English/日本語
A Grand Thatched Pit Dwelling
The Tallest of Its Kind in Western Japan
The architecture of Jomon Matama
is shaped by ancient Japanese wisdom, master craftsmanship,
and a deep respect for natural materials.
The building incorporates reclaimed timbers gathered from across Japan,
many of them 200 to 400 years old,
giving the space a profound sense of depth and presence.
Through the hands of skilled artisans,
the structure was completed using traditional joinery—
without the use of a single nail—by precisely fitting pillars together.
The interior rises into a cone-shaped space approximately 12 meters high,
naturally drawing awareness inward and into stillness.
Under current building regulations,
it is no longer permitted to construct a building of this height
using natural reed materials.
For this reason, Jomon Matama is considered
one of the most rare and exceptional architectural spaces in Japan.
Its iconic thatched roof is made from over 7,000 reeds,
harvested from the Lake Biwa region.
The year after this building was completed,
fire safety regulations were revised,
making it impossible to construct thatched roofs of this height.
As a result, Jomon Matama stands as
the only large-scale pit-dwelling
–style thatched structure of its height in Western Japan.
Today, the roof is undergoing a process of renewal,
aimed at carrying its original beauty and structural integrity into the future.
Rather than adhering strictly to conventional methods,
new approaches using natural materials are being explored
to ensure its continued life.
The way light enters the space,
the texture of the earth beneath your feet,
the gentle resonance of sound within the structure,
the high-frequency quality of the reed roof,
and the earthen floor filled with the energy of the land—
these subtle vibrations gradually permeate your being,
naturally guiding you into a state of calm and stillness.
Jomon Matama is not a reconstruction of the past.
It is a living space where ancient wisdom continues to breathe in the present.