{"id":343189,"date":"2024-12-26T14:00:25","date_gmt":"2024-12-26T19:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/blog-api\/?p=343189"},"modified":"2024-12-26T14:00:25","modified_gmt":"2024-12-26T19:00:25","slug":"the-timeless-appeal-of-japanese-minimalism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/the-timeless-appeal-of-japanese-minimalism\/","title":{"rendered":"The Timeless Appeal of Japanese Minimalism"},"content":{"rendered":"

Calm, uncluttered homes that nourish the mind, body and soul provide a zen-like refuge from a constantly busy world, writes Riya Patel<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/a>Nicasio, California | <\/span>Golden Gate Sotheby’s International Realty<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

The type of minimalist living and design associated with Japan, thought to be influenced by Zen Buddhism, is one that the world keeps returning to with fascination. In the early 2000s, the influential work of Japanese product and furniture designer Naoto Fukasawa\u2014celebrated this December at the <\/span>Philadelphia Museum of Art<\/span><\/a>, and perhaps best known for his work designing for lifestyle brand Muji\u2014helped ignite an international interest in minimalism, in the belief it could help people live simpler and happier lives at home.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Books such as Marie Kondo\u2019s bestselling \u201cThe Life-Changing Magic of Tidying\u201d<\/span> (2014), Fumio Sasaki\u2019s \u201cGoodbye, Things\u201d (2017) and Kenya Hara\u2019s \u201cCleaning\u201d<\/span> (2023) have all periodically revisited the idea that the art of living with less can be transformative to mental health. The rapid rise of digital technology makes a more meditative lifestyle appealing, too. \u201cThe world around us is increasingly noisy and exhausting,\u201d says London-based interior designer <\/span>Yoko Kloeden<\/span><\/a>. \u201cThe more time people spend online, the more they crave real connections in real spaces with real people.\u201d Kloeden has become known for creating calm and cozy homes that mix British and Japanese styles of living. \u201c[Japan] is a country steeped in history and distinctive aesthetics that has profoundly shaped my sense of beauty and comfort,\u201d she says.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Kyoto, Japan<\/a> | <\/span>List Sotheby’s International Realty<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

In a minimalist home\u2014with little to put \u201con show\u201d\u2014the interior itself is the focus. Humble and natural materials such as wood, stone, straw and paper are in place of ornament, and views of nature do the work of paintings. A great example is Hotaruan, a <\/span>family home in Kyoto<\/span><\/a> dating to 1900. Everything has its place in this remarkable historic house, which is characterized by the form of its traditional thatched roof, elegant rooms lined in warm timber, tatami mats and pebbled courtyard gardens. Even the modern addition of a functional freestanding kitchen blends in with its serene aesthetic.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While some of the home\u2019s details are unique to the period, others have endured to be part of a contemporary expression of Japanese minimalism. Kloeden believes the style\u2019s longevity is down to its ability to bring people together on an emotional level. \u201cWhat has become known as Japanese minimalism was first developed in tea houses for Samurai warriors and Shoguns,\u201d she says. \u201cIt appealed to those whose \u2018workplaces\u2019 were battlefields and who needed a space to have a human-to-human connection with guests. It\u2019s not surprising that the principle is timeless.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Nicasio, California<\/a> | <\/span>Golden Gate Sotheby’s International Realty<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

West Wind Estate<\/span><\/a>, comprising two homes set in a landscape of gardens, koi ponds and a vineyard, shows the international influence of Japanese minimalism at play in California. The property blends references to traditional Japanese architecture, such as shoji screens, with touches of contemporary comfort. It is described as \u201cAmerican sukiya,\u201d referring to the Japanese architectural style that emphasizes natural materials, simplicity, and a connection between indoor and outdoor spaces.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Stephanie Lamarre, the selling agent, says potential buyers are attracted to the \u201cpeaceful experience\u201d and \u201csuperb quality of craftsmanship\u201d at West Wind Estate. \u201cThe owners chose materials designed to be sustainable and energy-efficient,\u201d she explains, highlighting the extensive use of cedar, copper roofs and insulating shoji screens.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Auckland, New Zealand<\/a> | <\/span>New Zealand Sotheby’s International Realty<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

As the climate crisis calls for more mindful ways to live and consume, a philosophy with respect for materials and nature at its heart once again finds itself topical. Kloeden\u2019s London homes and the relaxed style of the California property demonstrate there are fruitful ways to adapt Japanese minimalism across geographies and contexts, too. \u201cMinimalism, to us, isn\u2019t about creating empty spaces; it\u2019s about designing harmonious, restorative environments that nurture wellbeing and tranquility,\u201d Kloeden says. Welcome news for those who aren\u2019t quite ready to throw out all their belongings to live a clutter-free life.<\/span><\/p>\n

What are the benefits of living in a colorful home? Find out <\/i><\/a>here<\/i><\/a><\/span><\/em><\/i><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Calm, uncluttered homes that nourish the mind, body and soul provide a zen-like refuge from a constantly busy world, writes Riya Patel Nicasio, California | Golden Gate Sotheby’s International Realty The type of minimalist living and design associated with Japan, thought to be influenced by Zen Buddhism, is one that the world keeps returning to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":64295786,"featured_media":343190,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1399],"tags":[1423,1454,1473],"class_list":["post-343189","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-home-and-design","tag-california","tag-japan","tag-new-zealand"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pf4gbL-1rhj","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":345443,"url":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/significant-sales-october-2025-highlights\/","url_meta":{"origin":343189,"position":0},"title":"Significant Sales: October 2025 Highlights","author":"Kate Marburger","date":"November 24, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"From a US$50M sale in Del Mar, California, to a US$22M sale in Tokyo, Japan, here are five sales represented by the Sotheby\u2019s International Realty global network in October. Del Mar, California Rande Turner | Pacific International Realty, US$50M View properties in Del Mar, California Greenwich, Connecticut Joseph Barbieri, Helene\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Market Insights"","block_context":{"text":"Market Insights","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/category\/market-insights\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Conyers Farm Drive, Greenwich, Connecticut","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/7EKFXH-24-Conyers-Farm-Drive1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/7EKFXH-24-Conyers-Farm-Drive1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/7EKFXH-24-Conyers-Farm-Drive1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/7EKFXH-24-Conyers-Farm-Drive1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/7EKFXH-24-Conyers-Farm-Drive1.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/7EKFXH-24-Conyers-Farm-Drive1.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":342877,"url":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/significant-sales-september-2024-highlights\/","url_meta":{"origin":343189,"position":1},"title":"Significant Sales: September 2024 Highlights","author":"SIR Admin","date":"October 28, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"From a US$18.45M sale in Homewood, California, to a \u20ac7.8M sale in Milan, Italy, here are five sales represented by the Sotheby\u2019s International Realty\u00ae global network in September. 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Liquid and transferable, investable wealth is easily deployed into new assets\u2014like luxury real estate. There are 16 million people worldwide who hold at least US$1M each in investable wealth, according to \u201cInvestable Assets of the Global Wealthy,\u201d a report published on December 9,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Market Insights"","block_context":{"text":"Market Insights","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/category\/market-insights\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Estate in San Luis Obispo, California","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/SLO-Header.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/SLO-Header.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/SLO-Header.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/SLO-Header.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/SLO-Header.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/SLO-Header.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/343189","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/64295786"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=343189"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/343189\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=343189"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=343189"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=343189"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}