Machiya residents’ tips to embrace Japan’s four seasons

Since ancient times, the Japanese have devised ways to live comfortably in the humid summer and the cold and dry winter of their homeland. The lifestyle of the machiya residents is a perfect example of such ingenuity to enjoy the four seasons while embracing the Japanese climate.

Change of wooden fixtures creates comfortable living space

“Change of Tategu” is a custom in Kyoto machiya houses and reflects wisdom of life in Kyoto. For instance, replacing fusuma (sliding doors) and shoji (paper sliding doors) with summer fittings such as sudare (bamboo blinds) and sudo (sliding doors) allows air to flow more easily. Also, laying a wicker rug called ajiro on top of tatami mats will feel cool to the touch when you walk on it. Replacing the fixtures with summer fittings will completely change the atmosphere of the room. In this way, the rooms are ventilated while at the same time protected from direct sunlight.

Tsuboniwa garden cools the house and your mind

Machiya is characterized by a gradual connection between the interior and exterior spaces. Kyo-machiya houses have a small garden called tsuboniwa at the back of the house. The shade created by the plants in tsuboniwa gardens prevents direct sunlight, which in turn reduces the rise in room temperature. Coolness is also achieved through the physiological effects of green and water elements. Even in the living space, you can clearly see the changing of the seasons through the plants in the garden and the small animals that congregate there. It is an important place for residents to cool down and relax.

For those who would like to experience life in a machiya firsthand, there is an exciting service we want to mention. The “Yadosatsu” service allows you to stay in a private machiya house and have your portrait taken in the house.

Living in a machiya house makes one sensitive to various environmental changes in nature, such as seasonal changes. Living in a machiya will help to nurture these delicate senses, and to hone and maintain the five senses, which will lead to a deeper appreciation for Japanese culture. The experiential wisdom of an age without electricity can also lead to more eco-friendly living in the modern age.