Many of our machiya homes have walls covered in delicate ‘washi’ paper, but the ‘washi’-covered walls here are painted over with a vibrant vermillion lacquer. Lacquer has a long history in Japan, as lacquering tools made during the Jomon period (710-794) have been discovered.

Lacquer is all natural – made from the sap of a particular tree, and extremely valuable. The sap is often only collected from trees that are at least 10 years old, which produce only about 200 grams of sap per year! As lacquer is so precious, there is a saying that craftsmen say: “A drop of lacquer is a drop of blood”. When you get the chance to stay here at ‘Hinaya Gojo Ni’ Machiya House, remember to admire the unique lacquer wall while relaxing.