How Big is 3 Square Meters (3m²)? Photo Examples, Conversions to Tsubo/Jo, and Layout Guide
In this article, we explain the size of 3 square meters (3m²), providing photos of hotel rooms as a reference, along with conversions to the Japanese units “Tsubo” and “Jo” (tatami mats) and typical layouts. Please use this as a guide when staying at Japanese hotels or looking for rental apartments in Japan.
In Japan, square meters are commonly referred to as “Heibei” (平米). Both terms mean “area” or “square meters,” and the unit is denoted as “㎡.”
While square meters are the standard unit used for housing and accommodations in Japan, unique Japanese units called “Tsubo” and “Jo” (or “Tatami”) are also frequently used. We have provided the conversions for 3 square meters into these units below.
Note: “Jo” (帖) and “Tatami” (畳) have the same meaning and pronunciation. In Japan, “Jo” is used when preceded by a number (e.g., 1-jo), whereas “Tatami” is used when referring to the mat itself.
A space of 3 square meters is approximately 1.73 meters square (approx. 5.68 ft x 5.68 ft). If it were a square, one-story building, the frontage would be about 1.73 meters (5.7 feet).
To give you an idea of the size, 3 square meters is slightly smaller than a Queen-size mattress. In terms of accommodation, this would be equivalent to a spacious capsule hotel or a cabin room. It is not feasible to use this as a permanent living space for a rental apartment.
Let’s look into 3 square meters in more detail. We have also summarized photos of other sizes and guides for “Jo (Tatami)” and “Tsubo,” so please take a look at those as well.
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3 Square Meters: Dimensions and Conversion to Tsubo and Jo (Tatami)
To help you visualize 3 square meters, the table below summarizes the vertical and horizontal dimensions if the space were a square, the conversion into “Tsubo” and “Jo,” and a guide for room layouts.
| Square Meters (㎡) | Jo (Tatami Mats) | Tsubo | Dimensions (Square) | Layout Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3㎡ (approx. 32.3 sq ft) | 1.85 Jo | 0.91 Tsubo | Approx. 1.73m × 1.73m (5.7ft × 5.7ft) | N/A |
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Regarding “Jo,” the standard size of a tatami mat varies by region. Here, we calculate based on the real estate standard of 1 Jo = 1.62㎡. For more details, please see: “Explanation of Tatami Sizes: Kyoma, Edoma, etc.“
Photos of 3 Square Meters
Please take a look at these photos taken in Japanese hotels and inns to see how large 3 square meters actually is.
BIZCOURT CABIN Susukino
BIZCOURT CABIN Susukino opened on March 31, 2017, as the Route Inn Group’s first male-only capsule hotel. Several room types are available, and the one I stayed in this time was the “C-Type.” The interior dimensions of the cabin are 200cm (6.5ft) high × 215cm (7.0ft) deep × 140cm (4.6ft) wide. Photo taken in February 2018.
