A compact machiya in Kyoto’s Okazaki district, renewed as a comfortable city retreat with traditional Japanese rooms and warm natural finishes.
Project Type
Ground-up Renovation
Completion
December 2024
A quiet retreat in Okazaki.
Set in Kyoto’s Okazaki area, this intimate machiya offers a calm residential base within easy reach of the neighborhood’s temples, museums, gardens, and cultural landmarks. Its compact footprint retains the familiar scale and atmosphere of a traditional Kyoto townhouse, with tatami rooms and Japanese detailing giving the interior a distinctly local character.
The renovation balances traditional elements with practical contemporary comfort. Tatami, shoji, and natural timber are retained alongside an updated kitchen and modern amenities, while the bathroom is centered around a hinoki-style wooden bath, creating a warm and distinctly Japanese retreat within the home.
⸺ 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.