蘆花淺水莊

Lushua Sensui-so is a danchi residential complex in Otsu featuring repetitive rectangular buildings with standardized floor plans. The units are connected by concrete pathways and shared stairwells.

The complex emerged in the 1960s during Japan's rapid economic growth as part of Japan Housing Corporation initiatives. It was built to address the housing shortage caused by urban population growth.

The complex shows how Japanese families adopted modern living spaces with kitchen-centered layouts and moved away from traditional multi-generational homes. This shift is still visible in how the apartments are arranged.

Visit in early morning hours to explore the complex while residents are away and paths are quieter. Walking through the common areas gives the clearest sense of how the housing development is organized.

The complex was part of a broader experiment with standardized housing design that influenced millions across Japan. This model became a prototype for similar developments in other countries and shaped modern urban living patterns.