Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Japanese Town Guide

Place “Zen” (Japanese) Furniture

So, you want to make your island give off an old-fashioned Japanese vibe? Unsurprisingly, you’re going to need tons of Japanese furniture – in game this series of items is called “Zen”. In particular, you’ll really need the Zen Fence, so check your Nook Stop every day for fences!


Use Island Designer To Lay Down Stone Paths

Once you unlock the Island Designer tool, you’ll be able to change the path tiles on your island. For this theme, we recommend you use the Stone Path, as it fits well with this theme. You could also use Custom Designs to make flooring more similar to a mossy Zen garden as well!


Grow Lots Of Bamboo

Growing bamboo trees next to your stone paths will really add to that Japanese-style atmosphere you’re going for! Try placing a lot of similar bamboo furniture as well!

  • Bamboo (You need to plant Bamboo shoots if you want to grow Bamboo.)
  • Go On Mystery Island Tour
  • Bamboo Shoots:
    • In order to get Bamboo Shoots, look for a star icon on the ground next to some bamboo. You can get Bamboo Shoots by digging on top of that star icon. Or Get Bamboo Shoots From Daisy Mae If you spend lot of money purchase Turnips from Daisy Mae, you can get Bamboo Shoots via mail. Daisy Mae comes to your island every Sunday.
    • Get Bamboo Shoots Once Only – When you plant Bamboo on your island, once fully grown, the tree will produce a Bamboo Shoot near it once only in its entire lifetime. If you need more Bamboo or Bamboo Shoots, you need to find a bamboo island or get them from Daisy Mae.
  • Young Spring Bamboo: Young spring bamboo will drop by chopping bamboo trees only during Spring! These are time-limited, seasonal items so make sure to farm them before Spring ends!
  • Season Changes Per Hemisphere:
    • North – Feb. 25 to May 31
    • South – Aug. 25 to Nov. 30

How To Get Bamboo DIY Recipes

  • Pop Balloons During Spring Season
    • North: 2/25 – 5/31
    • South: 8/25 – 11/30

If you pop balloons during the spring season on either hemisphere, you’ll have a chance to get Bamboo DIY recipes. Take note that it’s possible to get duplicates of DIY recipes you already know.


Make Bridges And Stairs Out Of Stone

Try making your bridges and stairs out of stone as well. There are also 2 “Zen” bridges you could use!

  • Stone staircase:
    • 168,000 Bells
  • Stone bridge:
    • 168,000 Bells
  • Red zen bridge
    • 228,000 Bells
  • Zen bridge
    • 228,000 Bells

Matching Furniture Sets To Use – 4 Sets That Work Well With A Japanese Theme

  • Cherry Blossom
    • North: 4/1〜4/10
    • South: 10/1〜10/10
  • Young Spring Bamboo
    • North: 2/25~5/31
    • South: 8/25~11/31
  • Bamboo
    • TBD
  • Maple Leaf
    • North: 11/16~11/25
    • South: 5/16~5/26

When you think of Japan, what comes to mind? Probably the beautiful pink colors of the Cherry Blossom! In addition to that, seasonal furniture, including things made of bamboo fit in well with the aesthetic. Japan also experiences wonderful autumn leaves, so including some red maple leaf furniture for color contrast is also a good idea.


Japanese Style Wallpaper and Flooring

  • Backyard lawn
    • Message bottle or balloon
      • Weeds x30
  • Gold screen wall
    • Message bottle or balloon
      • Gold nugget x2
      • Screen wall x1

List Of Japanese / Zen Furniture

  • Pot
    • TBD
      • Clay x5
  • Broom and dustpan
    • Nook’s Cranny
  • Pagoda
    • Reward from helping Gulliver
  • Kettle
    • Nook’s Cranny
  • Wooden fish
    • Message bottle or balloon
      • Wood x3
  • Pile of zen cushions
    • Buy:
    • Sell:
    • Message bottle or balloon
  • Stone lion
    • Message bottle or balloon
      • Rock x24
  • Tanuki ornament
    • Message bottle or balloon
      • Clay x6
  • Oil barrel bathtub
    • Message bottle or balloon
      • Oil barrel x1
      • Campfire x1
      • Rock x2
  • Bonsai shelf
    • Message bottle or balloon
      • Cherry Bonsai x1
      • Pine Bonsai x1
      • Wood x8
  • Common rock
    • Message bottle or balloon
      • Rock x15
  • Zen gravestone
    • Message bottle or balloon
      • Rock x30
  • Stone water receptacle
    • Message bottle or balloon
      • Rock x10
  • Spinning top
    • TBD
      • Gold ornament x1
      • Hardwood x1
  • Beckoning cat
    • Reward from helping Gulliver
  • Golden beckoning cat
    • Message bottle or balloon
      • Gold nugget x2
      • Beckoning cat x1
  • Bamboo basket
    • Message bottle or balloon
      • Young spring bamboo x6
  • Laundry bucket
    • Message bottle or balloon
      • Softwood x3
  • Outdoor Bath
    • Buy with Nook Miles
      • Rock x20
      • Shovel x1
  • Hearth
    • DIY Recipe pack
      • Bamboo x2
      • Iron Nugget x5
      • Clay x5
      • Hardwood x5
  • Tall Garden Rock
    • Message bottle or balloon
      • Rock x60
  • Kettle bathtub
    • Message bottle or balloon
      • Iron Nugget x8
      • Wood x2
      • Campfire x1
  • Gong
    • Message bottle or balloon
      • Iron Nugget x6
      • Wood x5
  • Stone tablet
    • Nook Miles
      • Rock x12
  • Simple well
    • Nook Miles
      • Rock x15
      • Flimsy Shovel x1
  • Street stall
    • Nook Miles
      • Wood x12
  • Scarecrow
    • Message bottle or balloon
      • Branch x3
      • Weeds x5
  • Mossy garden rock
    • Message bottle or balloon
      • Rock x1
      • Weeds x15
  • Zabuton pile
    • Message bottle or balloon
      • Zabuton x3
  • Stone lion
    • Message bottle or balloon
      • Rock x24
  • Tatami chair
    • Nook’s Cranny
  • Retro fan
    • Nook’s Cranny
  • Oriental toilet
    • Nook’s Cranny
  • Katana
    • Reward from helping Gulliver

List Of Japanese Style Wall Ornaments

  • Wooden plank sign
    • TBD
      • Hardwood x5

List Of Japanese Style Fences

  • Zen Fence
    • Buy with Nook Miles
      • Iron Nugget x3
      • Clay x3
      • Rock x3
  • Stone Wall
    • Buy with Nook Miles
      • Rock x4

But I think there are a few more items that can go on the list that are not mentioned here.

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