Japanese style in the interior: cocoon house in Nagano
Trying to build a traditional cozy home in a modern city is a challenging task. The minimalist Japanese style in interior design often handles it best. The Cocoon House in Shiojiri, Nagano, is a perfect example of combining time-tested and reliable design principles of Japanese architecture with an elegant modern style. The house was created with great care by the Japanese architectural studio Studio Aula. Every element in the house reflects the order and simplicity inherent in the Japanese way of life.

The house is owned by an elderly family with a couple of children who wanted a home that would embody the aura of timeless Japanese design. The interiors of the house are predominantly lined with Japanese cypress, sourced from a family farm in the forest near Kiso. The idea was for the design of the house to convey a spirit closely approximating the interiors of the owners’ previous countryside home and to be finished using wood, paper, and concrete. The wooden beams are the most characteristic feature of the house and provide natural ventilation on its upper level.






Minimalist and understandable decor in modern Japanese style is complemented by equally simple hanging paper lanterns, which serve as effective interior accents against the backdrop of natural wood.
The first floor of the house is reserved for personal space, while the lower level includes an open living room and a smart bedroom that leads into a modern garden. Sliding glass doors, translucent panels, and shoji partitions in the Japanese style create an unobtrusive transition between private and public spaces, making the interiors visually seamless.



The studio also renovated the garden. The old Japanese-style garden consisted of symbolic pieces of stone representing a ship at sea, but to enhance practicality, the stones were used for a walkway design. Miniature Japanese pines added some symbolism to the garden’s appearance.

Lighting laws were also taken into account during the design, so the house would look cozy and modern. Soft diffused light from paper lanterns, accent artificial lighting highlighting certain elements of the building, and the use of screens that filter light—these techniques closely align the house with traditional Japanese interior design.



In European houses, the functions of rooms are strictly defined: dining room, living room, bedroom, etc. In traditional Japanese houses, one room can serve multiple functions; thus, a single room in Japanese style can perform the roles of several European ones.
This is possible due to the unique approach to space in Japanese homes. The roof of a Japanese house is supported by columns rather than walls, so partitions are not considered structural. Sliding doors, shoji and fusuma, as well as folding screens in the Japanese interior, allow easy changes to the room configuration. For example, when guests are received, several rooms can be combined into a large living room, and at night the space can be divided into several bedrooms. Furthermore, this mobility is also due to the Japanese climate: in hot summers, all partitions are opened to provide good ventilation, while in winter it is more efficient to heat a smaller area, as central heating is not provided in traditional Japanese interiors.
The purpose of a room in Japanese style is often determined by the furniture present in the space at that moment. To a Russian person, the Japanese interior style might seem very simple and even empty. Usually, this impression is caused by the absence of a large amount of furniture. Indeed, a Japanese-style interior cannot boast a variety of cabinets, upholstered furniture, and other items. The culture of sitting on the floor and using tatami as a kind of chair, table, and place to lie down has led to a reduction in the amount of furniture. Most of the furniture is stored in shiire—wall cabinets—and is brought out as needed. For example, in the evening, Japanese people bring out futons—mattresses typical of Japanese living style, pillows, and blankets, spread them over the tatami, and sleep. In the morning, everything is put away, and the room is cleared for daytime use. During meals, a low table and cushions are brought out, which are immediately put away after the meal is finished.
Tatami is a Japanese floor covering made of rice straw, paper, or synthetic materials. Tatami is an integral part of Japanese interiors. In a room with such flooring, the Japanese find peace of mind, which is why in modern homes and even apartments, at least one room is often set aside where tatami will cover the floor. These spaces usually serve as formal living rooms and perfectly illustrate Japanese interior style. Besides sliding partitions and tatami, such a room will always feature a tokonoma — a wall niche essential to any Japanese interior. In it, a favorite painting, an ikebana arrangement, or an antique vase is displayed.
In design, lighting is of great importance. The light in Japanese-style rooms should be soft, calming, and not too bright. Originally, light entered directly or diffused through the rice paper partitions in houses. In Japanese style, lighting fixtures are typically placed closer to the floor rather than on the ceiling. If modern lighting is compared to bright sunlight, then in a Japanese interior, the lighting resembles moonlight. Indirect lighting harmoniously complements soft textures and natural Japanese materials.
Despite the overall similarity in design, the differences in the decor of Japanese-style homes lie in numerous details that traditionally reflected the social status and occupation of their inhabitants. Wealthy Japanese used various elements of the sukiya style in their homes, such as tea rooms, tokonoma, and refined works of art. Merchants and craftsmen lived in houses of the machiya style, where workspaces were combined with personal living areas. Today, in contemporary Japanese-style homes, there is no such division.
You can order a Japanese-style interior for your home with us. A Japanese-style home interior does not necessarily mean an uncomfortable traditional house: Japanese designers will develop a project according to your preferences and Russian realities.