What are Kyo-machiya?
There are many types of machiya townhouses in Japan, but the townhouses of Naokonoza are called Kyo-machiya, the machiya of Kyoto, and they are authentic machiya that have strict rules governing them. In order for a machiya to be called authentic, there are many requirements: it has to have a wooden lattice that blocks the view from outside, a ceiling made of bamboo, among many others.
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Steep stairsThe stairs to the second floor are narrow and steep. This is an interesting utilization of the limited space in machiya.
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Inner gardenYou can feel the elegance of Kyoto in the lantern-illuminated inner garden and the tsukubai washbasin once used for purifying rituals.
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Japanese antiquesTake a look at the hanging scrolls and other antiques - they're something you'll only get to see in a machiya!