Kyo-Machiya for Future Generations

The Charm of Kyo-Machiya Houses

     Kyo-Machiya houses symbolize the landscape of Kyoto refined over a thousand years and represent the city's profound lifestyle and culture. They are a treasure not only for Kyoto but for Japan and the world. Through these Kyo-Machiya houses, we can get a glimpse of the lifestyle aesthetics,  living philosophy, and refined sense of beauty that Japanese people have cherished and passed down from generation to generation.　
     For the preservation of these houses, the city of Kyoto formulated the Kyoto Machiya Revitalization Plan in 2000, and in recent years, Kyo-Machiya houses have been used not only as residences, but also as art, commercial, and cultural facilities. 

History of Kyo-Machiya

The Kyo-Machiya originated in the middle of the Heian period (794-1185), and the prototype of today's Kyo- Machiya was formed in the middle of the Edo period (1603-1868). From the end of the Taisho period to the beginning of the Showa period (1926-1989), the style was influenced by Western-style architecture.

The Heian period (794-1185)
The Kyo-Machiya was a small hut facing the street.

The Muromachi period (1333-1573)
Kyoto-Machiya houses standing side by side

The Edo period (1603-1868)
The prototype of today's Kyo-Machiya was formed.

The Meiji　(1868-1912), Taisho　(1912-1926), and Showa (1926-1989) periods
Changes in second floor height and exterior design

The Heisei period (1989-1991) to the present
The loss of Kyo-Machiya houses and the growing movement to preserve and pass yhem on