Five carefully renovated machiya houses in Kyoto
Kyoto's historic machiya townhouses are being thoughtfully renovated for modern uses, ranging from hotels to retail spaces. Five standout examples include a short-stay hotel, a holiday home, a perfume store, a fashion boutique, and a Japanese-Mexican fusion cafe. Each project preserves traditional elements while incorporating contemporary design.
- ▪Nazuna Kyoto Higashihonganji is a 100-year-old machiya transformed into a hotel, with its original timber framework and earthen walls preserved by Studio Aluc.
- ▪Toune, designed by Keiji Ashizawa, is a renovated machiya holiday home that blends historical features with modern aesthetics.
- ▪The Le Labo flagship store in Kyoto, redesigned by Schemata Architects, combines Western and Japanese design across its two floors.
- ▪Issey Miyake's Kyoto store, renovated by Naoto Fukasawa, is housed in a 132-year-old machiya and includes a gallery in the former kura storeroom.
- ▪Challe cafe, a Japanese-Mexican fusion restaurant by UNC Studio, features a bold red interior and serves specialty coffee, tacos, and churros.
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| Publication time | Sun, 17 May 2026 09:00:49 +0000 |
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Five carefully renovated machiya houses in Kyoto Share: Cajsa Carlson | 17 May 2026 Leave a comment Kyoto's historic townhouses, machiyas, are increasing being renovated and turned into everything from hotels to perfume stores. Here, we collect five of the best examples. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1506076990687-0'); }); Photo by Kenta Hasegawa Nazuna Kyoto Higashihonganji by Studio Aluc This 100-year-old machiya house was turned into a short-stay hotel by Japanese firm Studio Aluc, which "deliberately retained traces of past craftsmanship". The studio exposed the original timber framework and earthen walls of the 600-square metre property, which is located in front of the Higashi Honganji Temple in central Kyoto.
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