The Making of Tatsumiya - Episode 2: 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.

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The appeal of a machiya is not its lavish decoration or spaciousness.

 

It is an invisible comfort that can be described as the "texture of the air."

At Tatsumiya, we have carefully built up the "design ingenuity" that gives it this machiya feel, one by one.

 

For example, the thickness of the pillars.
In modern architecture, thin and light materials are preferred, but thick, sturdy pillars suit machiya.
These pillars bring "weight" and a "sense of security" to the space, calming the senses of those who stay there.

 

 

And the design of the ceiling height and shadows.
A low ceiling limits the spaciousness of the space, but deepens the contrast between light and shadow.
The moment when sunlight softly filters in through the shoji screens and creates a fluctuating atmosphere in the space is a beauty unique to machiya.

 

 

Also essential to a machiya is "openness" and "depth."
The design, which allows your line of sight to flow through the space, smoothly connects the inside and outside, creating a sense of security that encourages you to breathe deeply.

 

 

Tatsumiya's design aims to provide an experience that goes beyond "living like you're staying."

Not just a place to stay, but the blank space and quietness of the space itself become a form of "hospitality."

The way the sounds resonate, the path of the wind, the way the morning light enters--
Now that the house is unfinished, the intentions of these designs become more clear.

 

 

A machiya is something to "feel" rather than "see."

Through this "design to feel," Tatsumiya is trying to reconstruct the chic and quietness of Edo in the present day.

What kind of "quietness" will you notice when you enter this space?

 

Book now.