Machiya: Japan's Urban Townhouse

Abstract

Machiya (“townhouse”) was a wood and plaster shop-residence used by townspeople that were common features of Japanese cityscapes since the Edo period (1603-1868). However, studies today focus solely on Edo period Kyoto machiya. This thesis challenges this Kyoto-centric scholarship on three points: 1) machiya has a deeper and richer meaning, history, and use, 2) machiya existed beyond just Kyoto, and 3) machiya are not a static building stuck in the pre-modern past. To prove these points, this thesis first investigates the definition and recognizable aspects of machiya expanding on various points within both the Edo period and today. Next, investigations into the city of Edo and its successor Tokyo presents machiya outside Kyoto both in the pre-modern and modern times showing that these buildings continued to evolve. Finally, a study on Kyoto and Tokyo’s preservation and tourism efforts reveals why Kyoto has a strong presence in people’s minds today.