Location: Kyoto, Japan, Asia View Map
Accommodations: House, 2 Bedrooms + No additional sleeping rooms avail, 1 Bath (Sleeps 2-4)
Keywords: Japanese House
*Please also have a look at our other listing for the Gion House Lower Level, listing 294674.
The Gion House is an old wooden, traditional-style "machiya," located on an atmospheric side street in the awe-inspiring geisha quarters of Gion, in the heart of old Kyoto. It was fully restored by renowned Kyoto-based architect Geoffrey Moussas. It has been shown in three national architecture/interior-related magazines, and has been shown on several TV programs, including one on NHK (Japan's national TV station.)
Offered is the entire second floor, which has private entrance. The place has features such as all antique sliding doors, antique light fixtures, and traditional design details, combined with luxurious, modern features like radiant heating under the wooden floors, a large Western style bathtub, and wireless high-speed Internet. The bath and kitchen are entirely new and modern and fully equipped. There is a washer and dryer.
This spacious house has a tatami mat bedroom, a Western-style bedroom with double bed and desk, and a large tatami mat living room with leather sofa and 32 inch flat-screen cable TV. Also there is a wood roof deck with chairs and table, a perfect place to sip your morning coffee while enjoying the views of surrounding hills, as well as a view of the maple trees of neighboring Kenninji temple, which is the oldest Zen temple in Japan, and is just a stone’s throw away.
There is enough room for up to four to sleep... two in the tatami bedroom on a futon, and two in the double bed in the Western-style room.
Or rent both the upper and lower levels to accommodate up to 8 persons.
According to neighborhood sources, before it was converted into a residence, the Gion House was an "ochaya," or a traditional establishment where the patrons of Gion have been entertained by geiko and geisha in a very exclusive setting. The house is over 100 years old.
The location is superb in terms of being central and being steeped in atmosphere. This property is actually located within the very heart of what is considered to be "Gion." The location is completely quiet, since it is tucked on a side street with almost no through car traffic. There are numerous temples, restaurants, and shops located nearby, with walking access to major tourist sights such as Kiyomizu Temple, Chion-in, and Maruyama Park. The downtown shopping district and Kamo River are also just a ten minute walk away. Nearby is easy access to public transportation and taxis.
The Gion House is just five minutes' walk from Hanamikoji Street, one of the most traditional and preserved sections of Kyoto, where you can find old "machiya" style wooden houses in abundance. You can also find geishas scurrying down the alleyways on their way to work in the evenings.
You’ll enjoy the luxury and ambiance of the Gion House, and the location can’t be beat for a memorable Kyoto experience in the very special part of town called Gion.
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Air Conditioning
- Linens Provided
- Washer
- Dryer
- Beds
- Double Bed : Option of sleeping on double bed or a double futon.
- Entertainment
- Cable/Satellite TV
- DVD
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen
- Cooking Utensils Provided
- Refrigerator
- Microwave
- Outdoor Features
- Deck/Patio
- Communications
- Telephone
- WiFi (Wireless Internet)
- Suitability
- Minimum Age Limit for Renters
- Smoking Not Allowed
- Activities
- Shopping
- Restaurants
Rate Details (In Japanese Yen)
¥23,000/nt. low season (December to February, June to August)
¥25,000/nt. high season (March to May, September to November)
Rate is for two persons. 3rd/4th persons can stay for additional ¥2,000/nt./person
**Minimum stay 5 nights
Payment by Visa or Mastercard, Paypal, or international wire transfer.
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
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Credit Cards Accepted:
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Map & Owner's Profile
Gion House Machiya (Upper Level) in Prime Gion Location
Year Purchased: 2006
Why the Owner Chose Kyoto
I bought this house because of it's location, inside one of the neighborhoods that still retains more than a a bit of the flavor of "old Kyoto."
The Unique Benefits at this House
Some things that are unique about this property:
-The touch of the architect, who re-worked this old, traditional-style house, to make it perfectly modern and luxurious, without sacrificing the original charm of the house.
-The sounds that emanate from the neighboring Kenninji Temple grounds next door early in the morning....gongs and bells.
-The tranquility of the neighborhood, which is a rare luxury in the center of Kyoto.
Owner's Map of Kyoto
The owner, Curtis Hawes, divides his time between Kyoto and San Francisco. He has a deep affinity for both places. Bridging the rest of the world with Kyoto is one of his missions in life, and the Gion House is one small way to offer visitors a peaceful respite in a very Japanese setting, right in the heart of old Kyoto, in Gion.
Property Photos
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- Exterior view at dusk - Kyoto Rental
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- Living Room - Kyoto Rental
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- Tatami Bedroom - Kyoto Rental
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- Western-style Bedroom (sofa was recently replaced with a brand new double bed)
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- Kitchen
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- Entrance to Bath and Shower Area
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- Roof Deck with View of Kenninji Temple Grounds
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- Hanamikoji Street in the heart of Gion...just a three minute walk away
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- Kenninji Temple, our immediate neighbor, with expansive grounds and gardens
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- The view up the street, from our front door
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- The Kamo River. The heart of downtown as seen from the Gion side (10 min. walk)
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- Miyagawa-cho, an 8 minute walk away. Great for a night-time stroll.
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- The garden inside Kenninji. A quiet place to reflect. Just next door!!
Traveler Reviews (50)
Wondrous place to stay, descriptions and photos accurate here
Guest: Jim
(Amherst, MA, USA)
Date of Stay: 01/08/12
Review Submitted: 01/28/12
My family of four (two adults, two post-college children) recently returned from a memorable week in Kyoto, and this rental played a large role in the power and sweetness of our memories. It was recommended by friends who live nearby and are enchanted with the neighborhood. If you stay here you will experience Kyoto in a fashion unavailable to one who stays in a hotel or other part of the city. The sights, sounds, and smells of traditional Kyoto are right out front, though this house can also be a place of refuge for those seeking that. I do a lot of travelling but have seldom rented a house that is as well-equipped as this one. In fact I'm not even sure my own home is as well-equipped! From fresh batteries for the flashlight to bandaids in the first aid kit to tea bags and sugar, Curtis had thought of everything. Read on to see what others say, and note the praise we all have for this house, area, and owner. I certainly hope to return.
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with teenagers.
Good base in Kyoto
Guest: PW
(Singapore)
Date of Stay: 11/13/11
Review Submitted: 11/28/11
Our family of seven stayed at this house (both upper and lower levels) in November 2011. The house was accurately described by the owner and well reviewed by others on this website. I will try not to repeat what others have described so well already. The machiya has a quiet yet central location. The kitchens are very well equipped and all appliances are like new. Of note, the microwave oven does wonders! It has settings to re-heat fried foods (like tempura), toast bread and re-heat bento boxes. Absolutely no complaints whatsoever about the house. Several restaurants within a stone's throw from the house. 2 supermarkets within easy walking distance. The entire Gion area including Kiyomizu temple are easily accessible on foot. Bus stops are easily reached on foot and I would recommend the use of buses whilst in Kyoto. They are easy to use, fixed fares, multi-lingual bus stop announcements (on many buses) and can reach just about all the sights in Kyoto. Use the Bus Navi guide in the folder in the house. The subway line in Kyoto is very limited. The local contact, Junko, was very helpful during our stay. She arranged amongst other things, restaurant reservations, luggage forwarding, and was very prompt with replies to our many questions. I would highly recommend this holiday rental!! An excellent base for travels in Kyoto and nearby towns.
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.
A Great Week at Gion House "Machiya" (Upper Level) Sep. 26th-Oct. 3rd, 2011
Guest: St. Louis Travelers
(St. Louis, MO USA)
Date of Stay: 09/26/11
Review Submitted: 10/16/11
My wife and I had a terrific time in Kyoto and this rental was a big part of the reason. The Machiya oozes charm. The neighborhood is fascinating--a real walker's paradise. We did a full day Kyoto tour and a full day Nara tour with Koko(she is listed in the manual prepared for the renters). You can hear faint gongs and chanting from the nearby Buddhist temple--very atmospheric. The rental has all the amenities that you would need for a week. Fresco grocery store is a ten minute walk and has good fresh produce, coffee, good quality sushi, etc... FYI--if you are 5'10" or taller, you will hit your head on the door frames--I have the bumps to prove it--all part of the charm of staying in an older Japanese structure. All in all, a great rental unit in a great city.
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers.
What a great place to stay in Kyoto
Guest: Ed
(Los Angeles, CA)
Date of Stay: 09/11/11
Review Submitted: 09/23/11
We had a great stay at Gion House. We stayed in the upper level and were able to experience part of the past of Kyoto with great modern amenities such as a/c and a washer and dryer. With the remains of the Kyoto summer heat and humidity still present during our stay both were particularly helpful. The location is great, especially as you walk through the Gion district and its geishas on your way back to the house each night. Historic and must see sites such as the Kennnin-ji Temple and the Kiyomizu-dera Temple are a stone's throw away. The interior space is terrific with its restored wood work. The choice of the tradtional futon or regular mattress was a great added feature. The upper terrace was a particular nice touch, especially in the evening. We highly recommend Gion House for anyone looking to for that extra special experience in Kyoto that comes with staying at a Machiya.
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, girls getaway, age 55+, families with teenagers.
Springtime in Kyoto
Guest: Laurel
(Connecticut, USA)
Date of Stay: 04/30/11
Review Submitted: 07/22/11
We stayed at Gion House in May, 2011. We were a family group of 7, with ages ranging from 23-83. We rented both the upper and lower levels, which was ideal for us. We were able to get together, but also had space to spread out and relax. I loved staying in a traditional Japanese house, and having a taste of living like the Japanese people do. The house is beautifully restored, with lots of wood, tatami mats and screens.The rooftop deck was fun to sit on early in the morning and listen to the birds and the temple bells and monks chanting- the temple is adjacent to Gion House. You could also hang laundry on the racks on the roof, as all of the locals seem to do. The bathroom had windows on opposite walls which could be opened and made it feel almost like an outdoor shower! The house was perfect, Kyoto is so special, and the Japanese people are wonderful. Go, if you can!
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.
wonderful
Guest: heidi
(Chicago, IL)
Date of Stay: 11/16/10
Review Submitted: 06/24/11
Stayed here in November 2010. Gion House is especially well appointed, beautiful in design, super in function (love the seamless mix of traditional Japanese design and modern conveniences within the apartment!). Plenty of space for a family of 4 adults. Located in a very quiet and safe neighborhood that is ideal for relaxing but still very close to tourist attractions. Loved evening walks to major departmental stores where we could buy groceries and enjoy cooking in the kitchen and having family dinners in the huge living room. Professionally managed, the rental process was extremely easy and fast and a dream to deal with. Highly recommended! Thank you for a great vacation rental.
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.
Beautiful house
Guest: Soggy tourists!
(London, UK)
Date of Stay: 05/27/11
Review Submitted: 06/16/11
We'd stayed here in May/June 2011 and had an amazing time. The house is beautiful and just like the photos, in fact the rooms were bigger than I was expecting. THe tatami rooms are gorgeous and smell lovely! It is a fantastic location for walking to lots of sights which we did. Although rainy season came early this year this just made the house an even better idea - much nicer to take a break and dry off in such a nice place rather than a small hotel room where you feel you are wasting your precious holiday time, in the Gion House that down time just felt like another aspect of the trip. I would highly recommend this to anyone who is staying in Kyoto for any length of time, a real enhancement to a holiday and a great location for all the major temples and the Gion area. Thank you for a fabulous holiday base.
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, girls getaway, age 55+, families with teenagers.
Hugh, Kimberley and family
Guest: Hugh
(Australia)
Date of Stay: 01/03/11
Review Submitted: 01/14/11
We loved our stay here - beautiful building with fantastic attention to detail. Facinating to stay in a traditional Japanese dwelling. Very well fitted out and we had everything we needed for the week. Great position at the end of a lovelly street in the heart of Gion and a perfect base for expolring Kyoto. We were there for a week in Winter and hope to have a week there again for the remaining seasons....
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, families with young children, families with teenagers.
Wonderful
Guest: janice
(Berkeley ca)
Date of Stay: 11/09/10
Review Submitted: 12/08/10
Wow--this was beyond my dreams. Could not recommend more highly. Spacious and well appointed. Quiet street. Lovely. Janice
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.
October Visit to Kyoto
Guest: October Travelers
(Los Angeles, California)
Date of Stay: 10/23/10
Review Submitted: 11/06/10
We had a fabulous time in Kyoto and loved our accommodations. It was even better than we thought it would be. The location was great - centrally located and in the charming Gion neighborhood. The house was immaculate and the rennovation is excellent with the beautiful bathroom and modern kitchen as the highlight. We highly recommend this rental; a friend told us about it and we were very grateful.
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+.
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Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #105505
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