For any person new to Japanese culture, one of the first things we often hear about is how Japanese people never wear shoes inside the house. You may be wondering: just how strict is this rule anyway?
The answer is: very! Did you know that Japanese school children change into ‘indoor shoes’ when they arrive at school? Even some doctor’s clinics, restaurants and public restrooms have rows of slippers lining their entranceways, all for customers to change into when they arrive.
So, it is no surprise that in Japan, the entranceway to a house is viewed as an important place, often referred to as the “face of the house”. It is a space for shedding one’s outside persona and stepping into home life – often quite literally, as many Japanese houses are designed with a single step in their entranceway as to mark a boundary between outside and inside, as well as to prevent dirt from tracking inside. The history of this humble entranceway space and single step into the house dates back over a thousand years, pretty much to the advent of formal wooden structures. The single step design has endured to this day in Japan, and for those of us unfamiliar with the custom, it marks a good reminder of where you should remove your outdoor shoes.
However, that doesn’t mean that this small space should simply be neglected as a place to change in and out of shoes. As the “face of the house”, the entranceway, or genkan, sets an important tone for the rest of your home, thus many Japanese people prefer to keep this area chic and tidy. Here, we will look at several useful methods for keeping your genkan area fresh and inviting, so that stepping in and out of your house will be a refreshing and pleasant experience. Not to mention you are bound to impress any Japanese visitors you may have to your home!
A genkan filled with shoes is unsightly and does not spark joy! Make use of Japanese storage solutions such as shoe cupboards and closets to keep the entranceway floor space as empty as possible, allowing for smooth and quick mopping and brushing away of dust.
To take your genkan to the next level, a display of tasteful and simple art or flowers in your entranceway will set the tone of your home by showcasing your sense of design. You could also place a small aroma diffuser near the door, as finding a signature scent is a perfect way to really brand the space to you and your taste. Keeping your genkan simple yet personal sets the perfect tone for a welcoming experience in your home, both for yourself and for any potential visitors.
Follow these tips to achieve the ultimate minimalist Japanese entranceway:
Take out everything currently stored in your genkan and lay it on top of a picnic mat or sheet. In doing this, you will be able to see just how many shoes, umbrellas and miscellaneous items you have lurking in your entranceway.
Organize everything into three categories: items you use, items you don’t use, and items you don’t use but still need or are unsure about. Use this as a good opportunity to throw out or sell anything you don’t need.
Try to limit your genkan closets to 80% of full capacity for a tidy visual appeal. Put seasonal items away in a different part of the house and rotate as necessary.
Think about the position of each item. For example, for items belonging to taller members of the family, use higher shelves, and for frequently used items use shelves which are easily accessible.
In the blink of an eye, your genkan may lose its sheen with bits of mud, leaves and dust brought in on the bottoms of shoes (but better the genkan than your whole house!). Depending on the color or material of your entranceway floor, it can be easy to overlook just how grubby this space can get in a short space of time.
Thanks to the efforts you’ve taken to declutter your genkan in step one, it should be easy to keep the floor clean and fresh with the following simple steps. For dust and dried dirt, a quick go-over with a vacuum cleaner may be all you need, but for tile entranceway flooring with rubbed in mud and grime, a bucket of soapy water and a deck scrubbing brush may be required. Since there is usually no gap between the genkan flooring and the outside, you can simply let the water drain out until dry. Luxury marble or terrazzo entranceways may scratch easily, so swap the deck brush for a softer sponge. Since water may stain these kinds of tiles, make sure to follow the relevant instructions about what kind of detergents may be used.
With people going in and out all day, as well as postmen, deliveries and visitors, it’s no surprise that the front door is one of the areas of the home that can accumulate a lot of germs, fast. A grubby doorknob is never a pleasant sight, and in these current times, it’s best to keep things sterilized and clean. Frequently wipe your doorknob with a wet soapy cloth to remove oils and smudges from dirty hands, then apply alcohol sanitizer to keep your home safe and hygienic. Just be careful in cases of doorknobs made from natural or luxury materials, in which case sanitizer may not be a good idea.
The entire front door itself can also accumulate smudges, hand marks and dirt, so to enhance your entranceway experience be sure to scrub the entire door from time to time. For wooden doors, applying soap and water may cause mold, so instead polish with a dry cloth and apply wood wax. When the wax has dried, polish again with a cloth for a sparkling clean, extra welcoming front door. For metal or resin doors, a regular detergent spray may be used, along with a dry cloth for polishing.
For the best possible Japanese genkan experience, aim for a once weekly cleaning schedule. Dirt is brought in more easily on rainy or snowy days, so in those cases aim to clean as soon as possible to prevent stubborn dirt working its way in to your genkan floor.
The following cleaning schedule is recommended to maintain a perfect genkan space:
| space | cleaning schedule |
|---|---|
| Doorknob | clean with detergent every day for 1-2 minutes |
| Entranceway floor 1 | sweep or vacuum for 2-3 minutes once or twice a week, or when you notice dirt |
| Entranceway floor 2 | use water and a deck brush for 10-15 minutes, once or twice a month |
| Entire door | clean for 10 minutes once or twice a month |
Top tip: to support your efforts for everyday doorknob cleaning, keep all the necessary cleaning materials in the genkan closet. Set a specific time aside for cleaning the doorknob every day, whether it’s after putting out the trash, or after you get home from work. Make it a part of your everyday routine, and soon it won’t feel like a chore. Quickly disinfecting the doorknob and vacuuming the entranceway should take less than five minutes but will refresh, revitalize and rejuvenate your home no end.
apanese people believe that by keeping the genkan free of dust and dirt, it will prevent any bad luck from being brought into the house.
After taking the time to make your entranceway sparkle and shine, be sure to keep on top of its upkeep by following these simple rules:
Of course, for those of you busy with jobs, personal projects or those raising children, sparing five minutes for genkan cleaning may not even be an option. In this case, Kurashinity housekeeping service offers the perfect solution. Our capable, fluent English-speaking professionals can not only clean, but organize your entranceway, as well as the rest of your house. These housekeepers work with speed and ease, utilizing their expert cleaning skills, Japanese attention to detail and professional knowledge of Japanese cleaning customs.
urashinity supports business professionals, working couples, busy families and more. Our housekeepers go through over six-hundred hours of strict training on Japanese hospitality, culture and communication, ensuring an immaculate high-quality service to firmly support your life in Japan. Reduce the mental load of chores and cleaning and gain an abundance of valuable time to use as you wish, all while your house is kept sparkling clean up to a strict Japanese standard. Housekeepers can help not only in your genkan, but other Japan-specific areas of the house too. Tatami rooms and Japanese style-bathrooms come with many different requirements for upkeep, which can be overwhelming for those of us new to Japanese culture. Mold in the house and damp, smelly laundry during rainy season are other problems frequently encountered by expats in Japan. No need to worry with Kurashinity on your side, as our housekeepers are experts on all these matters and can prevent all these common problems with their smart and efficient cleaning and intelligent housekeeping.
Enhance not only your entranceway, but your entire home life in Japan, with Kurashinity.
Originally from the United Kingdom, Jessica is a writer and translator now living happily by the sea just south of Tokyo in Kamakura, Japan.
