When looking for apartments in Japan, you’re likely to encounter some of these terms: 1K, 1DK, 1LDK, 2K, 2DK, 2LDK  These terms might seem like strange and indecipherable codes but are actually just an abbreviation for what rooms and how many rooms an apartment has!

1LDK, 2K 1DK – What Does it all Mean?

The number represents the number of rooms in an apartment, excluding the bathroom and toilet rooms.

The ‘K’ stands for ‘kitchen’; so, a 1K apartment has one room and a kitchen, a 2K apartment has two rooms and a kitchen.

The ‘D’ is an abbreviation for ‘dining’, so DK apartments like 1DK and 2DK apartments have a separate kitchen-dining space on top of one or two rooms.

‘L’ stands for ‘living’, so LDK apartments such as 1LDK and 2LDK have one or two rooms as well as a living-dining room and a separate kitchen.

‘S’ stands for ‘storage’ or ‘service’, so 1SLDK apartments have a small extra room that doesn’t count as a bedroom since it may be too small or may lack a window. This can be used for storage or even as a large closet.

1K Apartments

A 1K apartment is essentially a studio apartment – it’s one room with a kitchen. The kitchen is usually (but not always) separated from the room by a wall.

1K apartments are usually between 13 and 25 square meters in floor space.

When it comes to 1K apartments, the kitchen is usually separated from the main room, but one big downside is that the kitchen counter space tends to be quite small. 1K apartments don’t usually come with built-in closets or even storage.

In Japan, most houses and apartments have a separate toilet room, as well as a separate bathroom. However, 1K apartments often have a unit bath. A unit bath means that the bath and toilet are all in one room rather than having two separate rooms; one for the bath and one for the toilet.

A 1DK apartment is basically a two-room apartment; one room functions as the bedroom and living space, and the other room is a dining and kitchen space.

1DK apartments tend to be between 25 and 30 square meters in floor space. The dining-kitchen area is usually larger than the other room.

Sometimes 1DK apartments have separated bathrooms and toilets, but you may still find many 1DK apartments with a unit bath (where the bathroom and toilet are in one room rather than two separate rooms).

These apartments normally do have built-in storage and perhaps even built-in wardrobes, so they are very practical.

1LDK Apartments

A 1LDK apartment is in essence a one-bedroom apartment. Here you will find one bedroom, one living and dining room, and one kitchen.

1LDK apartments are usually between 23 and 35 square meters in floor space. With 1LDK apartments, the living and dining room is normally bigger than the bedroom.

Normally 1LDK apartments have separate bathrooms and toilets, as well as built-in storage and wardrobes.

These apartments are comfortable one-bedroom apartments that will suit one individual. They provide enough space to have separate sleeping and living areas.

2K Apartments

2K apartments are usually an apartment with two rooms and a small kitchen. The kitchen is usually separated from the two rooms by one wall at least.

However, sometimes 2K apartments might be more like a 1DK apartment, where the kitchen is part of one of the two rooms.

The 2K apartments are popular for single individuals as they provide some separate living and sleeping space. They are usually a similar size to 1LDK or 1DK apartments.

2DK Apartments

2DK apartments are basically two-bedroom apartments that have a separate dining-kitchen room.

2DK apartments can work for individuals as an alternative to a 1LDK apartment, where one of the rooms can be used for a lounge space or a workspace. However, a 2DK apartment can also suit couples, since there is a larger floor space than in 1LDK and 2K apartments.

2LDK apartments are essentially two-bedroom apartments, with more space than 2DK apartments. They have two bedrooms as well as a living-dining room and a kitchen which is usually separated from the living and dining space.

2LDK apartments are ideal for couples since there is plenty of space and even a spare room. For anyone now working from home, there is enough space to comfortably separate your living and sleeping spaces from an ‘office’ space or workspace. They may suit small families too.

2LDK apartments normally have separate bathrooms and a good amount of built-in storage space.

Everyone has different budgets so what suits one individual may not work for another. Generally, the larger the apartment, the higher cost. However, there are also other factors that influence the rent such as the condition and age of the building, as well as the locations. The Village House website is an excellent place to find various apartments of varying sizes. With low upfront apartment costs, no deposit, no renewal fees, no key money, and no handling fees, make Village House your go-to place when looking for a new apartment. Good luck with your apartment hunting!