Edward S. Morse 
Japanese Homes and Their Surroundings 

Morse’s publication is an idea book par excellence … Japanese Homes and Their Surroundings is likely to continue to be a valued resource for some time to come.’–David and Michiko Young


First published in 1886, this classic review of the Japanese house and garden remains an authoritative description of the architecture of the traditional Japanese home. The work of Edward S. Morse, a groundbreaking and imaginative inventor, academic, author and museum curator, this edition of
Japanese Homes and Their Surroundings features an introduction by David and Michiko Young placing the book in its historical context and explaining its continued relevance.


Containing over 300 detailed illustrations and revealing important historical and cultural sources,
Japanese Homes and Their Surroundings is a time-tested resource for architects and landscape designers alike. Chapters include:

• House Construction


• Carpenters’ Tools and Appliances


• City and Country Houses


• Tearooms


• Portable Screens


• Household Shrines


• Vestibule and Hall


• Flowers


• Bridges


• Views of Private Gardens


• Houses of the Aino