What kind of machiya house is Village Kiramachi ?
Not far from Shijo Station on the subway line, you will pass through a narrow stone-paved alleyway, and through a lattice door with a faint light leaking out, you will find a room with tatami mats and a sunken hearth on both sides. As you proceed further, you will be greeted by a cute little Jizo statue standing on its side. After passing through the street garden, which shows various expressions with each season, you will find a row of townhouses in a row like a small village. Maple trees are planted everywhere in the machiya house, and as you walk along the narrow passageway, the murmuring of the water gushing from the underground echoes pleasantly in your ears.
While preserving the atmosphere of a townhouse built over 100 years ago, it has been beautifully transformed into a modern townhouse with the luxurious use of authentic building materials. The fusion of traditional wooden architecture and stylish facilities creates a comfortable space.
After walking for a while from Shijo Station, I was as excited as a small child when I found the small entrance to the inn with the help of a map. I was filled with anticipation, wondering what I would find when I passed through the entrance of this narrow alley. As I entered a narrow alley, the noisy air turned into silence, and I found the same old Kyoto lifestyle.
We stayed for two nights in a room with an outdoor bath. The bath is on the first floor, and the room on the second floor is a very elegant and clean townhouse. We were tired from walking around sightseeing, but the open-air bath helped us relax both physically and mentally, and the soft futon provided was very comfortable, allowing us to sleep well. You can hear the sounds of life in this area during the day, but it is very quiet at night.
With nice chairs and tables by the window, shoji screens made of Japanese paper and lattices, tatami mats made of high-quality rushes, and fusuma screens depicting old samurai warriors, you can enjoy the Japanese style of Kyoto. The owner’s attention to detail in the selection of interior furnishings is very interesting.
The location is convenient to go sightseeing and has great access to public transportation. If this is your first-time visit Kyoto, you may want to stay here. Alternatively, if you don’t have the experience to stay in machiya houses, it’s one of the best.
If I had to pick a disadvantage, it would be that since it is located in the Shijo Station area, the surrounding scenery may not be as Kyoto-like as the Higashiyama area. Nevertheless, the area has been dotted with unique stores such as ryotei *traditional Japanese restaurants and teahouses since ancient times and is an area where you can feel the lifestyle of Kyoto’s common people firsthand.
Then since this is a traditional townhouse building, there are steps and stairs. Also, there is no elevator. It is not suitable for people with small children or those with limited mobility. *A minimum age requirement of 13 applies.
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Is the location easy to access?
If you take a taxi from Kyoto station, it takes 10min and costs around 1,300JPY. Please note that most of the TAXI drivers wouldn’t know the machiya house, 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.
宿きらまち
〒600-8471 京都府京都市下京区新釜座町722
電話番号 075 741 7792
Alternatively, it takes 5min on foot from Shijo Station. Get off at Shijo Station on the Subway Karasuma Line and walk 5-6 minutes from Exit 26. From Shijo-Karasuma, go straight west on Shijo-Dori Street, and you will see the Shijo-Nishinotoin bus stop after crossing Shinmachi-Dori Street. Enter the alley next to it to the south, and you will see Yado Kiramachi on your left.
Then there is no parking here. If you need to park in a nearby parking lot, please let the staff know in advance.
Rooms I would recommend?
If you are going to stay here, I would recommend a room with an outdoor Japanese cypress wooden bath. You can relax in the bath while viewing a small traditional box garden. Taking a bath while looking out at the tasteful box garden washes away the fatigue of the day.
All the rooms have a view of the small garden. It’s made in a pure Japanese style reminiscent of old row houses.
Then there is no room with beds on tatami mats. If you don’t want to sleep on a Japanese-style mattress in a tatami room, you may want to find other machiya houses.
How about toiletries & in-room amenities?
All of the amenities are taken care of including minimum toiletries, yukatas, and a Japanese tea set, etc. Room service is not available. The free WiFi reception was good. There was no TV in our room. There are some convenience stores nearby.
How about In-house Facilities?
This is not a universal design. There are steep steps. If you bring people with weak legs, you may want to find other properties. There is a bar and lounge. Also, you can experience a free tea ceremony in a room with a sunken hearth near the entrance, so please let the staff know if you wish to do so.
Then this machiya house is built in a machiya style with an emphasis on private space and has eight independent guest rooms. Like a small village, the machiya houses are lined up in a row.
How about meals?
Kyoto-style boxed breakfast was wonderful. The portion tends to be small, though. There are many restaurants around there, but most of the restaurants in Kyoto city are open from 10:00 AM, or 11:00 AM. You may want to book a room with breakfast in advance. Then basically, dinner is not offered.
My impressions
Overall, you can fully enjoy the wonderful Machiya house as you expect. It will be your best memory. All staff was very helpful, warm, and informative. If this is your first visit to Kyoto, you may want to ask the staff about the recommended spots.
The best season to stay here would be except for the summer season. Actually, Kyoto city is much hotter and muggier than Tokyo in summer.
Then Kyoto city would be busy during Lunar New Year, early April, late April to early May, 16th of Aug, the weekend in Oct and Nov, and the end of the year and new year holiday. You might want to avoid visiting Kyoto during the above periods if you want to relax in a tranquil atmosphere.
Finally, if you go sightseeing after you check out, you can use the luggage delivery service between the machiya house and Kyoto Station. It costs 750 yen per suitcase. This service is especially useful on weekends and holidays in spring and fall when trains and buses are crowded. If you tell the staff in advance, they will make arrangements for you.
Have a nice trip! Welcome to receive any questions about Village Kiramachi from the below space. Check Availability and Pricing for the property on Agoda
Info about Village Kiramachi
| Style | Modern Machiya House |
|---|---|
| Check-in and out times |
15:00/11:00 |
| Estimated Price | 50,000 JPY for 2 adults per room |
| Contact E-mail | Call at 075-741-7792 from domestic Call at +81 75-741-7792 from overseas |
| Internet Connection | Free wifi in the ryokan |
| Facility Information | Wheelchairs are not available Pets are not allowed The parking lot is not available |
| Location | Village Kiramachi’s MAP |
| Access | 10min TAXI from JR Kyoto Station. |
| Address and TEL | 600-8471 Kyoto Shimogyo-Ku Shinkamanza Cho 722-5 Tel +81 75-741-7792 |
| Official Homepage | Village Kiramachi’s HP |
All information above is as of the date that I posted on my blog.
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