Geya

What a geya is

A geya is a lower roof leaning against the main body of a building, and the space that opens up beneath it. Because it sits below the main roof, it shows outside as a step in the eaves line.

The National Cultural Properties Database records which face carries it. Storehouses at the Oguri Residence in Aichi Prefecture are entered as Dozo-zukuri, two storeys, 52.66 square metres, with a lean-to attached on the north face and Sangawara-buki, or with one on the south. The word attached signals that the part is counted separately from the main body.

Some run all the way round. The Fukuda Residence in Kochi Prefecture, built in 1924, is described as Irimoya-zukuri with lean-tos on the east, south and west. The Tomita Residence Mokunansha in Aichi Prefecture, built in 1827, is described as Kirizuma-zukuri with a monitor on the ridge, the rear slope carried down to the lean-to, and a lean-to round all four sides.

Beneath it go the Engawa, the Doma and lesser rooms. The Fukuda Residence storehouse is described as having a lean-to on its east side to shelter the area before the door and a three-mat watchman's room.

Distinguished from an extended roof

Where the main roof itself is simply continued downward to cover a low part, records use a different word, and the Tomita entry shows both at once: the rear is covered by the extended main roof while the other faces carry separate lean-tos.

On site, look for a step in the eaves. A second, lower eaves line running level beneath the main one is a lean-to; a single slope continuing almost to the ground is the extended roof.

Where a record says a lean-to is attached, check whether the floor area includes it. Parts described as attached are often treated separately from the main body.