和室是日本房屋内特有的传统房间，地面铺上叠席（在日本称为「畳」，日语发音ta ta mi，即俗称的榻榻米），由于叠席的大小是固定的，铺的张数可以知房间大小。和室的空间由拉窗和隔扇（两面糊纸的拉门）所围绕，通常设有凹阁，特别是拉窗把空间完全地隔绝，散发出一种模糊暧昧的环境，造成幽玄而又明亮的日本风格私人空间。

和室里所摆放的桌子、座垫、棉被、寝具等，可以做为聚餐、团聚、书房、卧室等这些用途之外，还可以做出许多各式各样用途的空间。在和室里不需要穿鞋子（包括拖鞋），赤脚走在以自然素材灯芯草做成的叠席上，有如徜徉在大自然一样。和室还有着冬暖夏凉的特性。

Washitsu(和室), meaning "Japanese-style room(s)", is a Japanese term used as an antonym for the term yōshitsu (洋室), meaning "Western-style room(s)." Another term for washitsu is nihonma (日本間), and the corresponding term for yōshitsu is yōma (洋間).

A distinguishing feature of washitsu (or nihonma) is their tatami flooring. Washitsu also usually have sliding doors (fusuma), rather than hinged doors between rooms. They may have shōji and, if the particular room is meant to serve as a reception room for guests, it may have a tokonoma (alcove for decorative items).