Japanese House with Courtyard
The Japanese word “niwa,” meaning “garden,” can refer to both large public parks and tiny plots of land near a private house. “Tsubo niwa” (also known as “naka niwa,” literally “inner garden”) first appeared in the 8th-9th centuries, when they were arranged between the different structures of palaces and mansions of the aristocracy. During the Edo period (17th-19th centuries), with the growth of cities, the urban population—composed of merchants and craftsmen—also grew. At that time in Japan, taxes on trade and real estate were based on the width of the building’s facade facing the street, so urban residents built long, narrow houses with a narrow street frontage. In such houses, a shop or workshop was located near the entrance, while the living quarters were positioned closer to the back of the building. Typically, small patches of land remained between the building and the property boundary, allowing light and fresh air to enter the house. These spaces were increasingly used to create small inner courtyards with gardens, known as “tsubo niwa.”
History of Japanese Courtyard Gardens
There are two characters in Japanese with the same reading, “tsubo.” The first character 坪 refers to a unit of area equivalent to 3.3 square meters. Many courtyard gardens can indeed be two or three square meters in size, while some are much larger, but the general meaning of the term is “very small garden.” The second character 壷 means “vessel,” typically ceramic, alluding to the idea that a courtyard garden is a three-dimensional space enclosed by the walls of the house.
Traditionally, courtyard gardens followed the style of Japanese tea gardens (roji) and included a stone lantern, a stone basin (tsukubai), a stone pathway, and a few plants. Their size was not meant for walking in the garden itself, but rather for admiring it from the outside. These gardens can still be found in old houses in Kyoto, as well as small Japanese temples and monasteries. Today, modern landscape designers and architects reinterpret the design of these gardens in various ways: it could be pebbles and bamboo, a little moss, and one or two slender trees, or a low flowering shrub. Over the past 20-30 years, courtyard gardens have become very popular in private Japanese homes, as well as in restaurants, hotels, and public buildings.
Reasons for the Popularity of Courtyard Gardens
There are two main reasons for this. First, the cost of land in Japan, especially in major cities like Tokyo and Osaka, is constantly rising. Most Japanese dream of buying a house, but few can afford it. Even if one has enough funds to buy a plot large enough for a small house, there is usually only a small area left for a garden. In such cases, a tsubo niwa is a true salvation for Japanese homes. Second, people feel isolated from nature and the changing seasons. A small courtyard garden, which requires just 15-20 minutes of care per day, provides a sense of closeness to nature, calms the owner, and refreshes the space.
It might seem unusual to European eyes to see a small garden in the center of a house, enclosed on three or four sides by walls. However, such a garden is perfect for those who want their own little piece of nature even in cramped conditions, or for those who wish to impress their guests with a unique decoration for the living room.
Courtyard Garden by Ideologist
If you want to add a touch of Japan to your home or create something extraordinary that will make your interior truly unique, Ideologist+ recommends considering the creation of a courtyard garden. We collaborate with Japanese landscape designers who will develop a project for a small garden in the Japanese style or a modern interpretation, selecting plants that will thrive in the Russian climate. A house with a courtyard garden—though not a winter garden—is a rare integration of exterior and interior spaces in Russia, ensuring your home will be truly memorable.
