History, Community, and Tourism in Kyōto
Machiya as Cultural Crossroads
Chiara Rita Napolitano, Kyoto University
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In 2024, Kyōto recorded the highest number of visitors in its history—approximately 56 million, of which nearly 11 million were international travelers (Kyoto City Government ). A range of factors contributes to this sustained popularity, including its numerous temples and shrines, local cuisine, national parks, historical buildings, legends, and the many festivals that punctuate the city’s calendar year. One of Kyōto’s greatest attractions lies in its urban landscape, which still retains distinctive features of its historical fabric: inner courtyards, roji and kōji (路地 and 小路, narrow alleys branching off from the main streets), and, above all, the vernacular wooden townhouses that dot districts such as Kamigyō, Nakagyō, Shimogyō, and Higashiyama.
Promotional flyer for the “Machiya no Hi” initiative, dedicated to the discovery of machiya, 2025
These dwellings, known as machiya (literally “townhouses”), belong to the urban category of minka (民家) —traditional Japanese folk houses. The term can be written either as 町家 or 町屋. Originally, the variant ending in ya (屋) referred to houses that included a shop space at the front, while the form ending in ie (家) designated purely residential structures. Today, both variants coexist without significant distinction.
Kyōto’s machiya, often called kyōmachiya, are low-rise buildings made of natural materials such as wood, clay, stone, and bamboo. Although widely regarded as one of the key symbols of Japanese domestic architecture, their numbers have steadily declined: it is estimated that at least 14% have been lost since 1950 (Japan Property Central).
Above: Well preserved kyōmachiya in Kamigyō, Kyōto, 2023. The architectural typology is that of the oriyadate (織屋建て), dwellings traditionally inhabited by weavers specializing in the production of obi and kimono fabrics. Photograph by author
Today, machiya stand at the intersection of complex urban processes involving governance, landscape preservation, and the transmission of everyday culture rooted in their architecture. The material culture surrounding these dwellings is central to conceiving of machiya as living environments rather than static architectural heritage, where social practices and spatial values are continuously renewed. On one hand, they are seen as tangible embodiments of Japanese urban identity—representing a traditional aesthetic and way of life. On the other, they are increasingly regarded as a valuable asset within Kyōto’s dynamic tourism market, often repurposed as lodging facilities for travelers.
Banks of the Kamo River, one of Kyōto’s most iconic landmarks, 2023. Along its shores stand numerous examples of restored traditional townhouses. Photograph by author
This unit explores the meanings and roles of machiya in contemporary Kyōto, not as static tokens of a bygone era, but as integral components of the city’s living fabric. The idea of tradition, often linked to the management of the built environment, is not treated here as a fixed set of practices, but as a flexible, critical category. Rather than referring to an unbroken continuity with the past, the term is used to describe how specific practices and spaces are actively selected, adapted, and mobilised in the present. A more detailed discussion of this usage is developed in the section on Tourism.
Throughout the text, excerpts from interviews conducted by the author are included. In accordance with the wishes of some participants, pseudonyms or abbreviated names are used to ensure their anonymity.
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