The "engawa" is a distinctive feature of traditional domestic Japanese architecture, a long and narrow veranda, or deck, which runs along the outside of the lower story of the building. It is a space of nostalgia for the Japanese. In plush houses built in the early decades of the 20th century, the "engawa" was a place of beauty all around from the speckled light of garden trees to the breeze and dancing rainwater. In recent years, "engawa" cafes have emerged as natural gathering spaces. We discover the astonishing attractions of the "engawa", a space that is neither inside nor out.
