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Tiger Beer · Joined: 08 Feb 2003 Posts: 778 Location: Hong Kong

So what is the housing and insulation like in Japan? I've mostly heard its very cold in the houses due to very poor insulation, and not much of a heating system.

How about the further north you go? Did they develop the heating systems more sufficiently?

What are others takes on this?

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Insulation is not the best, especially on older buildings. Watch TV programs that show "before and after" remodeling. Zero insulation often! Can't speak for places other than Hokkaido (where you'd expect more insulation), but I hear that Kyoto homes are pretty cold because of the dampness in winter.

gonzarelli · Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2007 9:40 pm Post subject:

I had an ice box in the winter (no need to put milk in the fridge) and a sauna in the summer Sad

Yawarakaijin · Joined: 20 Jan 2006 Posts: 504 Location: Middle of Nagano

I lived in Hokkaido for a year and it was pretty interesting. My apartment was relatively new but it seems they had never heard of the concept of insulation.

The wall of my building was simple concrete, perhaps about 3 inches thick. I'm talking about the width of the wall where my window was. The window, for some unknown reason, was only one pane of glass. It was constantly iced over. When I got home from work my apartment would basically be just about the same temperature as it was outside. It heated up pretty quick, but that was only because I bought 2 space heaters and used to crank up my gas cooking stove to heat the kitchen. Ah, fun times.

The apartments I have had in Tokyo havent been much better, but then again I dont really find Tokyo very cold.

I'm currently in Nagano and the winter hasn't hit yet but I am not too encouraged as my one entire wall consist of sliding doors and they are, as well, only a single pane of glass. Confused

flyer · Joined: 16 May 2003 Posts: 539 Location: Sapporo Japan

I live in Hokkaido

yes the building are totally different up here

much more insulation and stronger roofs (for the snow) double glazing is the norm

so the houses are actually warmer inside than in Tokyo (but colder outside)

actually I know some houses have 3 layers of glass! (triple glazing)

Quibby84 · Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 643 Location: Japan

My Leo Palace is the best insulated thing I have ever lived in. It is great for the winter but the summers are insane. We have to run the AC 24/7.
When we come home in the winter, it is still warm inside. We still run the fans and open the window at night now.

flyer · Joined: 16 May 2003 Posts: 539 Location: Sapporo Japan

Air Con 24/7?

can't imagine that!

we don't have ACs in Hokkaido (very rare anyway)

Yawarakaijin · Joined: 20 Jan 2006 Posts: 504 Location: Middle of Nagano

There is no doubt that my summer energy bills were larger than my winter ones in Tokyo. My place was an absolute heat sink during the summer. Not a word of a lie, I had that sucker set at 19 degrees for every second I was in the house. The summer bills were easily double that of my winter bills.

flyer · Joined: 16 May 2003 Posts: 539 Location: Sapporo Japan

thanks so funny and so different to up here in Hokkaido

no summer bills for heating or AC

but big winter heating bill

... must even out about the same?

.... maybe more costly up here (esp with oil the price it is now)

Quibby84 · Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 643 Location: Japan

yeah, my electricity bill was 10,000 yen for the really hot month...and this is for a apartment about 12 feet by 12 feet...pretty stinkin small...

cornishmuppet · Joined: 27 Mar 2004 Posts: 642 Location: Nagano, Japan

I really love my house but its wooden and has three walls to the outside with another apartment at the back and one above. Its pretty cold already, but I leave the kerosene heater near the bed so that I can turn it on in the morning without getting up.

I'm dreading mid-winter though!

flyer · Joined: 16 May 2003 Posts: 539 Location: Sapporo Japan

cornishmuppet · Joined: 27 Mar 2004 Posts: 642 Location: Nagano, Japan

Fans are a lot cheaper than air conditioners.

Mothy · Joined: 01 Feb 2007 Posts: 99

Haven't experienced winter yet in my Tokyo area apartment but if summer was any implication (is that the right word? Am I losing my English ability already? Oh no!!!!) winter is going to be awful... Unless we have a mild winter and then I doubt it'll bother me at all, except for my wife's whining about the cold. Part of this might be the wall insulation but I'm pretty sure a big problem is the windows. Single pane, plus I don't think they are sealed very well. After heavy rain I've found rain on my windowsill before.

madeira · Joined: 13 Jun 2004 Posts: 182 Location: Oppama

The house I bought was built (in the 70's) with central heating and tons of insulation... but the central heating had been cut, as some previous owner thought it was too expensive to run. We were unable to get it fixed. While we were renovating, the contractor pulled out all the underfloor insulation. He had a huge hissy-fit when I demanded it be put back. He said it was unnecessary. I said that heat loss works the same in Japan as anywhere...

So, very different ideas about heat and insulation here.

My first apartment had a a/c unit, but the heating function was... non-functional. The unit was near the ceiling and right beside a glass door. The only way to feel any warmth was to stand on the table with your arms up. So, kerosene heaters were bought.

I never used the cooling function. Fans and open windows worked for me.