Naramachi

Nigiwai no Ie

The Elegance

of Taisho-Era Living

Located in the heart of Naramachi, Naramachi Nigiwai no Ie is a beautifully preserved traditional townhouse (machiya) built in 1917 during Japan’s Taisho era. Once the residence of a prominent antique dealer, this spacious home showcases the refined lifestyle and architectural elegance of old Nara, with features rarely seen in typical merchant houses.

Inside, visitors can explore a variety of rooms including a 15-tatami mat reception hall, a gold-leafed Buddhist altar room, and a tea room, all adorned with intricate fusuma paintings and authentic Edo-period storehouses. One charming detail is the use of wavy glass windows, which distort the view in a nostalgic way—a rare feature preserved from the early 20th century.

Designated as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property, the house is open to the public free of charge and regularly hosts seasonal exhibitions, cultural workshops, and art displays. It’s not just a museum—it’s a living space that invites you to feel the rhythm of traditional Japanese life.

Whether you're interested in Japanese architecture, cultural heritage, or simply looking for a peaceful retreat in Nara, Naramachi Nigiwai no Ie offers a rich and immersive experience that connects past and present.

Explore the Sights

See photos that bring Nigiwai no Ie to life.

Traditional Japanese wooden building with sliding lattice doors, a signboard with Japanese characters, and hanging red lanterns outside.
Traditional Japanese room with tatami mats, sliding shoji doors, a low wooden table, and a tokonoma alcove with a small display and plant.
View of a garden through traditional Japanese wooden window with grid pattern, featuring green trees, plants, and rocks.
A small traditional Japanese room with a central altar featuring a religious artifact, flanked by a flower arrangement and candle holder, with sliding shoji-style windows on either side revealing a garden view.
Interior of a room with wooden floor and a large glass window and door. A blue vase with white flowers is placed on a small wooden platform near the window. Outside view of a garden with green plants, rocks, and a tree.
Interior of a traditional Japanese room with tatami mats, sliding doors, and wooden accents, overlooking a garden with trees.
Traditional Japanese-style garden viewed from a covered porch, with stepping stones, various green plants, rocks, and a large tree, enclosed by a wooden fence.
A traditional Japanese stone water basin with water, situated outdoors beside a wooden fence and surrounded by greenery and rocks.
Red fabric origami cranes hanging on string indoors with a wooden cabinet in the background.
Traditional Japanese shoji sliding paper door with a circular opening, revealing a garden with a tree and a wooden building outside.
Traditional Japanese garden with a large tree, small plants, rocks, and a wooden house with sliding doors and tiled roof.
Traditional Japanese tatami room with sliding shoji doors, a small alcove with a flower arrangement, and a display with a sculpture and wall decor.
A stone birdbath with water reflecting the surroundings, located in a garden with green plants and tall grass.
A blue vase with white flowers placed inside a screened porch, viewed through green leafy plants outside.
Green leafy plant with rain falling on it in front of a house window with traditional roof tiles.
View of a traditional Japanese-style wooden porch with a garden and rocks outside, including sliding doors and a garden path.