Kyoto townhouses, symbolic of Kyoto's distinctive streetscape and lifestyle, are experiencing a surge in popularity. Beyond their original purpose as residences, they are being repurposed for a variety of uses, including restaurants, accommodations, offices, and university campuses. However, due to aging, maintenance costs, inheritance issues, and other factors, many of these townhouses are being lost. Your cooperation is essential for the preservation and continuation of these traditional buildings.
Preserving Kyoto townhouses for the future. It all starts with your first step.
> Current state of Kyoto townhouses
To make support for owners of traditional Kyoto townhouses sustainable.
Donations to Kyoto City through the Furusato Nozei (hometown tax) system
To support the preservation and inheritance of traditional Kyoto townhouses (Kyomachiya), Kyoto City is promoting various initiatives, including renovation subsidies for designated townhouses based on the Kyoto Townhouse Ordinance, and a comprehensive consultation service for all matters related to the preservation and inheritance of Kyoto townhouses. We ask for your continued support so that we can continue to provide sustainable support and expand our efforts in the future.
> (Reference) List of support programs for Kyoto townhouses (Support program menu)
[Individual]
If you make a donation to Kyoto City (hometown tax donation), the portion of that donation exceeding 2,000 yen will, in principle, be fully deductible from your income tax and personal resident tax if you file a tax return.
> Details about Furusato Nozei (This will take you to an external website)
credit card
The following credit cards are accepted:
① Recurring donations
② A single donation
Bank transfer
*Clicking the link above will take you to a donation page on an external website.
[Company]
If you make a donation to Kyoto City (hometown tax donation), your tax burden will be reduced by up to approximately 90% of the donation amount.Donations from companies whose headquarters are located in Kyoto City are not eligible.）。
> Details on corporate hometown tax donations (This link will take you to an external website)
When utilizing the Local Revitalization Support Tax System (Corporate Hometown Tax)Please fill in the required information on the "Donation Application Form".emailPlease submit it by mail or fax.If not utilizedPlease follow the same procedure as described above for [Individuals].
> Donation Application Form (for Corporations)
Donations to the Kyoto Machiya Town Development Fund
There are landscapes we don't want to lose. There are cultures we want to pass on.
To pass on as many traditional Kyoto townhouses as possible to future generations.
The Kyoto Machiya Town Development Fund is a fund dedicated to preserving Kyoto's traditional townhouses, symbols of its culture, for future generations. We kindly ask for your generous support. Donations to this fund are tax-deductible. Your donations will be directly used for the preservation of Kyoto townhouses.
We will provide subsidies for exterior renovation costs for "Kyoto townhouses that serve as bases for community development activities" and "historic streetscapes that are addressed as a unified whole involving multiple buildings." Donations will be the source of funds for these subsidies and will be used to cover the renovation costs of Kyoto townhouses.
Operated by: Kyoto City Landscape and Urban Development Center (Public Interest Incorporated Foundation)
Regarding tax benefits for each donation scheme
Kyoto City residents and companies headquartered in Kyoto City
Kyoto City residents and companies headquartered in Kyoto City are not eligible for the tax benefits of "Donations to Kyoto City through the Furusato Nozei (hometown tax) system," however, "Donations to the Kyoto Machiya Town Development Fund" are eligible for tax deductions.
Individuals who are not residents of Kyoto City and companies whose headquarters are located outside of Kyoto City
Individuals who are not residents of Kyoto City and companies headquartered outside of Kyoto City can utilize both "Donations to Kyoto City through the Furusato Tax System" and "Donations to the Kyoto Machiya Town Development Fund," but the tax benefits and procedures differ.
For more details, please see the following page.
> "Donations to Kyoto City through the Furusato Tax System" (This link will take you to an external website)
> Details on corporate hometown tax donations (This link will take you to an external website)
> Information on tax deductions for donations to the "Kyoto Machiya Town Development Fund" (This link will take you to an external website)
To ensure that Kyoto townhouses are utilized and passed down to future generations.
A survey conducted by Kyoto City in 2016 revealed that 14.5% of traditional Kyoto townhouses in the city were vacant. When a house becomes vacant, it deteriorates, poses risks in terms of disaster prevention and crime prevention, and tends to be demolished, making it difficult to pass it on to the next generation.
As mentioned above, Kyoto townhouses are buildings that can be used in a variety of ways. Why not consider using one yourself?
> Examples of how Kyoto townhouses are being utilized
> Kyoto townhouse consultations