Kyoto is Japan 's historical heart , the former capital and home to 1,600 temples . From the entertainment district of Gion , where geishas can be spotted scurrying along narrow cobbled lanes , to the cherry tree-lined Philosopher 's Path , some parts of the city seem timeless . But among the striking sights of ancient Kyoto sit less obtrusive buildings that capture the spirit of the city and remain a link between the past and the present . They are `` machiya '' , traditional wooden townhouses . Their narrow frontage gives way to deep interiors , so long and thin that they became known as `` a bed for an eel '' ( `` unagi no nedoko , '' in Japanese ) . Megumi Hata lives in a machiya in Kyoto that has been in her family for 13 generations . `` This house is rare and very traditional and therefore our identity as Japanese has been nurtured in this house , '' she says . `` When I think about that , I would say this is the most amazing part of this house and this is what I love the most about it . '' That enduring love of old homes is not universal in Japan . There is more financial incentive to destroy rather than preserve , as the structure of a home has very little market value after a few decades , and machiya have suffered from demolition and redevelopment . Around 80 % of demolished machiya in the city are replaced by modern houses and high-rise buildings , according to the University of Kyoto , while the majority of those that remain have suffered some loss to their original facades . However some are focusing on preserving what remains of the city 's old townhouses and believes that they should endure modern development . `` This one housing type has been developing over 1,200 years , continuously adapting to the different lifestyles , adapting and changing , '' says American designer Geoffrey Moussas who over a decade has renovated over 30 machiya . The challenges of renovation are huge . Moussas first had to learn from carpenters and craftsmen the special skills needed to build machiya before he could draw up practical renovation plans . But rather than build museums to a former way of life , Moussas is keen to create a fusion between the old and new . `` That balance is very important , '' he says . `` And that 's the part that scares people ( when it comes to renovations ) . '' `` There is a great satisfaction in taking something that was going to be thrown away and creating something that people admire , something that people appreciate . `` There is an unbelievable amount of culture in these houses . '' Hata uses a modern analogy : We view our lives like software , something forever changing then this traditional architecture is the hardware , the very structure that gives Japanese life its foundation .
Kyoto is home to over 1,600 temples and former capital of Japan . The city has a population of about 2 million people, with the majority living in the metropolitan area around Tokyo. Many have been destroyed or redeveloped . Some are trying to preserve and make them liveable for modern life .