Kyoto Rental

Kyoto Traditional "Machiya" House in Gion Geisha Quarters Kyoto Vacation Rental by Owner Listing 105505

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Location: Kyoto, Japan, Asia

Accommodations:  Japanese House, 2 Bedrooms, 1 Bath (Sleeps 2-4)

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 in the Fall of 2006 by renowned Kyoto-based architect Geoffrey Moussas.

Offered is the entire second floor, which has private entrance. The place is stunning... antique features like 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 sofabed 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 large sofabed in the Western-style room.

The location is superb in terms of being central and being steeped in atmosphere. This property is actually located within the heart of what is considered to be "Gion," as opposed to several other listings on this website. 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. There are two bicycles for guest use. 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.

The first floor of the house is occupied by a quiet office which has a separate entrance.

You’ll enjoy the luxury and ambience 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
    • Washer
    • Dryer
    • Linens Provided
  • Beds
    • Double Bed: Option of sleeping on double bed or a double futon.
  • Entertainment
    • Cable/Satellite TV
    • DVD
    • CD Player
  • Kitchen
    • Full Kitchen
    • Cooking Utensils Provided
    • Refrigerator
    • Microwave
    • Ice Maker
  • Outdoor Features
    • Deck/Patio
  • Communications
    • Telephone
    • WiFi (Wireless Internet)
  • Suitability
    • Minimum Age Limit for Renters
    • Smoking Not Allowed
  • Activities (on site and nearby)
    • Shopping
    • Sightseeing
    • Restaurants

 

Rate Details (In US Dollars)

Personal Currency Assistant

Rental rate is $260/night for two persons (minimum 7 nights)
$280/night for three, $300/night for four.
$300 refundable security deposit.
Payment by check or money order in US Dollars, Visa or
Mastercard, Paypal, or international wire transfer.

Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.

  • Credit Cards Accepted:

  • Visa
  • Mastercard

Dates available: Year Round - See availability calendar.
Before contacting us, please check our calendar for your desired dates.

Links to more information:

Note: Each property is individually owned or managed.

Property Photos

Guest Comments (29)

  • 06/12/09
    Positive Rating
    Anna , San Francisco,Ca.
    • We stayed at Gion House for one week. Great location and such a beautiful Machiya. Next time we will stay there again.
  • 06/09/09
    Positive Rating
    Joe and Tyrone , Sunnyvale, California
    • We had a great stay at the Gion House. The location is amazing and the house has everything for a relaxing stay. It has become one of our lasting memories of Kyoto. I highly recommend it.
  • 04/23/09
    Positive Rating
    , Los Angeles, CA
    • We had such a wonderful stay - the house is immaculate and I can't imagine a better location in Kyoto. We enjoyed visiting the temple just two blocks away, eating in the many excellent restaurants in the neighborhood, and just hanging out at the house. There were three of us and the house was quite comfortable. The bathroom is particularly lovely, and the house is perfectly furnished with very comfortable futon, excellent bedding and towels, and all the kitchen supplies you need to cook a meal. I appreicated that the appliances were labeled with English translations, too! We will definitely be back.
  • 04/18/09
    Positive Rating
    Jonathan and Joe , New York City
    • We had such a spectacular stay at the Gion House. Having lived in Kyoto for 3 years and being away for over a decade, Curtis's home was beyond the perfect way to return to the city I love so much. The home is gorgeously appointed combining traditional design with modern facilities. The roof deck is so special and having Kenniji Temple as a neighbor couldn't be better! Thank you!
  • 04/02/09
    Positive Rating
    anne-marie , luxembourg
    • staying at a traditional "machiya" house is a very good way to experience japanese culture. especially in curtis house, as it is close to most of the must-vistit sights and best restaurants in kyoto. we had a wonderfull wintertime in kyoto and were happy in the very cold evenings to enjoy the cosiness in this place. thanks also curtis for your nice dvd collection! it is great to close a long day with some hot sake , seeing THE GEISHA and being reminded of all the beautiful impressions one got during the day. i will be back, but next time in summer to enjoy the great rooftop!
  • 01/11/09
    Positive Rating
    Michelle Bromwich , Sydney, Australia
    • We have stayed in "Gion House" for a whole week, and it has exceeded our expectations. We knew that the location was going to be excellent even before we arrived, but this was most appreciated when we got here - central to all the locations we wanted to see, close to the action, yet in such a quiet street that noise was never an issue. Not only did the location exceed our expectations, but so did the house - well-appointed, clean, and with all the facilities we could want. The bicycles came in very handy, especially during the busy holiday long weekend meant incredible crowds on the streets/roads, but bicycles allowed "zipping" along the small side streets to get to our destinations quickly. The drums/bells from Kenninji Temple at 6 AM every morning was fantastic - yet not loud enough to wake us up! Ayako-san greeted us and warmly welcomed us to the house and gave us instructions that got us orientated and settled in quickly. We would certainly recommend "Gion House" for anyone who wants to visit this great place, in a terrific location, and all the charm of a machiya. We will certainly be back!
  • 01/03/09
    Positive Rating
    Wendy , Seattle, WA USA
    • This apartment was a highlight of our trip to Japan! Not only is the neighborhood amazing and so full of history and culture but the apartment itself is beautiful with a wonderful kitchen, bathroom and living room. There are many shops and restos in the area and it's an inexpensive cab ride to Kyoto station. Thank you Curtis, we hope to visit Kyoto again and would not hesitate to rent you apartment.
  • 11/19/08
    Positive Rating
    Janet Ghattas , Cambridge, MA
    • Gion House is in a perfect location for a stay in Kyoto: we walked from the house to many temple locations, to the subway and the bus terminal while absorbing the traditional culture of the neighborhood. Watching Memoirs of a Geisha on DVD thanks to Curtis was an added plus.
  • 10/27/08
    Positive Rating
    Ann O'Donnell ,
    • Gion House is a fantastic place to stay in Kyoto. Very comfortable in a great location. A taste of traditional Japan!
  • 09/18/08
    Positive Rating
    Gaynor and David , Australia
    • Just returned from 10 days in the machiya. It really is an architectural experience so aesthetically Japanese yet so liveable. There isn't much to say that others haven't said before. The proximity is fantastic. Kyoto is such a bike friendly city it was easy to cycle everywhere. It was great to find the bike parking station next to Isetan at Kyoto Station because it meant we could ride - park the bikes for 150 yen and catch the train to Nara etc. Also the bike parking station one street back from the river by all the restaurants made shopping and eating worry free. For those of you who haven't used VRBO before Curtis makes it all so easy by accepting VISA. So come on Aussies take advantage of the cheap Jetstar airfares. Regards Gaynor

First (10) of (29). View all comments

Dates available: Year Round - See availability calendar.
Before contacting us, please check our calendar for your desired dates.

Note: Each property is individually owned or managed.

Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #105505

There have been 24833 visitors to this page since the counter was last reset in 2006.
This listing was first published here in 2006.

Date last modified - July 04, 2009