Convert Japanese tsubo to square yard easily.
1 坪 x 3.95369 = 3.95369 yd²
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Imagine you’re browsing a Tokyo real estate listing and see a cozy apartment described as “12 tsubo.” How much space is that in square yards? Whether you’re comparing international property sizes or working on a cross-cultural design project, converting tsubo to square yards bridges tradition and modernity. Let’s explore this practical conversion that connects Japanese heritage with global measurement standards.
Unit definitions
What is a Japanese tsubo (坪)?
The tsubo (pronounced "tsoo-boh") is a traditional Japanese area unit deeply rooted in architecture and real estate. Symbol: 坪. One tsubo equals the area of two tatami mats (about 1.62m x 3.24m), standardized as exactly 3.306 square meters during the Edo period. It’s still widely used today for property listings, interior design, and agricultural planning.
What is a square yard (yd²)?
A square yard measures area in imperial systems, representing a square with 3-foot sides (0.9144 meters per side). Symbol: yd². Commonly used in textiles, landscaping, and real estate across the United States and former British colonies. One square yard equals 0.836127 square meters.
Conversion formula
To convert tsubo to square yards:
Square Yards = Tsubo × 3.95369
This factor comes from:
3.306 m² (1 tsubo) ÷ 0.836127 m² (1 yd²) = 3.95369
Example calculations
- Converting 5 tsubo to yd²:
5 × 3.95369 = 19.76845 → 19.768 yd² - A 25-tsubo office space equals:
25 × 3.95369 = 98.84225 → 98.842 yd²
Conversion tables
Tsubo to square yards
| Tsubo | Square Yards |
|---|---|
| 1 | 3.954 |
| 2 | 7.907 |
| 3 | 11.861 |
| 4 | 15.815 |
| 5 | 19.768 |
| 10 | 39.537 |
| 20 | 79.074 |
| 50 | 197.684 |
| 100 | 395.369 |
Square yards to tsubo
| Square Yards | Tsubo |
|---|---|
| 5 | 1.265 |
| 10 | 2.529 |
| 20 | 5.059 |
| 50 | 12.647 |
| 100 | 25.293 |
| 500 | 126.46 |
From tatami mats to textile rolls: A measurement journey
The tsubo’s origin story begins with tatami mats in 17th-century Japan. Craftsmen realized two mats (1 ken x 1 ken) created a practical area unit for room layouts. Meanwhile, the square yard evolved from medieval English cloth measurements, where merchants needed to quantify fabric quickly. While Japan metricated in 1966, the tsubo persisted due to its cultural benifit in spatial visualization. Square yards maintained relevance through British colonial influence, especially in sports field measurements and carpeting.
Interesting facts
- Tatami math: One tsubo covers exactly 2 standard tatami mats (1.6562m² each)
- Global cousins: The Korean pyeong equals the tsubo but uses different Chinese characters (坪 vs. 平)
- Textile legacy: 1 square yard can cover 9 square feet – perfect for fabric shops
- Modern overlap: Tokyo apartments often list both tsubo and square meters
- Sporting grounds: A NBA basketball court is about 1,322 square yards (334 tsubo)
FAQ
The tsubo remains popular in real estate and architecture because it relates directly to traditional tatami mat sizes, making it practical for visualizing room layouts.
The conversion factor (1 tsubo ≈ 3.954 square yards) is precise to three decimal places, suitable for most professional and personal use cases.
Always consult local regulations. While the conversion is mathematically accurate, some jurisdictions may require official unit standards.
The tsubo is primarily used in Japan, though historians occasionally encounter it in pre-modern Korean land records.
Confusing tsubo with other Asian area units like the Korean pyeong (which has the same size but different cultural context).