Due to the issues such as maintenance cost, ownership and tenure, and safety issues, the aged Machiya's have been replaced with more modern buildings.

Fostered by the collapse of the bubble economy, the number of Machiya's has been rapidly declining. As a result, the beautiful townscape which once formed the city is being lost.

Decreasing Machiya

About 13% of Machiya were destroyed between 1996 and 2003. According to the same survey, after a Machiya has been torn down, over 40% of the sites are used for new residential buildings are used for high-rise apartments, commercial buildings, or car parks. (from a survey conducted in 2003)

Changing Machiya.

Over 80% of existing Machiya have lost some aspect of their original traditional structure (degoshi lattice, mushiko mado window, tsuchi kabe earthen wall, etc.). Many have had their outer walls plasterd with cement mortar or covered with other modern materials. Machiya where the walls have been covered like this are called kanban kenchiku. Kanban kenchiku account for roughly 20% all the Machiya in Kyoto. (from a survey conducted in 1998).

The difficulty of preserving Machiya

According to a survey conducted in 2003, more than 50% of Machiya residents say that it is financially difficult to maintain or keep up a Machiya. Earthquake resistance and fire prevention is also a big concern. Through Machiya are a presious kind of heritage passed down from generation to generation, the psychological and financial difficulty of living in a Machiya is very challenging in reality.

difficulty on maintenance of Machiya