Many people dream of living in Tokyo.
The city is exciting, convenient, and full of opportunities.
But there is one reality that surprises many visitors:
Apartments in Tokyo are often much smaller than expected.
As a professional organizer who has visited more than 200 homes of women living alone, I’ve seen how people adapt to limited space while still creating beautiful and comfortable homes.
This is not just about storage.
It’s about a uniquely Japanese approach to space and everyday life.
Helping women create calmer homes, clearer minds, and more intentional lives through organization and design.
Risa Narishima is a professional organizing consultant specializing in helping women living alone create homes that support both daily life and personal growth.
- Certified Professional Organizer (Level 1)
- Interior Coordinator
- Founder of “Oheya Arrangement”, a home organizing service dedicated to women living alone in Japan
- Editorial Supervisor of “Hitorigurashi Kanpeki BOOK” (published by KADOKAWA)
- Official Ambassador for Tenma Corporation
- More than 500 in-home organizing projects completed for women living alone
Her philosophy goes beyond decluttering.
By organizing space, simplifying daily routines, and designing homes intentionally, Risa believes people can create room for clarity, confidence, and new possibilities in life.
Specialties
• Small apartment living
• Organizing for women living alone
• Functional storage solutions
• Interior coordination
• Mindful home design
• Space planning for personal well-being
Interests
Collecting storage ideas, exploring organizing solutions, and traveling to discover beautiful spaces and thoughtful design.
Japanese Homes Are Smaller Than You Think
When people think about Japan, they often imagine beautiful gardens, traditional houses, and peaceful living spaces.
What surprises many visitors is how small modern homes can be—especially in Tokyo.
Many single women in Tokyo live in apartments between 20 and 30 square meters (215–320 sq ft). In some cases, the entire apartment is smaller than a living room in many Western homes.
At first, this may sound uncomfortable.
Where do we store our clothes?
How do we fit furniture?
Isn’t it stressful to live in such a small space?
As a professional organizer who has visited more than 200 homes, I can tell you that the answer is often no.
The reason is simple:
Japanese people learn to use space differently.
Instead of relying on large homes, we learn how to make the most of the space we have. We choose furniture carefully, use storage intentionally, and think about how each area of the room will be used.
In Japan, space is valuable.
Every shelf, drawer, and corner has a purpose.
But perhaps more importantly, we learn that comfort does not always come from having more space.
Sometimes it comes from using a small space well.
Living in a tiny apartment teaches us to be intentional about what we own, how we organize it, and what kind of life we want our home to support.
Why Are Tokyo Apartments So Small?
Tokyo is one of the most densely populated cities in the world.
Land is limited, and housing costs are high.
As a result, many people choose smaller apartments in exchange for living close to train stations, workplaces, and city amenities.
For many Japanese women, convenience is often more important than square footage.
Living close to daily life means spending less time commuting and more time enjoying life.
We Don’t Store Everything
Many people think Japanese homes stay tidy because we have clever storage solutions.
But in reality, we often start with a different question:
“Do I really need to keep this?”
Because space is limited, Japanese people tend to be more selective about what they own.
Instead of finding bigger storage, we often reduce what we keep.
Japanese women don’t live comfortably because they have more storage. They live comfortably because they are intentional about what they keep.
Japanese Women Focus on “Visual Calm”
One thing I’ve noticed after visiting more than 200 women’s homes in Japan is that many of us care deeply about how a room feels when we walk into it.
We don’t always have large homes or walk-in closets. In fact, many Tokyo apartments are surprisingly small.
Because of that, Japanese women often focus on creating what I call “visual calm.”
Visual calm means reducing visual noise.
For example:
- Keeping countertops clear
- Hiding cables and chargers
- Storing daily items behind doors or inside drawers
- Choosing colors that blend together
- Leaving some empty space instead of filling every corner
In many countries, an empty space might seem unused.
In Japan, empty space is often considered part of the design.
When I help clients organize their homes, my goal is not simply to fit more items into storage.
Instead, I ask:
“What do you want to see when you come home after a long day?”
The answer is rarely “more stuff.”
Most people want to see a calm bedroom, a clean kitchen, or a room that helps them relax.
That’s why Japanese organizing is not only about storage.
It’s about creating a peaceful view that supports your daily life.
Sometimes the most important part of a room is not what you add.
It’s the space you leave empty.
The Secret Is Not Storage—It’s Intentional Living
What I Learned from Visiting More than 200 Tokyo Apartments
- The happiest homes aren’t the biggest.
- Women feel calmer when they can see the floor.
- Empty space is not wasted space.
- A home should cherish the past and make space for the future.
Japanese Homes Are Small, But Life Doesn’t Feel Small
After visiting hundreds of homes, I’ve learned that happiness does not come from having more space.
It comes from creating a home that supports the life you want to live.
Whether an apartment is 20 square meters or 100 square meters, the goal is the same:
To create a space where you can breathe, relax, and become the person you want to be.
Room Arrangement is not about organizing things. It’s about creating a life you want to live.
Japanese Philosophy of Space and Life by Risa
