Where to see traditional but everyday Japanese architecture
When travelling to Japan, I enjoy seeing things that are Japanese but everyday just as much as the big-ticket attractions such as the grand castles and temples.
However, when it comes to architecture, Lonely Planet often says when talking about a city something like "There's not much traditional architecture here because it was bombed during World War 2" (is this the real reason, or are there other factors in play?). By contrast, I strongly suspect one of the places I've lived in in Sydney was built in the 19th century.
I liked a lot of the traditional architecture in Kyoto such as the machiya, but I sometimes wonder whether it's deliberately maintained for tourism reasons.
Are Kyoto, Kanazawa, and Takayama suitable options for seeing everyday traditional Japanese architecture? Does Kitakyushu, which contains the town of Kokura, have a lot of traditional architecture because the Allies deliberately refrained from bombing it?
Best Answer
The obvious answer is Kyoto, including the famous Gion (??) district. You should be able to stroll through streets that mostly feature traditional Japanese architecture.
While I never went to Kanazawa myself, from my research, it does feature many areas that feature traditional architecture, including the Higashi Chaya (????) and Kazue-Machi (???) districts.
Note: While in Kanazawa, you should also visit Kenroku-en, one of Japan's three most famous gardens.
As for Takayama, I recommend visiting Hida folk village. This is in a totally different style than Kyoto and Kanazawa, but it does feature a very well preserved village. Not quite "everyday" architecture as it's an open air museum, but interesting nonetheless.
If you can afford to spend a night there, check out Shirakawago as it is possible to rent a room in one of the traditional thatched roof houses.
Lastly, I have a few recommendations of things you might enjoy:
The Takenaka Carpentry Tools museum in Kobe gives a very good understanding of the underlying principles that make traditional Japanese architecture what it is. Plus, it's less than 5 minutes from the Shin-Kobe shinkansen station, so it makes for a great stop. Check out this question for a more detailed explanation.
The Tokyo Edo Museum has a very nice (historically accurate) full size reconstruction of a Kabuki theater.
The Osaka museum of Housing and Living features a full indoor reconstruction of an Edo period town.
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What is traditional Japanese architecture called?
Japanese architecture (\u65e5\u672c\u5efa\u7bc9, Nihon kenchiku) has been typified by wooden structures, elevated slightly off the ground, with tiled or thatched roofs.What are the 4 traditional architectural styles in Japanese architecture?
They are important, not only for their attractiveness but for their role in the structure. Japanese architecture is made up of four types of roofs: kirizuma (gabled roof), yosemune (hipped roof), irimoya (hip-and-gable roof), and hogyo (square pyramidal roof).Are there still traditional Japanese houses?
Minka, or traditional Japanese houses, are characterized by tatami mat flooring, sliding doors, and wooden engawa verandas. Another aspect that persists even in Western-style homes in Japan is the genkan, an entrance hall where people remove footwear.Which countries influenced the Japanese traditional architecture?
The architecture in Japan has long been heavily influenced by China, but it has also gone its separate ways in some respects, such as the availability of materials and the function of the buildings. History of Japanese Architecture The distinct 'look' of Japanese architecture began early-about 57 BC, give or take.Designing Mindfulness: Spatial Concepts in Traditional Japanese Architecture
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