Abstract
The garden is indispensable to Japanese traditional house to live a comfortable life in summer. That place is used in various ways through the year in warm-mild regions. But the garden differs in form, character, and way of using in cold climate like of Hokkaido. In this paper the characteristics and some problems on planning are summarized. 1. The lot area of house of Hokkaido is relatively large in comparison with other warm-mild regions. It seems to greatly depend on the differences of house type and necessity of the space for snow-disposal. 2. The house generally has a sweeping-type window facing to the garden. But inhabitants seldom go in and out through the opening and they scarcely use the garden and house as living space keeping the window open even in summer. That is, the indoor and outdoor space are separatated to that extent. 3. The garden is well used as the space of flower growing, drying, working and playing of children etc. just in summer. But people can little use the garden in winter and most of such outdoor lives are taken in indoors. 4. From these points it is necessary to consider the following subjects, that is, (1) improvement and perfection of utility, storage, and entranec space, (2) arrangement of the unfloored space, especially basement which is very available to the living in Hokkaido, (3) development of the new housing type which is sufficiently compact and closed to exterior. Also it seems that apartment houses are suitable for the living like this and they have a good possibility of diffusion in cold climate.
