Mirei Shigemori Garden Museum（重森三玲邸）
A bold fusion of modern garden design and Edo-period tradition in the heart of Kyoto Hidden in Kyoto’s quiet Sakyo Ward, the Mirei Shigemori Garden Museum offers a unique blend of tradition and innovation. The house itself is a machiya—a wooden townhouse built in 1789, during the late Edo period. In 1943, Mirei Shigemori, one […]
Kyu-Asakurake House（旧朝倉家住宅）
A Tranquil Taishō-Era Retreat in Shibuya Nestled amidst the vibrant streets of Shibuya, the Kyū-Asakura House offers a serene glimpse into early 20th-century Japan. Constructed in 1919 by Torajirō Asakura, a prominent politician and chairman of the Tokyo Prefectural Assembly, this two-story wooden residence exemplifies Taishō-era architecture. Remarkably, it withstood both the Great Kantō Earthquake […]
Ōhashi-ke（大橋家庭園）
Historic private garden in Fushimi Inari with Kyoto’s oldest Suikinkutsu The Ōhashi-ke garden lies quietly in the Fushimi Inari area of southern Kyoto. Although small, it offers a rare feature: Japan’s oldest Suikinkutsu (水琴窟), a hidden water instrument that creates delicate sounds. A Suikinkutsu is a jar buried under a basin. As water drips through […]
Ryugon （龍言）
Luxury ryokan in Niigata combining tradition and refined modern design Ryugon is one of the most iconic guesthouses in Japan, located in Niigata’s Snow Country. While it now operates as a luxury ryokan, its roots lie in a deep respect for traditional Japanese architecture. The story begins in 1964, when Utsugi Toshio, the founder, returned […]
Nishimura-ke and Umetsuji-ke （西村家 梅辻家 社家町）
Historic priest residences near Kamigamo Shrine in Kyoto The Nishimura and Umetsuji residences are traditional homes in Kyoto, once inhabited by priests of Kamigamo Shrine. These houses belong to a special category called Shake (社家)—residences of hereditary Shinto priest families. In the past, it was common for the role of head priest to be passed […]