Convert Japanese tsubo to square foot easily.

Ever tried visualizing the size of a Tokyo apartment listed in tsubo? If you’re more familiar with square feet, that number might leave you scratching your head. Let’s bridge that measurement gap. The Japanese tsubo (坪) isn’t just a unit—it’s a cultural artifact rooted in centuries of architecture. Meanwhile, square feet dominate property talk in countries like the US and UK. Converting between them isn’t just math, it’s translating space across continents.

Unit definitions

What is a japanese tsubo (坪)?

Description: A traditional Japanese area unit still widely used in real estate and construction.
Symbol: 坪
Common uses: Measuring rooms, land parcels, and building floorspace.
Definition: 1 tsubo = 3.3058 square meters, equivalent to two tatami mats (畳).

What is a square foot (sq ft)?

Description: An imperial unit of area used primarily in the United States and Commonwealth countries.
Symbol: sq ft or ft²
Common uses: Residential property listings, interior design, and construction.
Definition: 1 square foot = 144 square inches, or 0.092903 square meters.

Conversion formula

Multiply tsubo by 35.5832 to get square feet:
Square feet = Tsubo × 35.5832

To convert back:
Tsubo = Square feet ÷ 35.5832

Example calculations

1. Converting 5 tsubo to sq ft:
   5 × 35.5832 = 177.916 sq ft
   That’s roughly the size of a small bedroom in a Tokyo condo.
2. Converting 500 sq ft to tsubo:
   500 ÷ 35.5832 ≈ 14.05 tsubo
   Imagine a 20×25 ft garage—that’s about 14 tsubo of space.

Conversion tables

Tsubo to square feet

Square feet to tsubo

Historical background and cultural context

The tsubo’s origin story starts with tatami mats. During Japan’s Edo period (1603–1868), rooms were sized by how many tatami mats fit on the floor. Two mats made one tsubo—a practical system when most homes had standardized mat layouts. Even today, realtors might describe a “6-tsubo room” instead of quoting square meters, because clients instantly picture six pairs of tatami.

Square feet have a less poetic history. The unit evolved from English measurement systems, later standardized in 1959 by international agreement. While most countries switched to metric, the US held onto square feet for property measurements, creating this modern need for tsubo conversions.

Here’s a quirky benifit of knowing both units: when comparing global real estate prices, you’ll notice Tokyo apartments often seem smaller but cheaper per tsubo than Manhattan’s per-square-foot rates. That’s partly because Japanese listings typically include balcony space in the tsubo count, while New Yorkers measure only interior areas.

Interesting facts

1. Tatami variations: A standard tatami mat measures 1.82 m² in Tokyo but 1.65 m² in Kyoto, making a Kyoto tsubo about 3.3 m² vs Tokyo’s 3.3058 m².
2. Feng Shui factor: Some Japanese architects still design rooms in even tsubo counts for auspiciousness.
3. Parking paradox: Car parking spots in Japan are often advertised in tsubo (≈35.58 sq ft), but compact car spaces might be just 0.8 tsubo.
4. Global cousins: Korea’s pyeong (평) is nearly identical to tsubo (1 pyeong = 3.3058 m²), a legacy of Japanese colonial influence.
5. Metric push: Since 1966, Japan officially uses metric units, but tsubo persists—proof that tradition often outlives policy.

FAQ