Kiraku Kyoto Aneyakoji

This machiya-style villa is one of the best in Kyoto.  If you want to experience Machiya-style properties, I would highly recommend Kiraku Kyoto Aneyakoji.  This is like a luxury holiday home in Kyoto.  You can discover the traditional Kyoto-style way of life during your stay.  It would be wonderful for family or groups, but not solo travelers.  *A minimum age requirement of 6 applies.  Perhaps, if this is your first visit Kyoto, I really think you should stay here.  The location is definitely convenient to go for sightseeing.  Great access to public transportation.  On the other hand, if this is not your first visit Kyoto, I wouldn’t recommend it.  The location is not very much Kyoto.  I would rather recommend Jeugiya in Higashiyama area.  Anyway, when we checked in, staff provided us with a tea ceremony and welcomed us with warmly.  All staff is truly helpful, prompt, and informative.  The website looks good, but actually it looked much more fantastic.   The property is so specious, comfortable, and clean.  There are a small quaint garden and an outdoor bath.  This is not hot spring, though.  You can fully enjoy much of an immersive “Kyoto experience” as you expect.  Then all of the amenities are taken care of including enough toiletries, pajamas, and a green tea set, etc.  Also a Blu-Ray player, a wireless speaker, a washing machine with a clothes dryer, some dishes, a coffee machine, and a microwave oven were placed in the property.  Room service is not available.  There are some convenience stores nearby.  Then when we stayed here in the winter season, we felt bit cold at night.  I think that the heating appliance wouldn’t be enough if it’s bitterly cold outside in winter.  Staff mentioned that Machiya-style buildings have limitations to install electric appliances.  Most of Machiya-style accommodations in Kyoto were renovated old houses built over 100 years ago.  Therefore it may be impossible to install the latest facilities everywhere.  If you want to chill out at Machiya-style properties, you might want to stay in the spring or the fall season.  The weather is just nice, not so hot and not so cold.  Then Kiraku Kyoto Aneyakoji is not universal design.  If you bring people with weak feet, this is not.  There is no lift.  Wheelchairs are not available.  Then Kyoto-style food experience for breakfast was simply wonderful.  The local ingredients were very high-end including beef, fish, vegetables, etc.  The portion tends to be big.  Don’t forget to bring your empty stomach.  *Please note that if you want to order breakfast, you need to inform staff when you book a room.  They probably wouldn’t be able to prepare it if you order on that day.  Actually there are many restaurants, cafes, and shops, etc., around the property, but most of them are open from 11:00AM except fast food shops.  Then dinner is not offered in the property.  If this is your first visit Kyoto, you should ask staff about recommended restaurants nearby.  Then an access to the property would be easy.  It takes 5min from Nijojo-Mae Station, or 10min from Karasuma Oike Station on foot.  Alternatively it takes 15min from Kyoto Station by Taxi.  It costs around 1,500JPY.  Overall you may feel bit overpriced but it’s well worth it.  Definitely it would be a precious experience for you.  At last, if you stay here, I would highly recommend joining Kyo Yuzen Workshops after breakfast which is the traditional dyeing technique of Kyoto.  The location of the shop is nearby.  It’s just 5min walk from the property.  We enjoyed it so much more than we expected.  Have a nice trip!  Welcome to receive any questions about the property from the below space.  *All information is as of the date that I posted on my blog.  **Please note that most of TAXI drivers wouldn’t know Kiraku Kyoto Aneyakoji.  You might want to show a map where it’s located.  ***Check in and out times 16:00/12:00   If you check in after 21:00, you need to inform staff in advance.  Check Availability and Pricing for the property on Booking.com or Agoda