Genkan

Genkan (玄関) are traditional Japanese entryway areas for a house, apartment, or building, a combination of a porch and a doormat.^[1] It is usually located inside the building directly in front of the door. The primary function of genkan is for the removal of shoes before entering the main part of the house or building.

A secondary function is a place for brief visits without being invited across the genkan step into the house proper.^[2] For example, where a pizza delivery driver in an English-speaking country would normally stand on the porch and conduct business through the open front door, in Japan a food delivery would traditionally have taken place across the genkan step.^[3]

After removing shoes, one must avoid stepping on the tiled or concrete genkan floor (三和土, tataki) in socks or with bare feet, to avoid bringing dirt into the house.^[2] Once inside, generally one will change into uwabaki (上履き): slippers or shoes intended for indoor wear.

Genkan are also occasionally found in other buildings in Japan, especially in old-fashioned businesses.