How to create a Japanese bathroom.
Small bathrooms don't have to mean sacrificing the luxury of a relaxing soak. Japanese hot tubs and Japanese baths offer the perfect solution for compact spaces, combining centuries-old bathing traditions with modern space-efficient small bathroom design.
Whether you're working with a tiny apartment bathroom or looking to maximize your small bathroom renovation, Japanese soaking tubs and bathing concepts can transform your limited space into a serene wellness retreat.
What Are Japanese Style Baths?
Japanese style baths, known as "ofuro" or "furo," are deep soaking tubs designed for relaxation and washing. Unlike traditional Western bathtubs, Japanese hot tubs are typically deeper and more compact, making them ideal for small bathroom spaces. These space-saving Japanese baths focus on vertical depth rather than horizontal length, allowing you to enjoy a full-body soak even in the smallest bathrooms.
The Japanese bathing philosophy emphasizes cleanliness, mindfulness, and therapeutic benefits. In traditional Japanese homes, bathers wash and rinse outside the tub before entering the clean soaking water, a practice that's both hygienic and space-efficient for small bathroom design layouts.

Japanese Soaking Tubs for Small Bathrooms
Ideas for small bathrooms
Japanese hot tubs excel in small bathroom design because they prioritize depth over width. A typical Japanese bath measures 48-60 inches in length compared to standard Western tubs that often require 72 inches or more. This compact footprint makes them perfect for small bathroom renovations where every square foot matters.
Therapeutic Advantages
The deeper water level in Japanese hot tubs provides better therapeutic benefits than shallow Western-style baths. The increased water pressure and coverage can help relieve muscle tension, improve circulation, and reduce stress – all crucial for creating a spa-like experience in your small bathroom sanctuary.
Water Efficiency
Despite their depth, Japanese baths often use less water than traditional bathtubs due to their compact size. This makes them an eco-friendly choice for small bathroom design upgrades while still providing the luxury soaking experience you desire.
Stone and Ceramic Japanese Bath Options
Natural stone or ceramic Japanese hot tubs create a luxurious focal point in small bathroom spaces. While heavier than other materials, they offer excellent heat retention and durability, making them a long-term investment for your small bathroom transformation.
"How do I make my small bathroom look bigger?"
The key to making a small bathroom appear larger lies in maximizing light and creating visual continuity. Start with light, colours like whites, soft grays, or pale blues on walls and fixtures to reflect more light and create an airy feel.
Install a large mirror or multiple mirrors to double the visual space and bounce light around the room. Choose a glass shower door instead of a curtain to maintain sightlines, and consider wall-mounted fixtures like floating vanities and wall-hung toilets to free up floor space and create a more open feel.
Finally, smaller Japanese hot tubs with wall hung vanity units and floating toilets create a simple yet larger perception of your bathroom, which instantly makes any space feel more spacious.
Wet Room Concept
Consider a Japanese-inspired wet room design for your small bathroom renovation. This approach eliminates the need for a separate shower enclosure, using the Japanese soaking tub area as both bathing and showering space – perfect for maximizing small bathroom functionality.
Natural Material Integration
Incorporate natural materials like bamboo, stone, and wood around your Japanese style bath to create an authentic spa atmosphere. These materials work particularly well in small bathrooms because they add texture without overwhelming the limited space.
Installation Advantages for Small Bathrooms and Apartments
Easy Installation in High-Rise Apartments
Japanese soaking tubs are particularly well-suited for high-rise apartment installations due to their compact dimensions and modular design. Many Japanese style baths can be delivered and installed in apartment buildings without requiring major structural modifications, making them ideal for urban small bathroom renovations.
Doorway-Friendly Dimensions
One of the biggest advantages of Japanese soaking tubs for small bathroom installations is their ability to fit through standard doorways. Unlike traditional Western bathtubs that often require wall removal for installation, most Japanese style baths are designed with doorway clearance in mind. Standard Japanese soaking tubs typically measure 28-32 inches in width, easily fitting through standard 32-36 inch doorways.
Perfect for Small Bathroom Design
Japanese hot tubs are specifically engineered for small bathroom spaces, making them the ideal choice for compact apartment bathrooms. These Japanese baths integrate seamlessly into existing small bathroom layouts without requiring extensive modifications, perfect for renters and homeowners alike looking to upgrade their small bathroom design.
Quick Installation Process
Many Japanese soaking tubs feature simple drop-in or alcove installation methods that can be completed in a single day. This rapid installation process is perfect for small bathroom renovations where minimising disruption is essential, especially in apartment settings where extended construction periods may not be permitted.
Creating Your Small Bathroom Oasis
Japanese style baths offer an exceptional solution for small bathroom luxury, combining space-efficient design with therapeutic benefits and aesthetic appeal. Their doorway-friendly dimensions and apartment-suitable installation process make them ideal for urban living and high-rise apartment renovations.
Transform your small bathroom into a Japanese-inspired wellness sanctuary with the perfect soaking tub solution. Our designer options like the Shizuku, Kawa, and Haru Japanese hot tub collections offer compact luxury baths in space-saving sizes from 1000mm to 1200mm, perfect for small bathroom design projects.
Available in elegant white or sophisticated black Auralith™ stone with matte finishes, these Japanese baths combine authentic aesthetics with modern durability for your small bathroom transformation.
Ready to start your small bathroom Japanese style transformation with www.casadistone.com?