The Making of Tatsumiya - Part 3: What Makes a Machiya a Machiya
【Introduction】
In June 2025, a new machiya guesthouse, Tatsumiya, will open its doors in Tenma, Osaka.
Rooted in the architectural traditions of townhouses and the merchant spirit of the Edo period,
this guesthouse is far more than a reconstruction.
We have gathered fragments of history and reshaped them into a space that connects the past to the present.
Through this series, The Making of Tatsumiya, we invite you to discover what makes this place truly special.
-------
Design That You Feel—Not Just See
The beauty of a machiya is not found in lavish decorations or expansive rooms.
It lies in something far more subtle—a kind of atmospheric quality, a comfort that cannot be seen, but deeply felt.
At Tatsumiya, we’ve carefully designed every element to evoke this essence of a traditional townhouse.
Each decision was made with intention, to build a space where quietness itself becomes hospitality.
Take the columns, for example.
Modern buildings often favor slender, lightweight materials.
But in a machiya, thick, solid beams anchor the space, offering a sense of groundedness and calm.
They provide not only structure—but emotional reassurance.
Then there’s the ceiling height and play of shadows.
By keeping ceilings low, we deepen the contrast between light and dark.
When sunlight filters softly through shoji screens, it creates a delicate rhythm of light that is uniquely Japanese—uniquely machiya.
And perhaps most important: the sense of openness and depth.
Sightlines are extended, drawing the eye gently outward and connecting indoors with out.
This “flow” creates an almost meditative stillness, as if the space itself is breathing.
-------
Tatsumiya was not designed simply as a place to stay.
It was designed to offer an experience that goes beyond living—
where the quiet space, the light, and the air itself are part of the welcome.
How sound travels.
How morning light enters.
How air moves through the rooms.
Even before completion, the intentions behind the design begin to take shape.
Because a machiya isn’t something you just see.
It’s something you feel.
At Tatsumiya, we aim to bring back the quiet sophistication and understated elegance—the iki—of Edo-period living, reimagined for today.
When you step into this space, what kind of stillness will you notice?
-------
We are now accepting applications for our free one-night pre-opening stay experience.
Come witness the next chapter of this story with your own eyes.
[Apply for the Pre-Opening Stay Here]
