Two Types of Japanese Kitchens — And the Cooktops That Go With Them
KeikoIn Japan, home kitchens generally come in one of two styles:
1. Sectional Kitchens (セクショナルキッチン)
The sink, prep counter, and cooktop are all separate, freestanding units that you line up together. Each piece can be replaced or moved on its own.
2. System Kitchens (システムキッチン)
Here, everything — the sink, cooktop, and work surface — is connected along one continuous countertop. The design and height are consistent all the way across. From what I've seen, most newer kitchens in Japan go with this style.
And then there's the cooktop. Every kitchen has one, and in Japan they're basically one of two types:
1. Gas Cooktops (ガスコンロ)
These run on either city gas or propane, depending on what's available in your area. The main advantage is being able to cook with an open flame — which really does matter for certain dishes.
2. IH Cooktops (IHコンロ)
These use electricity and magnetic induction to heat your cookware — no flame involved. They're more energy-efficient than gas, easier to clean, and lower fire risk, which is probably why they've become so popular. The one thing to keep in mind is that you'll need IH-compatible pots and pans.
3. Something Very Japanese — The Built-In Fish Grill (魚焼きグリル)
This one is, I think, very uniquely Japanese. Almost every cooktop in Japan — gas or IH — comes with a built-in fish grill underneath the burners. It's just a standard feature here. And recently, some newer models are designed so you can use it almost like a Dutch oven, which is pretty handy.
For what it's worth, here's how things look across our own homes:
- Kanagawa (our main home): System kitchen with a gas cooktop
- Hokkaido (the family house): Sectional kitchen with a propane gas cooktop
- A relative's brand-new house we visit often: System kitchen with an IH cooktop — and like a lot of newly built homes in Japan, it's fully electric (オール電化)
New homes really do seem to be going all-electric these days.
