Kominka: The Beauty and Wisdom of Japanese Traditional House

For centuries, traditional wooden folk houses known as “ kominka” have embodied the cultural values of the agrarian, merchant, and samurai societies of pre-modern Japan. Their huge sturdy posts and powerful beams have withstood earthquakes and other natural disasters, demonstrating the artistry of Japanese carpenters and the strength of handcrafted wood joinery.

Preserved and reconstructed today, kominka offer silent testimony to the enduring beauty and resilience of Old Japan. Kazuo Hasegawa’ s profusely illustrated book introduces readers to the vernacular architecture, equips travelers with a guide to Japan’ s 101 must-visit kominka and villages, and is a useful reference for those who are planning to embark, as the author did, on a kominka renovation journey of their own.