A 140-year-old farmhouse from Niigata, dismantled and rebuilt in Niseko as a contemporary mountain home while preserving its monumental timber structure.
Project Type
Relocation & Restoration
Completion
140 years, reimagined in Niseko.
Originally standing in Niigata National Park for more than 140 years, this approximately 300 m² kominka was carefully dismantled and transported to Niseko. Its relocation gave the historic farmhouse a new setting in Hokkaido while preserving the immense hand-hewn timbers and structural character accumulated over generations.
Designed by Karl Bengs Associates and sourced, restored, and rebuilt by Heritage Homes Japan, the house was reconstructed around its original timber frame and adapted for modern mountain living. Contemporary kitchen, heating, lighting, and other amenities sit within the historic structure, creating a home that retains the scale and craftsmanship of the original farmhouse while meeting modern standards of comfort.
⸺ Sourcing
We locate heritage properties across Kyoto and rural Japan — machiya, kominka, and former temples whose architectural integrity makes them worth preserving. Each candidate is evaluated for structural soundness, historical character, and restoration potential.
⸺ Design
Our in-house architects assess the structure and develop a sensitive restoration plan. We map what to preserve, what to repair, and where modern systems can be integrated without disturbing the home's character.
⸺ Structural Restoration
Original timber frames, beams, and lattice work are stabilized and refinished by hand. We reinforce where needed using traditional joinery and contemporary techniques — always invisible, always reversible where possible.
⸺ Modern Systems
Plumbing, electrical, insulation, and climate control are introduced behind the scenes. Kitchens, bathrooms, and storage are reimagined for contemporary life, specified in materials that match the home's vocabulary.
⸺ Interior Detailing
Hand-applied plaster, custom joinery, hinoki ofuro, integrated lighting — every visible surface is considered. We source from the same workshops that have supplied Kyoto's machiya for generations.
⸺ Handover
The completed home is documented, photographed, and prepared for its next chapter. We support new owners through purchase, registration, and the early months of living in their restored property.