Jan 16, 2026
A day for sunken hearths
A day for sunken hearths, not sunken hearts! In Japanese they are called "irori" and today is irori no hi 囲炉裏の日. An "irori" (囲炉裏), a traditional Japanese sunken hearth, pictured, had a central place in homes of yore.
The irori is a stone-lined pit that was on the floor of old homes. It was used for heating, cooking (boiling water, grilling), and communal gathering. It featured an adjustable hook (jizaikagi) to suspend pots over the charcoal fire. The irori provided not only warmth and light, but also a central focus for family life. They are rare in modern homes, but you can see them in preserved buildings and traditional inns.
The photo in this post is of an irori in Saitama Prefecture's oldest residence. They keep the irori and at least one other hearth / fire in the house, lit at all times of the year to help presesrve the thatched roof. As such, its not a good place to be in summer! January and the winter months are the best time to appreciate an irori.
Former nickname was "Saitama". Changed it to save confusion on place review posts! Irish, 20+ years in Japan! I also write on my personal website: insaitama.com
1 Comment
TonetoEdo
on Jan 18
I had an amazing meal prepared in an irori at an inn in Aizu-Wakamatsu City. The food was a treat - grilled river fish and delicious sides. At the Edo-Tokyo Open-air Architectural Museum, one Edo-era farmhouse has an irori tended by museum guides. It's an oportunity to smell the aromas of charcoal and see how people used to cook.