Welcoming Good Fortune via the Japanese Entryway
Written by Team MUSUBI
The proper way to enter a Japanese home is generally seen as one of the most useful cultural norms to know before your visit to Japan. It can mean the difference between making a good impression on your guests or committing an embarrassing cultural faux pas. But it’s not only meaningful for those who enter, it’s an important part of homes in Japan, and becomes a focus during the New Year festivities. Prior to the clock striking midnight, homes undergo a deep cleaning and decorations are put up specifically to ensure good fortune in the coming year.
With this in mind, we welcome you to discover the functionality of the genkan, or Japanese entryway, and introduce pieces that will add Japanese charm to your own space.
Table of content
What Is a Genkan?
The genkan is the traditional entryway into a Japanese home, apartment, or building. For buildings, it’s distinctly different from a lobby. It’s the official transition between exterior and interior, and is typically recessed to not only catch dirt but also delineate between the home and the outside world. If large enough, it’s also used to store items that are used outside, like umbrellas.
In modern times, the genkan may be seen as part of the private space of someone’s home, but in the past, it was more of a public place to receive visitors without formally inviting them in. Transactions also took place in the genkan, like bill payment or package delivery. Many people now use delivery boxes to receive packages, or step outside the door to do so, making the genkan feel like more of an entrance hall, in western terms.
What Makes a Genkan?
When you enter a home or apartment, you’ll notice a small step or platform. This is called the agari-kamachi, and is the official boundary between the genkan and the living space.
There may also be a cabinet for storing shoes, called a getabako, as well as an overhead storage space for smaller items, called tenbukuro. With a closed top, the getabako can serve as a side table to hold keys and mail.
Etiquette for Entering a Japanese Home
Now that you know the parts of a genkan, it’s important to know how to enter a home politely and respectfully via the genkan. Although it’s unlikely you’ll need to follow the steps denoted above for a traditional Japanese home, even modern homes and apartments throughout Japan will have a genkan. Some businesses, like ryokans, hot springs, and even medical clinics, may have one as well to promote an image of cleanliness in their spaces.
Although it may sound intimidating that there is a process for entering, it’s actually very simple. Remove your shoes in the genkan, being careful not to put your bare feet or socks on the dirty floor of the genkan. Try to step out of your shoes directly onto the agari-kamachi. If you have been offered slippers, put them on! They’re much more comfortable.
Then, squat down to quickly turn your shoes so the toes face the door. This keeps the genkan looking neat, and also allows you to efficiently put your shoes back on when you take your leave. When you do depart, again avoid putting your slippers, socks, or bare feet on the floor of the genkan.
Decorating for a Warm Welcome
Do you want to bring the charm and luck of a genkan into your home? There are several ways to enhance the air of your entryway, even if you don’t happen to have an agari-kamachi. If you have shelves or a table, try adding these pieces to welcome your visitors with some Japanese flair and good fortune.
The maneki neko, or lucky cat, is a quintessential piece for any entryway to give a warm and welcoming first impression to your guests. The maneki neko is a beloved symbol in Japan, believed to bring good fortune. Depending on which paw is raised, the cat’s image has a different meaning: the right paw attracts wealth, while the left invites guests, making this one perfect for inviting in your loved ones.
A classic piece that deserves a central place in your entryway. The Iidaya style is renowned for its akae, or red paintings, which focus on meticulous drawing techniques and are further adorned with gold accents. The plate comes with a stand, so it will sit prominently and catch the eye of all who enter your home.
Place these charming plates on top of your table or shelves and they’ll help keep your keys, chapsticks, jewelry, and more organized. Since the painting is done by the hands of artisans, no two pieces are exactly alike. It not only adds to the homey feel of your entryway with a truly individual style, but it will also help you make your mornings more efficient.
Welcome visitors before they even step inside with the delightful smell of roasted tea leaves emanating from your front door. A chakoro is a fairly new type of incense burner where Japanese tea leaves and twigs placed on a plate are slowly roasted under a candle in an incense burner. Japanese tea leaves contain a substance that when heated has a relaxing effect on the brain and improves blood flow. Guests will feel relaxed the instant they enter.
In addition to these items, you can add a vase, a decorative tray, or a folding screen. Whatever you choose, the people who come to your home will be sure to enjoy the personal touches that welcome them at the door.
From being a place to welcome visitors and good luck into your home, to being a place to leave outdoors dirt behind, the charm and necessity of the genkan are clear. Even if your home isn’t equipped with the recessed floor that a Japanese home has, you can easily recreate the atmosphere of one with just a few touches. But most importantly—don’t forget to take off your shoes.
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