町まち家や

noun

machiya; traditional wooden townhouse

Refers specifically to the traditional wooden townhouses found in historic districts like Kyoto, often with narrow frontages and deep interiors.

• 京きょう都との町まち家やを改かい装そうしたカフェが増ふえている。

  Cafés renovated from traditional Kyoto machiya are increasing.

• 町まち家やの格こう子し戸どから柔やわらかな光ひかりが漏もれていた。

  Soft light was leaking through the lattice door of the machiya.

noun

tradesman's house; merchant's house; merchant's family

Historically, a combined residence and shop for merchants or artisans; the family and business were often one unit. Can refer to the building or the household.

• 江え戸ど時じ代だい、多おおくの町まち家やは間ま口ぐちが狭せまく奥おく行ゆきが深ふかかった。

  In the Edo period, many merchant houses had narrow frontages and deep interiors.

• 彼かれは老舗しにせの町まち家やの生うまれだ。

  He was born into a long-established merchant family.