Nagaya (architecture)

[1] A nagaya was a long housing complex under the same ridge, one or two stories high, divided into small compartments for rent.

[1] Historically, similar houses were built around a rich manor or castle for low-ranking samurai.

At the ends of the building shops were located, typically, their owners living in adjacent rooms.

Nagaya were also known as yakeya (焼け家, burning house), due to their tendency to catch fire.

[4] If a gateway was located in one section, that structure was called a nagayamon (長屋門, longhouse-gate).

A museum replica of a 1×2.5 ken Edo nagaya (about 2×5meters). A kitchen of one tatami in area on the left, a floor covered with four tatami and a second door with tiny engawa stoop on the right. Munewari nagaya ( back-to-backs ) had only a kitchen door.
Plan of an Edo nagaya neighbourhood; houses range from 4.5 to 16 tatami in area (visible in full-scale view)
Old depiction of a nagaya