Tsukiji machiya demolished
The traditional machiya-style townhouse in Tsukiji we featured back in February 2019 when it was listed for sale, has, sadly, been demolished. It will be replaced with a 5-story hotel covering the adjoining vacant lots. Completion is scheduled for February 2021.
Former geisha office in Tokyo to re-open next month
The historic Shibaura Kenban building in Tokyo will re-open in April after undergoing a full restoration. Built in the 1930s, this is said to be the only surviving pre-war, wood-frame ‘kenban’ in Tokyo. A kenban was traditionally an office that oversaw the operations of the geisha in the district.
Musashino in talks to buy modernist residence
Musashino City is currently in discussions to acquire a modernist home designed by a renowned Czech architect.
Public housing block to receive heritage listing
Three public housing blocks in Tokyo’s Kita ward have been registered as tangible cultural properties by Japan’s Council for Cultural Affairs. The historic building registration was formalized in December 2019. These are the first public housing blocks in the country to receive a national heritage listing.
Hiroshima to demolish historic warehouses
Hiroshima Prefecture plans to demolish two of four historic warehouses in Hiroshima City. The 100+-year-old buildings survived the 1945 atomic bombing and are of significant importance to the city’s history.
Nintendo to convert former Kyoto HQ into boutique hotel
The 90-year old former headquarters of Nintendo will be converted into a boutique hotel. The conversion project will see the historic building refurbished into a 20-room hotel with a restaurant, and guest gym and baths.
Japan’s first winery to be leased for ¥4.62 million a month
Ushiku City in Ibaraki has agreed to lease a historic winery for 4,620,000 Yen (approx. 42,000 USD) per month. Ushiku Chateau (formerly Chateau Kamiya) was opened in 1903 by Denbe Kamiya (1856-1922) and was Japan’s first winery. In more recent years the winery was receiving as many as 400,000 visitors a year when it was open to the public. It closed last year, prompting locals to lobby the city to find a public use for the property.