The constructors of the Japanese traditional wooden townhouses (machiya in Japanese) were using specific design elements. The first floor was always decorated with wooden latticework (koshi), and the upper floor, with the walls covered by white plaster, featured specific windows called mushiko-mado.

In the front of this photo, the sharp bamboo fences installed on the roof are called shinobi-gaeshi, and their role was to prevent thieves from climbing to the roof. In the background of the photo you can see another interesting element, a miniature tower called kemuridashi-yagura, an opening designed for smoke dissipation.

Sugiyama house, Tondabayashi Jinaimachi

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Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Simply beautiful Japanese scenes, Kenroku-en Garden sunset