Kominka

For centuries, traditional wooden folk houses known as “kominka” have embodied the cultural values of the agrarian, merchant, and samurai societies of pre-modern Japan, withstanding earthquakes and other natural disasters while demonstrating the artistry of Japanese carpenters and the strength of handcrafted wood joinery. Preserved and reconstructed today, kominka offer silent testimony to the enduring beauty and resilience of Old Japan.

Kazuo Hasegawa’s profusely illustrated book introduces readers to Japan’s unique vernacular architecture, equips travelers with a guide to the island nation’s 101 must-visit kominka and villages, and is a useful reference for those who are planning to embark, as the author did, on a kominka renovation journey of their own.