Date:              Thursday, June 26, 2025

Time:              6:00–6:45 pm: Arrive and mingle

                        7:00 pm: Dinner

                        8:00–9:00 pm: Presentation

Place:             Hilton Osaka (Umeda), Gin Room, 4F

Cost:              FEW members: ¥6,000

                       Nonmembers (women only): ¥8,000 

Register:        Hilton: By Wednesday, June 18, midnight

                             [FEW Kansai members may participate in monthly meetings via Zoom if unable to join in person at the Hilton.    

                          Please go to the EVENT page for details.]

Machiya are traditional wooden townhouses built using carpentry techniques that date back to the Heian period, continuing until 1950. Historically, they often served as both residences and places of business, and they can still be found in many places across Japan, notably in Kyoto and Kanazawa. Despite their rich cultural significance, many Japanese people today see them as dated, drafty, and difficult to maintain.

Our guest speaker this month, Sandra Isaka, sees beyond such challenges and appreciates the unique potential of these traditional structures. Having renovated two machiya in central Kyoto, she hopes to inspire others to preserve—and ideally live in—these historic homes. Drawing from her experience, Sandra recently launched a concierge service for people purchasing machiya as second homes, which she will introduce during her talk. She will also share her journey of finding and renovating her machiya in Kyoto, offering ideas from her "American Wa-Modern" style of interior design to create warm and welcoming spaces. Whether you seek creative inspiration or are simply curious, we hope you will join us to learn more about the special charm of machiya.