Understanding Japanese Floor Plan Terms (Madori) - A Quick Guide
In Japan, a home’s layout is described using the Madori (間取り) system. Unlike Western listings that highlight the number of bedrooms and bathrooms (e.g. “2 bed, 2 bath”), the Madori system focuses on how many rooms there are and the size of the kitchen. This reflects the flexible, multipurpose design of many Japanese homes.
The Two-Part Code
On Mokomoko and other Japanese real estate websites, you’ll often see codes like 1R, 2DK, or 3LDK. These codes have two parts:
1. The Leading Number - Room Count
This number tells you how many private rooms the home has - not including the kitchen. These rooms can be used as bedrooms, offices, or living spaces, depending on how you set up the home.
- 1LDK = 1 room
- 2LDK = 2 rooms
- 3LDK = 3 rooms
Note: Not all rooms are necessarily good bedrooms. Some might be small or oddly shaped and better suited for other uses.
2. The Trailing Letters - Kitchen Size
The letters K, DK, and LDK represent the size of the kitchen area. It’s easiest to think of these in terms of small (K), medium (DK), and large (LDK).
- K = small kitchen
- DK = medium kitchen
- LDK = large kitchen
Some agents or websites may say there are specific measurements tied to each, but in practice, these labels are assigned based on rough size and layout - not exact dimensions.
Common Layouts
| Code | What It Means |
|---|---|
| 1R | One-room studio with a compact kitchenette |
| 1K | One room + small kitchen |
| 1DK | One room + medium-sized kitchen |
| 1LDK | One room + large kitchen |
| 2LDK | Two rooms + large kitchen |
Why Japan Uses This System
- Rooms are used flexibly: a room might serve as a bedroom, office, or guest room depending on your needs.
- Emphasis is on usable space, not just labels.