Machiya dwellings in Kyoto get a new lease of life

Kyoto

FOR generations, artisans and merchants in Japan's ancient capital of Kyoto lived in thousands of traditional machiya (traditional townhouse) that are steadily disappearing or falling into disrepair.

To help restore the wooden-and- tile-roof structures, banks in Kyoto have tailored loans to help contribute to the preservation of architecture in a city that was once Japan's ancient capital and boasts a number of World Heritage sites.