AS IN SOME OF THE FAMOUS PALACES IN KYOTO, BY DESIGN OR NOT, THE FLOOR BOARDS OF THE HALLWAY, WHEN STEPPED UPON, CREAK SOMEWHAT LOUDLY AS AN ADVANCE WARNING. HYPOTHETICALLY, IF ONE WERE TO COME HOME LATE, AFTER A NIGHT ON THE TOWN, IT WOULD TAKE BOTH EXPERIENCE AS WELL AS A CERTAIN SKILL TO GET TO YOUR ASSIGNED BEDROOM UNDETECTED. ON THE AUTHORITY OF JACK CHOUEKE, WHERE DISCRETION IS REQUIRED, FURTHER CAUTIONARY MEASURES CAN BE TAKEN BY AVOIDING THE MIDDLE SECTION OF THE STAIRS AND BY CAREFULLY STEPPING ON THE EDGES WHILE GOING UP. THE SAME SOURCE INFORMS THAT IF ONE DESIRES TO PASS UNNOTICED, THE FOURTH STEP UP FROM THE MID-LEVEL LANDING SHOULD BE BYPASSED ALTOGETHER.

WITH THE MOUNTAINS TO THE NORTH AND THE SEA TO THE SOUTH, IN THE DAYS BEFORE AIRCONDITIONING, ON HOT AND HUMID SUMMER NIGHTS, IT WAS COMMON TO OPEN THE WINDOWS ON BOTH SIDES. CROSS VENTILATION WOULD COOL THE HOUSE. DURING THE DAY THE BREEZE CAME IN FROM THE SEA AND AT NIGHT IT CAME IN FRESHLY FROM THE MOUNTAINS. THAT MUCH, THANKFULLY, HAS NOT CHANGED. IT WAS QUITE SAFE TO LEAVE EVERYTHING OPEN. AT A TIME, EVEN THE DOORS TO THE EXTERIOR COULD BE LEFT UNLOCKED. THERE WAS NO CONCERN AS TO THE RISK OF INTRUDERS. IN THE WINTER, THE HEAT THAT RISES FROM THE FIRST FLOOR IS EFFICIENTLY CAPTURED IN THE HALLWAY ABOVE. THE FOUR, SECOND FLOOR BEDROOMS AND THE TWO BATHROOMS ARE CONNECTED THROUGH THE HALL AND YOU COULD NEVER TELL WHOM YOU MIGHT ENCOUNTER.