History in Japanese Architecture: Machiya, Dozo and Meiji-Era Hybrids.
When we think of traditional Japanese architecture, we think of the famous Hemiji castle, Kyoto’s Hanamikoji Street, or Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine. Yet, looking around at old side streets, we often fail to notice the social and economic history engrained in everyday buildings — the old shophouses of merchants, old storehouses, and the intersection of western and traditional architecture that marked the Meiji restoration.
This post explores three architectural types – Machiya, Dozo and Meiji Era Hybrids — showing how each arose, their unique history, and unique stories that bring them to life.
1. Machiya: The Merchant Townhouse
Historical Context
Machiya, 町家 or 町屋 in japanese, are woeeden townhouses that were common in Japanese merchant cities during the Heian through early Meiji periods (9th-19th centuries). Merchants often used their Machiya for living spaces as well, similar to the cottage industry in europe, living and working under one roof, which was part of the Chonin lifestyle.
Traditionally, a machiya has a street frontage that extends into the lot, also dubbed as an “eel’s bed” (unagi no nedoko). Despite looking like a decorative feature, it was more of an economic one. Property taxes were often based on the width of the building's facade; merchants, taxed by frontage, responded with clever economy.
Architecturally, Machiya were made of timber with Koshi lattice facades, shoji ( sliding doors) and tsuboniwa (inner gardens), promoting privacy and airflow in dense urban settings.
The Ohashi House, Kurashiki (1796)
In the old Bikan district of Kurashiki, Okayama prefacture stands the Ohashi House (大橋家住宅), one of the best preserved Edo-period machiya residences.
Historical Context:
The Ohashi family were originally high-ranked samurai serving the Toyotomi clan. After the Tokugawa victory in the Battle of Sekigahara, they lost their ranks and moved to Kurashiki and grew wealthy via becoming rice and salt merchants.
As a result of their wealth, they built the Ohashi house, which was completed around 1796. It included:
A formal entrance and office facing the street for trade;
Inner living quarters with gardens and courtyards for family life;
Earthen-walled storehouses for rice and goods behind.
These design elements subtly reflect Edo society codes: modesty outside, prosperity within. Yet on a larger scale, the Machiya served as an architectural rebellion against class and tax systems, preserving elegance and identity under restriction.
2. Dozo (Kura) – The Fireproof Storehouse
General Background
A dozo or kura (土蔵/蔵) is a traditional fireproof storehouse built with thick earthen walls. These structures became popular during the Edo period, when, due to wood being highly prevalent in construction, there were massive issues of citywide fires (such as the Great Meireki Fire of 1657); thus, merchants and wealthy families needed a place where they could store valuables without fearing that they would be burned down.
A typical dozō features:
Wooden/bamboo framework covered with mixed clay and lime plaster (shikkui)
Fireproof shutters (jabara do) and heavy tiled roofs.
Minimal openings (only one main door usually) to insulate and protect contents.
Beyond its architectural function, the Dozo was a symbol of wealth and prosperity: only the wealthy aristocrats could afford to build them.
Kawagoe’s Great Fire and the Birth of “Little Edo” (1893)
After Kawagoe’s massive fire that swept through the Saitama Prefecture, destroying a third of the houses in town, rebuilding efforts emphasized preventing the spread of future fires.
When rebuilding began, many decided to adopt the Kurazukuri style—using earthen-walled clay to build their new townhouses, similar to Dozo storehouses. The thick plaster walls, heavy doors, and tiled roofs made new houses much more fire resistant.
In the present day, just over a handful of these Kurazukuri buildings survive, creating a street representative of Edo period architecture, being dubbed as “Ko-Edo,” or little Edo.
3. Meiji-Era Hybrids – Japan’s Modernization
Historical Context
When Japan finally ended its isolation during the Meiji Restoration, it ushered in rapid modernization and westernization, making the new Meiji Era hybrid architecture a visible representation of cultures clashing together.
The Meiji Era Hybrids, also called giyōfū kenchiku (擬洋風建築), were a result of carpenters trying to imitate western architecture styles, using Japanese methods and materials.
Common features included:
Symmetrical facades, columns, and decorative gables reminiscent of European neoclassicism
Wood construction disguised as brick or stone with stucco and paint.
Traditional Japanese interiors with tatami floors.
These hybrids symbolized Japan’s selective modernization—adopting Western ideas without abandoning local craft.
The Former Kaichi School, Matsumoto (1876)
Designed by Tateishi Seiju, a carpenter who studied western buildings, the Former Kaichi School (旧開智学校) is one of the earliest examples of western-style public schools and the Meiji era hybrid architecture.
A two-story façade with arches and columns carved in wood;
A roof of Japanese tiles crowned by a phoenix (a national rebirth symbol);
Interiors featuring sliding doors and tatami rooms.
Interestingly, a large majority of the construction costs were funded by local donations, a surprising sign of support during the Meiji restoration era for Western-style education. By the late 1870s, over 70% of Matsumoto’s children were enrolled—double the national average.
