It is officially no longer summer at Tondaya. Today I will trade the yukata worn during the hot season for a lined winter kimono.

But that's not all: the house itself is also changing clothes. 

Noren are the fabric dividers traditionally hung at the entrance of a store, to show that it is open for business. These are the noren that have been up all summer long:

But since yesterday, the winter noren have replaced them, darker in colour and made of thicker fabric.

 And that's not all. Perhaps the most noticeable difference has taken place in the guest room. During the very hot summers of Kyoto, the room is enclosed solely by sudare, very breathable screens made of bamboo woven with string. Now, they have been replaced with yukimi shouji. Shouji is the name of the sliding panels covered with paper that are characteristic to traditional Japanese houses. But the lower part of yukimi shouji is made of glass, in order for us to be able to admire the surrounding areas - in Tondaya's case, the spectacular back garden. Yukimi means "snow viewing".

Also, all throughout summer, the floors are covered with ajiro (also made of woven bamboo). But now, the usual tatami have taken their place.

This is what the room looks like during the hot season:

 And this is the cold weather version:

Of course, this is further proof of the ingenuity and versatility of the traditional Japanese architecture.