Japanese traditional house, Tokonoma alcove

In the fully traditional Japanese houses and in tea-houses, there's always a "forbidden area", where it is not allowed to step on. It is actually an alcove, with the tatami mat floor slightly raised, decorated with calligraphy scrolls, paintings or ikebana, the decoration being changed according to seasons or to honor an important guest. The name used for this alcove varies, but most often it is called tokonoma (from toko, "floor" and ma, "space" or "room").