We have scenery that we must not lose. We have culture that we are proud of that we want to pass on to future generations.
Though Machiya are a precious form of traditional residential culture in Kyoto, the number of Machiya are decreasing year by year. Machiya are seriously facing the possibility of extinction today.
To preserve Machiya and to hand them over to future generations, restoration and preservation funding has long been an important task. Funding through cooperative efforts between citizens, companies and public offices have been ongoing.
In 2004, a benefactor in Tokyo who was sad to see the number of Machiya steadily decreasing gave a big donation to Kyoto City. This generous gift made a large impression on the Kyoto people. As a result, the Kyoto Center for Community Collaboration set up the “Machiya Machizukuri Fund” in September, 2005 in cooperation with people who love Kyoto and Machiya. This fund accepts donations from citizens and companies, and is supported by funding from the city and the national government.
The Machiya Machizukuri Fund was set up to protect the history and culture of Kyoto. The donations to the fund are invested and used to protect and promote Machiya culture. The money is used to preserve and create historical Kyoto scenery. Through the work of the fund. people can experience special Kyoto life styles, traditional architectural culture and methods of town creation. All of these activities will serve to revitalize Kyoto's local economy.
1. When a Machiya renovated with the support of the fund is designated as a "Atructures of Landscape Importance" based on The Landscape Act,the owner of the building receives special support from the city.Moreover,the building can't be torn down without the permission of the mayor of Kyoto.
2.A Machiya renovated with the support of the fund plays the role of a local community center which promotes local town creation activities.Such efforts increase the likelihood that the city will designate the area as ascenery preservation area.