JasonS
Oct 11, 2008, 05:46
I recently got back from a 2 week trip to Japan (first time there). One of the things that I thought I was prepared for is how close the houses are built to each other. I know that Japan has much less usable land than the US, but it was still a surprise to see how tightly packed the houses are, and I actually started to feel just a little claustrophobic from it. Even on the few days I was out in the countryside in Japan, the houses all seemed to be built on very small lots.
I think I read that units of land are sold in tsubo, which is roughly 35 sq ft. Please correct me if I'm wrong on that. I also read in another thread that most residential lots are between 50 and 70 tsubo, so 1,750 to 2,450 sq ft. Is that right? It makes the smallest 4,000 sq ft lots here (114 tsubo) in my area seem downright spacious.
My question about property sizes then, is this: How common is it to see houses built on lots of 200 tsubo or more? Or can you even find that much property in urban areas?
I don't think I saw a single house built on a hillside in Japan. Common sense would say that this is because of the earthquake danger, but is that the only reason? I saw a temple or two and a couple cemeteries built on the sides of hills, but nothing else. Was I just in the wrong places to see neighborhoods built on hillsides?
Thanks!
I think I read that units of land are sold in tsubo, which is roughly 35 sq ft. Please correct me if I'm wrong on that. I also read in another thread that most residential lots are between 50 and 70 tsubo, so 1,750 to 2,450 sq ft. Is that right? It makes the smallest 4,000 sq ft lots here (114 tsubo) in my area seem downright spacious.
My question about property sizes then, is this: How common is it to see houses built on lots of 200 tsubo or more? Or can you even find that much property in urban areas?
I don't think I saw a single house built on a hillside in Japan. Common sense would say that this is because of the earthquake danger, but is that the only reason? I saw a temple or two and a couple cemeteries built on the sides of hills, but nothing else. Was I just in the wrong places to see neighborhoods built on hillsides?
Thanks!