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design of the okiya
A okiya has all the usual traditional Japanese design. The hanamachi are not just big and mostly the houses are very close together. The small space is a little "ring-like" Construction of the houses used effectively. The garden of a okiya is as it were, by this "ring-like" construction often in the middle of this ring, as shown here is good:
Sure there are other and quite ordinary construction methods, but this appears to have quite a lot. A okiya has, like other traditional Japanese-built houses, with sliding walls, "fusuma" called. These are mainly used as room dividers. Also found in a okiya "byoubu" said foldable screens and "shoji", also as a room divider or be used as wall and window trim.
Byoubu
A TRADITIONAL painted folding screen
Shoji
In Okiyas there is a kitchen, living rooms, bedrooms, a living room , bathroom (bath-house or external), a dining room, dressing room and powder room for the Geisha and Maiko, rooms for the storage of valuable kimonos and one or more rooms.
an already "old" kitchen, left is the rice cooker;)
a guest room, quite modern
two pictures of bedrooms:
also there is a okiya often a "Kotatsu (a heated table as an alternative to often lack central heating). In the lounge or the dining room is usually found a niche Tokonoma.
Tokonoma In such a niche is a scroll painting and Ikebana flower arrangement, according to the season or the month.
front you see a "kotatsu" and in the background
Tokonoma niche with a scroll painting and a flower arrangement
The receipt of a okiya usually differs considerably from that of modern Japanese house. There is a small hallway with a stone floor, "genkan" referred to are the small benches for visitors, shoe racks and cabinets.
two pictures of a Genkan input range:
Then there is usually a small stage in front of the visitors off their shoes and slippers provided can slip, as is usually common throughout Japan. Only then follows the actual living area with wooden floors and individual rooms, designed with Tatami and only in socks or barefoot may be entered.
a modern Japanese living room, covered with tatami mats
The Practical traditionally built homes are also at large closets, in which all sorts of things are stored, such as bed sheets.
a Japanese closet, handy for storing bedding
Despite the traditional design are Okiyas anything but backward. Most have an internet connection and modern kitchen facilities. Everything has adapted to modern times.
Okiyas have two or three floors, with the lower floor is the living and the top floor of the bedroom. Okiyas also often have rooftop terraces, but less for sitting, rather than suitable for the storage of goods or hanging laundry.
a okiya
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