Many Japanese traditional wooden townhouses (machiya), usually owned by merchants and craftsmen, are featuring a second floor, accessible via a staircase. In order to maximize the usage of space, the staircase was built as a large chest, with drawers on the side, a type of Japanese specific furniture called kaidan tansu, “staircase chest".

Yokaichi Old Town, Uchiko, Ehime

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Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Kasuga-taisha, Nara, the 60th reconstruction