Kitayama logs are made by peeling and processing Kitayama cedar, and the history of this building material can be traced back to the Oei era (1394-1427) of the Muromachi period. These logs are perhaps best known from their use in building teahouses and sukiya-style buildings that support the tea ceremony culture. Katsura Imperial Villa, Shugakuin Imperial Villa, and Shimabara Kadoya are representative examples of sukiya-style buildings made with Kitayama logs. The material continues to be used for a variety of building projects because the simple lines and texture of Kitayama logs not only suit Japanese-style architecture but also blend well with modern architecture,