Naramachi

Koshi no Ie

ならまち格子の家

Edo-Era Life

in a Traditional Nara Townhouse

Recreated to reflect the appearance of a traditional merchant's home, Naramachi Koshi no Ie offers visitors a valuable opportunity to experience the architecture and everyday life of historic Nara. This reconstructed machiya townhouse faithfully conveys the layout, atmosphere, and design of the homes that once lined the streets of the old town.

Inside, visitors can explore rooms that served as a shop, living quarters, and private family spaces, as well as the characteristic tōriniwa passage and upper floor found in many machiya. The house's narrow frontage and deep interior illustrate a style of urban architecture that evolved to meet the needs of daily life in earlier centuries.

For visitors, Naramachi Koshi no Ie provides a clear introduction to the design, lifestyle, and living culture of Nara's historic townhouses.

Traditional Japanese building with dark wooden exterior, sliding door entrance, and tiled roof. Signage and lanterns are visible at the entrance.
Traditional Japanese-style hallway with wooden wall panels, shoji screens, and a small entrance visible at the end.
Interior of a traditional Japanese room with tatami mats, sliding doors, and a person standing near a window.
Dark wooden staircase with a handrail along the left side, ascending alongside a light-colored wall.
Interior view of a staircase leading up to a second floor with dark wood railing, wooden stairs, and a window allowing natural light, with ceiling light and electricity switches on a wall.
Traditional Japanese room with shoji sliding doors open to a garden courtyard.
A traditional Japanese garden with a wooden porch, a tall tree, moss, stones, and greenery surrounding a house with sliding shoji doors.
Old black iron kettle on a wooden table in a traditional Japanese room with sliding paper doors.
A traditional Japanese stone water basin with a bamboo dipper and a wooden mallet resting on it, set outdoors with plants in the background.
Traditional Japanese-style house with an open sliding door leading into a tatami room, surrounded by a small garden with trees and rocks.
Traditional Japanese room with a kettle on a stove, shoji sliding door, tatami mat flooring, and wooden slat window.
Traditional Japanese room with tatami mats, sliding doors, and a low table in the background, illuminated by hanging ceiling lights.
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