Naramachi Koshi no Ie

Naramachi Kōshi-no-Ie (Naramachi Lattice House) is a facility in Naramachi, Nara City’s historic district, built to recreate a traditional townhouse. It uses the distinctive Nara-style latticework that makes it difficult to see inside from the street, which is the origin of the facility’s name. The building has a narrow frontage and long depth—often described as an "eel’s bed" layout—and features design ingenuity such as a "box staircase" that doubles as storage to make efficient use of limited space. The main house, inner courtyard, detached room, and storehouse are reproduced, allowing visitors to appreciate the townhouse not only from outside but also from within. In the detached room connected to the back of the courtyard, the facility hosts panels introducing Naramachi as well as special exhibitions. In spring and autumn, it also holds events such as performances of traditional culture and arts (for example, Kamigata dance and Noh) in a setting that evokes the atmosphere of an old townhouse. The facility lets visitors directly experience historical Nara townhouse lifestyles and is also open for tourists and residents to relax. The reception counter provides walking maps of Naramachi and maps introducing local shops, making it a convenient rest stop while exploring the area.