Shoji: The word was originally the generic term for partitions between rooms, but today it has come to refer mostly to sliding doors made of paper squares glued on a wood lattice that allows soft light to pass through.
Zabuton: This cushion on which people sit was originally a mat made from beautiful cloth, but it came to take its current form in the latter half of the Edo period (1603-1868), when cotton was added.
Zataku: As chairs are not used in rooms with tatami, this table has much shorter legs than those found in other countries.
Chadansu: As the living room, where the family dines together, grew to be the center of their lives at home, it came to contain a cabinet that holds the plates and bowls that people use. This cabinet was originally used to hold the implements used in the tea ceremony.
Tatami: This is a mat woven from straw that is used on the floor of Japanese rooms. These mats were originally used only where people sat.
Kotatsu: This is a piece of furniture used in the winter that allows Japanese to warm themselves and also serves as a table. While it originally used coal for its heat, these days kotatsu rely on an electric heating element. The top and sides of the kotatsu are covered with a futon to keep the heat in, and a board is placed on top of the futon so that the kotatsu can be used as a table.
Tokonoma: This alcove, located in the guest room, usually has a vertical scroll of calligraphy or art for visitors to enjoy, along with traditional ikebana flowers.
Kamidana: This altar for Japan's ancient gods is shaped like a small shrine and is kept on a shelf near the ceiling. It contains a fuda, which is a paper or wooden tablet with writing on it. Buddhism is practiced in Japan, as it is in many other Asian countries, and both the Buddha and the indigenous gods are venerated alongside each other in many Japanese homes. Buddhist altars are shaped like a cabinet with doors at the front that swing open.
If you want to know more about the structure and history of Japanese houses, as well as what it's like to live in one, you can read the explanations after playing the game.