#machiya

Kuruma-ya House on the Old Tokaido Road・旧東海道・宇津ノ谷の車屋

Kurumaya House (車屋) is one of several historic buildings in the small hamlet of Utsunoya, located at the foot of Utsunoya-tōge Pass in Shizuoka Prefecture.

The name “Kurumaya” reflects the transport-related businesses that once supported travelers and goods moving through this mountain pass on the old Tokaido route.

Today, the wooden façade, latticework, tiled roof, and quiet stone-paved street still preserve the atmosphere of this former Tokaido Road hamlet.

Read my full write-up (1-minute read) with sources for a deeper dive:

https://www.pix4japan.com/blog/20260104-utsunoya

Photo 1

Timestamp: 2026/01/04・13:49

Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter

23 mm ISO 160 for 1/500 sec. at ƒ/2.8

Classic Negative film simulation

Photo 2

Timestamp: 2026/01/04・13:50

Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter

23 mm ISO 160 for 1/250 sec. at ƒ/8.0

Le Labo Kyoto Machiya,

I=I Machiya I=I

Today, in the era of the development of gigantic cities and the renewed race for the tallest building in the world or the most dazzling city center at night, Japanese cities still remain unique and fascinating for many with their unique atmosphere...

Tokyo with its narrow streets full of buildings of different heights and countless neon signs is probably the most recognizable example of the urban climate in this country, but it is worth remembering that in Japan itself, cities have a different character - from the noisy and impressive Tokyo, through Osaka, which combines what is new and old, Kyoto captivating with a large complex of priceless monuments and nature, to small towns that do not resemble these metropolises like Shirakawa.

In Tokyo itself and in most Japanese cities, next to the characteristic neon signs, we can also find a lot of old wooden city houses called Machiya. Looking at them, you can imagine what most of the urban buildings in this country looked like until the last war.

中華そば 虎桜（Kozakura）「味玉チャーシュー麺 黒だし」

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