Gotsuji-an is a guesthouse where you can experience life in Kyoto while staying in a traditional Kyoto townhouse.

Gotsujian is a former kimono shop located in Nishijin, Kyoto. This charming building has been renovated and reborn as a private inn that accepts only one group per day.
Originally, it was the family home of Ms. Mizuguchi's mother, but when there were plans to sell and demolish it, it was repurposed as an accommodation facility for the purpose of temporarily maintaining and managing it.

Key points of the renovation

The kitchen area (the bulging beam section) deliberately retains the traces of the skilled plasterer's handiwork.

With the aim of restoring the building to its original state, we proceeded with the project in collaboration with "Kyomachiya Sakuji-gumi," a group of craftsmen involved in the restoration of traditional townhouses.
This Kyoto townhouse, originally built as a kimono merchant's house in Nishijin, has an unconventional front-facing roof structure, is deep, has many rooms, and even has a garden, but it has been beautifully restored, including the second floor.
I was particularly struck by his comment, "I was fortunate to have such excellent craftsmen."

While earthquake resistance has been considered for use as accommodation, the strength of the walls ensures earthquake resistance, so no additional bracing or other structural elements have been added.
Furthermore, taking advantage of the common dimensions of Kyoto townhouses, old fixtures were sought out and used, while at the same time, scenes related to textiles, which are derived from the history of the region (Nishijin), were depicted on the sliding doors, resulting in a tasteful blend of old and new elements.

Tips for restoring Kyoto townhouses

The most important thing, he said, is to "leave it to the professionals." In order to make it easier to pass on Kyoto townhouses to future generations, it is important to seek the judgment of experts rather than making careless alterations based on amateur judgment. He also said that it is important to leave things to professionals and have professionals do the work in order to cultivate successors in the field of expertise.
Regarding Gotsujian, Mr. Mizuguchi initially said he didn't want to take on the project, but throughout the building, one could feel his desire to "give back to the people who have helped me," as well as his pride in and dedication to Kyoto townhouses. Mr. Mizuguchi is currently working on the restoration of a second Kyoto townhouse.