Glossary
Tsubo (3.3 sqm area unit)
The traditional Japanese area unit equal to about 3.3 square meters, still used to quote land and price-per-area.
One tsubo is roughly 3.3 square meters, historically the size of two tatami mats. Even though contracts and registrations use square meters, the trade still talks in tsubo — land prices, build costs, and rough yardsticks are quoted per tsubo (tsubo-tanka). To convert, multiply tsubo by 3.3 to get square meters, or divide square meters by 3.3 to get tsubo. Watch for it when comparing listings: a price that looks low per tsubo and a price per square meter aren't directly comparable, and sloppy or deliberately confusing quoting between the two units is a common way to make a number look better than it is.