Machiyashashinkan

Some Machiya or Kyoto town houses require entrance charge, but this town house as well as a photo gallery can be entered free. But you have to make an appointment in advance. I saw this building in a Kyoto guide book, and then I would like to come here. So I called the owner to make an appointment. The owner said to me, «We live close to the building, and no one lives here now. If the family member stays home when you visit this Machiya, he or she can open it.» The owner is a photographer and sometimes goes out to take photos somewhere or of some events such as Gion Festival. When I visited here on the previous day of the latter Gion Festival, the female owner opened the house for me instead of him.
I came here by bike, so I was asked to park it inside the house. This was typical machiya style built in the Meiji era. But tatami mats were so clean (probably the owner changes the tatami mats regularly), and furniture and ornaments such as old pillar clock, old-​style telephone, shelves, ramps, etc. were first-​class, refined, decent and retro. Wide-​scale pictures of events, festivals, or sceneries in Kyoto all year round exhibited were attractive! All of them are taken by the owner and his son, and picture books are also sold here.
The house had been closed until I visited, and therefore inside was humid and hot. The female owner hurried to turn on the air-​conditioner, but the visitor was only me. So I felt sorry for her to take care of me. Tatami mat rooms spread and in the back a small Japanese garden called Tsuboniwa is located. Sitting down in a seiza position on the Tatami mat floor and looking at the garden is also tasteful and cozy.
I could see old and rare items used in traditional machiya house here. I was greatly satisfied with viewing this building.
On September 23, every year, the traditional culture festival called Nishijin Senryogatsuji is held around the area. On the whole day this house is open to public free. The area is crowded and popular among many local citizens or visitors.