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What kind of Machiya house is Kiraku Kyoto Aneyakoji?
This is a renovated 90-year-old machiya house *traditional Kyoto-style house located right next to Nijo Castle. When you enter the front door, you will be greeted by the openness of a machiya house and the warmth of washi paper lights. At the back of the room, there is an open-air bath overlooking the box garden, which is typical of Kyoto townhouses.
Then when you go up to the second floor, you can see the first floor through the transparent floor, which is an interesting interior design. You can enjoy the unique space while sipping Uji tea, which can only be experienced here.
There are still many machiya houses in Kyoto, but this is probably the only one with traditional Japanese architecture that can be seen directly above.
After checking in, the staff will prepare matcha green tea for you in the transparent-floored tea room on the second floor.
For interior design, we use specially made furniture such as tea stands remade from tea boxes actually used by tea farmers in the past, and lighting fixtures made from shade sheets used in making covered tea called kabusecha, to enhance the uniqueness of the space.
This is a private machiya house, so you can stay as if you were living in Kyoto while relaxing in a private space where you do not share facilities with other guests. It’s like a vacation home in Kyoto City.
It is spacious at 145 square meters. The ceilings are high and the second floor has glass walls, so it feels like an atrium. This is a perfect machiya house for families and groups. *A minimum age requirement of 6 applies. If you are a couple or solo traveler, it would be too spacious.
Then the machiya house has a kitchen with an old-fashioned design, refrigerator, microwave, coffee machine, dishes, and a washing machine, making it suitable for long-term stays.
The location is convenient to go sightseeing and has great access to public transportation. It takes less than 10min on foot from Nijojo-Mae Station.
If I had to pick a fault, it would be the location near Nijo Castle, but other than that, the scenery may not be typical of Kyoto. Compared to the Higashiyama area, I have the impression that it lacks a Kyoto-like atmosphere. Originally, machiya houses were the homes of the common people of Kyoto in the old days, so they are built in areas that retain the atmosphere of the Kyoto downtown area.
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Is the location easy to access?
Yes, it would be easy, 5 minutes walk from Exit 2 of Nijojo-Mae Station. Also, you can walk from Karasuma Oike Station. It takes 10min, though.
Alternatively, it takes 10min from Kyoto Station by Taxi and costs around 1,500JPY. Please note that most of the TAXI drivers wouldn’t know Kiraku Kyoto Aneyakoji, so show the address and TEL No. in the below Japanese as they can enter the phone number into the car navigation system to confirm the destination.
季楽 京都 姉小路
〒604-8261 京都府京都市中京区式阿弥町118番地
電話番号 075 253 6776
When you arrive at the machiya house, use the phone at the entrance to contact the staff, who will give you a password to open the door.
How are the rooms?
Overall, it is a very tasteful and comfortable townhouse with a nice box garden, terrace, outdoor bath, and a small kitchen. The rooms are spacious and equipped with a TV, air purifier, and record player.
In the small garden, there is a small hill with lanterns and bamboo lights. Soaking in the open-air bath at night while looking at the soft light is very special. There is a shower room between the changing room and the outdoor bath. There is no indoor bath.
Then Simmons mattresses and premium bedding are available for a comfortable night’s sleep. A set of duvet bed pads, down blankets, and high-quality gauze pajamas made in Kyoto are also available.
Winters in Kyoto are very cold, but there is floor heating, so you can stay warm even in winter.
There is a complimentary mini-bar, two bottles of beer, small bottles of red and white wine, coke, orange juice, soda water, and water, etc.
There is also a hairdryer, makeup remover, facial cleansing foam, lotion, milky lotion, toothbrush, cotton, cotton buds, razor, shower cap, brush, body towel, shampoo, conditioner, body soap, other amenities are available.
If I had to say one thing, it would be that it faces a road where cars pass by, so the noise from outside may bother you at times.
Kiraku Kyoto Aneyakoji is not a universal design. If you bring people with weak legs, you may want to find other properties. There is no lift. Wheelchairs are not available.
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How about meals?
Breakfast is a hearth-grilled meal using Kyoto vegetables and other Kyoto specialties, which the staff will come to prepare for you. You can try the freshly grilled Kyoto vegetables and beef. The 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 the staff when you book a room. They probably wouldn’t be able to prepare it if you order on that day.
There are many restaurants, cafes, and shops, etc., near the property, but most of them are open from 11:00 AM except for fast food shops and cafes. Then dinner is not offered on the property. If this is your first visit to Kyoto, you may want to ask the staff about recommended restaurants nearby.
My impressions
The machiya house is a great place for families or groups to stay in. If you are staying as a couple, the price range may seem high, but if you have four or more people, it’s a good deal.
Then the best season to stay here is spring. Nijo Castle, just a few minutes walk from the machiya house, is famous for its cherry blossoms. Especially at night, the castle and cherry blossoms are lit up. The atmosphere is very mystical and solemn, so please stop by after dinner for a walk.
At last, if you stay here, I would 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 a 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. If you check-in after 21:00, you need to inform the staff in advance. Check Availability and Pricing for the property on Booking.com or Agoda
Info about Kiraku Kyoto Aneyakoji
| Style | Modern Machiya-style villa |
|---|---|
| Check-in and out times |
16:00/12:00 |
| Estimated Price | 65,000 JPY for 2 adults |
| Contact E-mail | nazuna@daiti.co.jp |
| Internet Connection | Free wifi in the property |
| Facility Information | Wheelchairs are not available Pets are not allowed The parking lot is not available |
| Location | Kiraku Kyoto Aneyakoji’s MAP |
| Access | approx.15minTAXI from JR Kyoto Station or 5min walk from Nijojo-Mae Station |
| Address and TEL | Tel +81 |
*All information above is as of the date that I posted on my blog.
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