Five carefully renovated machiya houses in Kyoto

Kyoto's historic townhouses, machiyas, are increasing being renovated and turned into everything from hotels to perfume stores. Here, we collect five of the best examples. Photo by Kenta Hasegawa Nazuna Kyoto Higashihonganji by Studio Aluc This 100-year-old machiya house was turned into a short-stay hotel by Japanese firm Studio Aluc, which "deliberately retained traces of past craftsmanship". The studio exposed the original timber framework and earthen walls of the 600-square metre property, which is located in front of the Higashi Honganji Temple in central Kyoto. Find out more about Nazuna Kyoto Higashihonganji › Photo by Tomooki Kengaku Toune by Keiji Ashizawa The latest of Kyoto's renovated machiyas is Toune, a holiday home designed by architect Keiji Ashizawa to showcase the historical building while still having a contemporary feel. "I think much of the appeal [of machiyas] comes from the materiality and human scale that are difficult to find in contemporary architecture today," Ashizawa said. Find out more about Toune › Photo courtesy of Le Labo Le Labo flagship store by Schemata Architects Tokyo-based Schemata Architects combined Japanese and Western design touches inside this house in Kyoto's Kiyamachi area, which is now a flagship store for perfume brand Le Labo. The ground floor has a more Western feel and resembles other Le Labo stores worldwide, while the first floor, which houses offices, a craftsman room and a "fragrance organ", has a more traditional atmosphere. Find out more about Le Labo › Photo by Masaya Yoshimura Issey Miyake store by Naoto Fukasawa Fashion house Issey Miyake's Kyoto store is eminently suitable for the city, located inside a 132-year-old machiya that was given a refresh by designer Naoto Fukasawa. He sought to create a "tranquil and elegant atmosphere" in the old townhouse, whose traditional storeroom area – known as a kura – was turned into a small gallery space. Find out more about the Issey Miyake store › Photo courtesy of UNC Studio Challe cafe by UNC Studio Perhaps the most unusual renovated machiya on this list is Challe cafe, a Japanese-Mexican fusion restaurant that has a bold, all-red interior. The cafe in Kyoto's Kamigyo Ward serves speciality coffee, Japanese tacos and churros. "We imagined a fusion of modern Mexican and Japanese style," UNC Studio founder Keiji Kadota said. Find out more about Challe cafe › Subscribe to our newsletters Your email address New! Dezeen Agenda US Sent on alternate Fridays, this US edition of Dezeen Agenda is a fortnightly newsletter rounding up everything you need to know from America, featuring news, projects and interviews with industry figures. Plus occasional updates and invitations to Dezeen events. New! Dezeen Showroom New Releases A quarterly newsletter rounding up a selection of recently launched products by designers and studios, published on Dezeen Showroom. Dezeen Debate Our most popular newsletter, formerly known as Dezeen Weekly, is sent every Tuesday and features a selection of the best reader comments and most talked-about stories. Plus occasional updates on Dezeen’s services and breaking news. Dezeen Agenda Sent every Thursday and containing a selection of the most important news highlights. Plus occasional updates on Dezeen’s services and invitations to Dezeen events. Dezeen Daily A daily newsletter containing the latest stories from Dezeen. Dezeen In Depth Sent on the last Friday of every month, Dezeen in Depth features original feature articles, interviews and opinion pieces that delve deeper into the major stories shaping architecture and design. Dezeen Jobs Daily updates on the latest design and architecture vacancies advertised on Dezeen Jobs. Plus occasional news. Dezeen Jobs Weekly Weekly updates on the latest design and architecture vacancies advertised on Dezeen Jobs. Plus occasional news. Dezeen Awards News about our Dezeen Awards programme, including entry deadlines and announcements. Plus occasional updates. Dezeen Events Guide News from Dezeen Events Guide, a listings guide covering the leading design-related events taking place around the world. Plus occasional updates and invitations to Dezeen events. Dezeen Awards China News about our Dezeen Awards China programme, including entry deadlines and announcements. Plus occasional updates. We will only use your email address to send you the newsletters you have requested. We will never give your details to anyone else without your consent. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of every email, or by emailing us at [email protected]. For more details, please see our privacy notice. Thank you! You will shortly receive a welcome email so please check your inbox. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link at the bottom of every newsletter.