The show "Junnin Jyuuni-iro ~As Many Family Forms as There Are Houses~" (MBS, Saturday 5pm, Kansai local and other stations), hosted by talent Mika Mifune and actor Taro Suruga, will feature a "house nestled in the forest" built by a couple who moved from the Kansai region to Hara Village, Suwa District, Nagano Prefecture, on November 22nd.
The residents are a family of four with two small children. The couple is originally from the Kansai region and moved to the naturally rich village of Hara last year to build their home. The house has a strange appearance, completely closed off and without a single window. In fact, the exterior walls are covered by a large roof, designed to block views from the surrounding area.
Once inside the house, a large opening at the back of the entrance opens onto a vast expanse of greenery, the entirety of which is the family garden. The house, which was built in a vast forest of over 1000m2, is thin when viewed from the side, with a width of 17m and a depth of just 4m. The building area is 66m2, and it has a long, narrow shape. The wife says, "We wanted to live in the forest, so we prioritized the size of the garden." As a result, the building coverage ratio is only 6%.
Going around to the back of the house, the exterior is completely different, with a total of 23 windows. The house was designed so that the greenery of the garden could be enjoyed from anywhere in the house, and in this way, a workspace has been set up in one corner of the compact 7-tatami mat living room, with a ceiling height of 7 meters, making effective use of the space, where the owner can work fully remotely while looking out at the garden from the window. There is also an 8-tatami mat private lodging room, which is said to be popular for its beautiful views of the stars and full moon of Hara Village, known as the "village of falling stars."
"Jyunin Jyuiro" is a program that visits homes all over Japan and introduces the residents' preferences and charms for their homes. After broadcast, it will be available on TVer for one week.
