Room Orientation – It's Not All South
Direction is an important factor for choosing a rental property in Japan. When choosing a room, you must consider various conditions such as rent, facilities, location, convenience, and the surrounding environment. One that you may not think of, but that is very important, is the direction of the room.
Question: North, East, West, and South… which direction is the best for your room?
South-facing rooms have a lot of natural sunlight, but if you often leave your house during the day and just go home and sleep late at night, you will appreciate it less. Yes, the value of the direction of the room depends on your lifestyle.
In this article, we will introduce the advantages and disadvantages of each direction.
Rooms are popular in the order of: south → east → west → north, and the more popular the room, the higher the rent tends to be. Rooms facing south are especially popular, so the rent is higher for that direction. Finding a room will be easier if you understand that there are advantages to each direction other than south.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Each Direction
South
Advantages:
- The room is bright throughout the day
- Laundry is easy to dry
Disadvantages:
- It's hot in summer
- Furniture, wallpaper and books become discolored
- Rent is higher
Recommended for people who spend a lot of time at home, such as housemakers and people who work from home. Families with small children at home with a lot of laundry can take advantage of the south-facing "easy-to-dry laundry".
East
Advantages:
- Morning sunlight
- Cooler afternoons, even in the summer
Disadvantages:
- It's dark in the afternoon and the room temperature tends to drop
- Laundry is harder to dry than facing south or west
- Rent is the second highest after south
Because it is exposed to the morning sun, it is perfect for people who want to adjust their daily rhythm, such as office workers living alone. It’s also recommended for families with children in elementary school or higher as even children who are not good morning people are able to wake up to the morning sun.
West
Advantages:
- Laundry is easy to dry
- In winter, heating costs are low as the sun is lower in the afternoon
Disadvantages:
- The morning sun does not enter and it is dark in the morning
- Room temperature tends to rise in summer
- Furniture, wallpaper becomes discolored
As the west-facing room receives sunlight from the afternoon to evening. It will suit people who work late and are in the room in the afternoon, such as those who sleep in the morning or work at night. Rent tends to be lower than rooms facing south or east, so it's also recommended for students who want to keep their rent cheaper.
North
Advantages:
- Rent is cheaper
- The light entering the room is soft. (Can prevent the screen of your TV or computer from reflecting too much sunlight.)
Disadvantages:
- Not sunny
- Cold in winter
- Condensation is likely to occur
Recommended for active people who go on trips often and people who value savings. If rent is more important than anything else when choosing a room, north facing is worth considering. As I mentioned earlier, even if the room specifications are the same, the rent is often cheaper just because the direction is facing north. Even if you spend a short time at home, you may find a good deal by looking for a north-facing property.
We have introduced the advantages and disadvantages of different directions and hope that you have noticed that each direction has its own charm, not just the south.
The time of day and way of spending time at home is a big factor in choosing the direction your room, apartment, or house faces. The important thing is to choose a room that suits your lifestyle.
Latest Articles
News and Highlights
