Skip to content

Top Navigation

Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure
  • Trip Inspiration
  • Plan Your Trip
  • World's Best
  • Destination of the Year
  • A-List Travel Advisors
  • Cruises
  • Travel Tips
  • News
  • Food + Drink
  • Travel Accessories
  • Check-In

Profile Menu

Your Profile

Your Profile

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Travel + Leisure

Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure
  • Explore

    Explore

    • World's Best

      The greatest islands, cities, hotels, cruise lines, airports, and more — as voted by you. Read More Next
    • The 50 Best Places to Travel in 2020

      Whether you're traveling solo or planning a family vacation, here are the 50 best places to visit in 2020. Read More Next
    • Let's Go Together Podcast

      Start listening to T+L's brand new podcast, Let's Go Together! Hosted by Kellee Edwards. Read More Next
  • Trip Inspiration

    Trip Inspiration

    • Trip Ideas
    • Weekend Getaways
    • Spring Travel
    • Summer Travel
    • Fall Travel
    • Winter Travel
    • Solo Travel
    • Romantic Getaways
    • Luxury Travel
    • Beach Vacations
    • Adventure Travel
    • Road Trips
    • Family Travel
    • National Parks
    • Holiday Travel
    • Travel Photography
    • Photo of the Day
    • Culture and Design
  • Plan Your Trip

    Plan Your Trip

    • Travel Guides
    • Flight Deals
    • Travel Deals
    • Ways to Save
    • Hotels + Resorts
    • Attractions
    • Amusement Parks
    • Disney Vacations
    • Festivals + Events
    • Airlines + Airports
    • Buses + Trains
    • Ground Transportation
  • World's Best

    World's Best

    • Top Hotels
    • Top Cities
    • Top Islands
    • Domestic Airlines
    • International Airlines
    • Tours
    • Safaris
    • All World's Best
  • Destination of the Year
  • A-List Travel Advisors
  • Cruises

    Cruises

    • Find A Cruise
    • Caribbean Cruises
    • River Cruises
    • European Cruises
    • All-Inclusive Cruises
    • Family Cruises
    • Alaskan Cruises
    • Disney Cruises
    • See All Cruise Vacations
  • Travel Tips

    Travel Tips

    • Travel Trends
    • Packing Tips
    • Points + Miles
    • Budgeting + Currency
    • Customs + Immigration
    • Responsible Travel
    • Travel Etiquette
    • Travel Warnings
    • Weather
    • Mobile Apps
    • See All Travel Tips
  • News

    News

    • Wellness
    • Celebrity Travel
    • Animals
    • Jobs
    • Offbeat
    • See All News
  • Food + Drink

    Food + Drink

    • Restaurants
    • Wine
    • Beer
    • Cocktails + Spirits
    • Bars + Clubs
    • Celebrity Chefs
    • Cooking + Entertaining
    • Food Fairs + Festivals
    • World's Best Restaurants
    • See All Food + Drink
  • Travel Accessories

    Travel Accessories

    • Travel Bags
    • Shoes
    • Travel Tech
    • Shopping
    • Style
    • Gift Guides
    • See All Travel Accessories
  • Check-In

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Profile

Your Profile

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Home
  2. Style
  3. How to Decorate Your Home Like a Tokyo Apartment

How to Decorate Your Home Like a Tokyo Apartment

By Adeline Duff
February 22, 2017
Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
Skip gallery slides
Save Pin
Credit: Getty Images
The Greater Tokyo Area is an extremely vast metropolis—the most populous metropolitan area in the world, to be exact—jam-packed with people of diverse backgrounds. This makes it difficult to pinpoint a particular “Tokyo style" when it comes to interior design.

Some apartments are teeny-tiny and kept super minimalist. Many are colorful, quirky, and over-the-top. And then, there are homes that embrace traditional Japanese décor.

There may not be clear rules to follow on Tokyo style, but we suggest you go the quirky or traditional routes to have the most fun.

If you’re into bright colors and aren’t afraid to experiment, this decorating process is for you. Urban Japanese folk love to play with shape and incorporate neon accents and multiple patterns.

Flora (most obviously, cherry blossoms, bamboo, and bonsai trees) is a notable element in any Japanese household—which brings us to the more traditional approach.

Many people living in Tokyo prefer the classic, minimal Japanese look. Typically, this includes items like chabudais (short-legged tables), zabutons (floor cushions), shoji screens, tatami mats, iron cast lanterns, and tansu chests. Bamboo wood panels may surround the iconic tatami beds, and walls are often adorned with large-scale ink paintings or scrolls.

To help get you started, we gathered a collection of products that work in both styles of homes. Below, you’ll see whimsical, colorful decorative accents juxtaposed with antique wooden treasures. Oh, and high-tech toilets are in almost every home (and hotel) in Japan, so investing in one of those is a must—regardless of which approach you choose to take.

Happy shopping!
Start Slideshow

1 of 26

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Low Double Storage Bed

Credit: Courtesy of Muji

To buy: $650, muji.us

1 of 26

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 26

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Chabudai Table

Credit: Courtesy of CustomMade

To buy: $1,200, custommade.com

2 of 26

3 of 26

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Bamboo Tea/Sake Tray

Credit: Courtesy of Amazon

To buy: $11.99, amazon.com

3 of 26

Advertisement

4 of 26

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Green Triangle Mirror

Credit: Courtesy of Land of Nod

To buy: $79, landofnod.com

4 of 26

5 of 26

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Japanese Soaking Tub

Credit: Courtesy of Signature Hardware

To buy: $2,149, signaturehardware.com

5 of 26

6 of 26

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Bamboo and Bonsai Trees

Credit: From Left: Home Depot; Walmart

To buy: $131.99, walmart.com and $32.97, homedepot.com

6 of 26

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 26

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

‘Honeycomb’ Wall Shelf

Credit: Courtesy of Land of Nod

To buy: $69, landofnod.com

7 of 26

8 of 26

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Cast Iron Teapot

Credit: Courtesy of Teavana

To buy: $79.95, teavana.com

8 of 26

9 of 26

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Metal Cloud Nightlight

Credit: Courtesy of Land of Nod

To buy: $59, landofnod.com

9 of 26

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 26

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Chikuseiko Plum Tree Bamboo Charcoal Incense

Credit: Courtesy of The Line

To buy: $23, theline.com

10 of 26

11 of 26

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Origami Wall Shelf

Credit: Courtesy of Spring

To buy: $25, shopsring.com

11 of 26

12 of 26

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

LED Cherry Blossom Bonsai

Credit: Courtesy of target

To buy: $32.99, target.com

12 of 26

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 26

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Neon Nightstand

Credit: Courtesy of Land of Nod

To buy: $179, landofnod.com

13 of 26

14 of 26

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Throw Pillows

Credit: Courtesy of Land of Nod

To buy: $29, landofnod.com (Good Morning) and $29, landofnod.com (#BOOM)

14 of 26

15 of 26

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

LED Heart Sign

Credit: Courtesy of Urban Outfitters

To buy: $129, urbanoutfitters.com

15 of 26

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 26

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Sake Set

Credit: Courtesy of Amazon

To buy: $30, amazon.com

16 of 26

17 of 26

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Side Table

Credit: Courtesy of Walmart

To buy: $24.99, walmart.com

17 of 26

18 of 26

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Amber Ceiling Lamp

Credit: Courtesy of Amazon

To buy: $43.50, amazon.com

18 of 26

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 26

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Shoji Screen

Credit: Courtesy of Amazon

To buy: $69.97, amazon.com

19 of 26

20 of 26

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Tokyo: Monocle Travel Guide

Credit: Courtesy of Amazon

To buy: $10.46, amazon.com

20 of 26

21 of 26

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Floor Lantern

Credit: Courtesy of Adesso

To buy: $75, amazon.com

21 of 26

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

22 of 26

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Tansu Chest

Credit: Courtesy of Amazon

To buy: $849, amazon.com

22 of 26

23 of 26

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Tenugui Towels

Credit: Courtesy of Amazon

To buy: $11.89, amazon.com

23 of 26

24 of 26

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Zabuton Floor Cushion

Credit: Courtesy of Amazon

To buy: $64.95, amazon.com

24 of 26

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

25 of 26

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Sakura Flower Soup Bowls

Credit: Courtesy of Amazon

To buy: $26.49, amazon.com

25 of 26

26 of 26

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Cast Iron Lantern

Credit: Courtesy of Amazon

To buy: $33.48, amazon.com

26 of 26

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Adeline Duff

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook
Trending Videos
Advertisement
Skip slide summaries

Everything in This Slideshow

Advertisement

View All

1 of 26 Low Double Storage Bed
2 of 26 Chabudai Table
3 of 26 Bamboo Tea/Sake Tray
4 of 26 Green Triangle Mirror
5 of 26 Japanese Soaking Tub
6 of 26 Bamboo and Bonsai Trees
7 of 26 ‘Honeycomb’ Wall Shelf
8 of 26 Cast Iron Teapot
9 of 26 Metal Cloud Nightlight
10 of 26 Chikuseiko Plum Tree Bamboo Charcoal Incense
11 of 26 Origami Wall Shelf
12 of 26 LED Cherry Blossom Bonsai
13 of 26 Neon Nightstand
14 of 26 Throw Pillows
15 of 26 LED Heart Sign
16 of 26 Sake Set
17 of 26 Side Table
18 of 26 Amber Ceiling Lamp
19 of 26 Shoji Screen
20 of 26 Tokyo: Monocle Travel Guide
21 of 26 Floor Lantern
22 of 26 Tansu Chest
23 of 26 Tenugui Towels
24 of 26 Zabuton Floor Cushion
25 of 26 Sakura Flower Soup Bowls
26 of 26 Cast Iron Lantern

Share options

Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message
Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure

Magazines & More

Learn More

  • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
  • Sitemap
  • Travel Guide Sitemap

Connect

Follow Us
Subscribe to Our Newsletters
Other Meredith Sites

Other Meredith Sites

  • 4 Your Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Allrecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • All People Quilt this link opens in a new tab
  • Better Homes & Gardens this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Insights this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Surveys this link opens in a new tab
  • Cooking Light this link opens in a new tab
  • Daily Paws this link opens in a new tab
  • EatingWell this link opens in a new tab
  • Eat This, Not That this link opens in a new tab
  • Entertainment Weekly this link opens in a new tab
  • Food & Wine this link opens in a new tab
  • Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Hello Giggles this link opens in a new tab
  • Instyle this link opens in a new tab
  • Martha Stewart this link opens in a new tab
  • Midwest Living this link opens in a new tab
  • More this link opens in a new tab
  • MyRecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • MyWedding this link opens in a new tab
  • My Food and Family this link opens in a new tab
  • MyLife this link opens in a new tab
  • Parenting this link opens in a new tab
  • Parents this link opens in a new tab
  • People this link opens in a new tab
  • People en Español this link opens in a new tab
  • Rachael Ray Magazine this link opens in a new tab
  • Real Simple this link opens in a new tab
  • Ser Padres this link opens in a new tab
  • Shape this link opens in a new tab
  • Siempre Mujer this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living this link opens in a new tab
  • SwearBy this link opens in a new tab
Travel + Leisure is part of the Travel + Leisure Group. Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. Travel + Leisure is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation Travel + Leisure Group All Rights Reserved, registered in the United States and other countries. Travel + Leisure may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
© Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.travelandleisure.com

View image

How to Decorate Your Home Like a Tokyo Apartment
this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.