrated into the living room, dining area, or wherever the family spends most of its time in the home. You might find an open shelf or two, and shoji screens. The open space is designed to encourage conversation and engagement among family members. 

Many Japanese families spend a lot of time in the kitchen, it makes sense to design the space to be as effective as possible.

Japanese kitchen interior design

It is no secret that Japanese kitchens are amazing. They are not only functional, but also provide a place for quiet relaxation, something that many other kitchens struggle to achieve.  Beyond this, a good Japanese kitchen design has a few key aspects.  

Although there are many different styles to choose from, there are five features that are present in almost all modern Japanese kitchens.  These are light colouring, clean lines in the design, the use of natural materials, some great storage, and finally, the use of technology.

A traditional Japanese kitchen

Japanese kitchens are characterized by clean lines, simple shapes, and neutral colors. In many western kitchens, the sink, stove, and refrigerator are the only permanent fixtures, with the rest of the space used for temporary storage or preparation. Western design makes use of a kitchen cabinet, and a kitchen island. 

Japanese kitchen cabinets and their efficiency

By contrast, Japanese kitchens are designed to focus on cooking, by providing plenty of counter space and storage for kitchen essentials, with appliances placed in convenient positions. A typical kitchen layout features the sink and stove near the center, with the refrigerator on the opposite side. For maximum efficiency, the narrow space between the sink and stove is often used for storage.

Japanese design means that you get rid of unnecessary items and keep only the ones that are functional. You can display only a few of your favorite items, for example, and store the rest. In a Japanese apartment or home, kanso principles guide us to create a space that is functional and aesthetically pleasing

These japanese inspired kitchen will leave you inspired…

The Perfect Fusion: 37+ Japandi kitchen Ideas To Create Your Relaxing Culinary Haven

Japan kitchen design is on another level…

I hope that these Japanese kitchen ideas give you the inspiration you are looking for. Japan is often considered the birthplace of modern industrialization, it is no surprise that they are a world leader in home design.

---

Read latest posts

• 
  Bring Marrakech Home: 47+ Moroccan Bathroom Ideas for a Lavish Retreat
• 
  Captivating Casbah: 19+ Moroccan Kitchen Ideas for a Visual Feast
• 
  Boho Elegance: 33+ Bohemian Hallway Ideas For the Free-spirited Soul
• 
  Bohemian Bliss: 47+ Bohemian Living Room Ideas For a Cozy Retreat
• 
  Eclectic Elegance: 41+ Bohemian Bedroom Ideas With Style and Personality

Video

Citation

New York Times