Escape to Kyoto!

Guest: Casey H.
Date of Stay: 03/27/11 Review Submitted: 06/28/11

Which is literally what we did, in a sense, when I decided get my wife and two young sons away from the blackouts and aftershocks shortly after the 3/11 Great Tohoku Earthquake hit. (We live just SW of Tokyo) I couldn't help but feel we just really lucked out since finding this place online and available on such short notice. We received top-notch customer service from Mike from the time we first made contact online till saying goodbye at the cottage gate. When we had a request or question they were on it within minutes of hanging up the phone. Seriously big hotels would do well to take a page out of their customer service handbook! And while finding our way around is usually not a problem since my wife is Japanese, we were able to get in more sightseeing and see some really neat places not always found in travel books thanks to Mike and Yuko's suggestions and their taking the time to tell us the best train/bus routes. As for the cottage itself it's perfect for a family with kids. Our first impression was the location. Listen. It's perfect! The place itself was clean and has everything one needs sans all the sirens and bells that just get in the way of enjoying all that Kyoto has to offer. Our boys LOVED the loft and running around outside on the riverbank as well. I really couldn't have found a better place for our young sons, yet often caught myself thinking how cool it'd have been to stay in a place like this back in my pre-married backpack through countries in Asia years too. The kitchen had everything we needed, which saved money by not having to eat out all the time; and having access to a washing machine allowed us to pack light and not have to trudge around Kyoto in stinky underpants! The distance to bus stops and the train station is ideal--far enough away that you don't even know they're there yet near enough that the peaceful, short riverside walk getting to them is like green tea ice cream for the soul. (not to mention great for allowing kids to burn off excess energy before having to sit on the bus/train). Oh and be sure to ask Mike or Yuko about the Onigiri place near the train station. My wife still talks about it--best rice balls in Kyoto! Needless to say we've found "our place" in Kyoto and will definitely be back. But feel free to use it till we return. I've already recommended staying here to a few Kyoto-bound friends.

Owner response:Thanks very much, we enjoyed hosting you very much and look forward to having you back any time. Our boys enjoyed meeting your children as well. The Kamo cottage was designed specifically with travelers like yourselves in mind, so we are very pleased that it worked out well for you! In your generous review you pointed out all of the points we find so appealing about the Kamo location; the riverside, convenience, nature, comfort, and privacy. We were impressed that you got so much accomplished during your Kyoto holiday - everything from the steam locomotive train museum to the "10 yen coin building" that your son kept talking about! We'll certainly look forward to seeing you again, and next time we'll have to arrange a kids hike up in Kurama!

Recommended for:Tourists without a car, sightseeing, adventure seekers, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Wonderful

Guest: Jesse (United States)
Date of Stay: 05/14/11 Review Submitted: 06/20/11

We had a wonderful 2 weeks in Kyoto staying here. The room is small but very nice. low on storage space, but they still managed a functional kitchen and the beds were comfortable. Living on the river was wonderful. Subways stops are close and easy but we spent most of our time getting around on the bicycles provided.

Owner response:Thank you, it was nice to meet you and I'm happy that you enjoyed the riverside location (jogging daily!) as well as the use of bikes -- as you know it is one of the best ways to explore Kyoto.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, adventure seekers.

Great location!

Guest: kgwa (Vancouver)
Date of Stay: 05/04/11 Review Submitted: 05/17/11

Kamo Riverhouse was clean, comfortable, and in a great location. Just as advertised: right by the river, spacious loft with comfortable futon (if you enjoy sleeping on firmer mattresses, which I do), and super close to attractions. The property came with bikes, which was awesome, since Kyoto is too big to do by footwork alone, but just right with a bike. Small snafu occurred upon arrival; owners were away and the lockbox was jammed. Quickly resolved, but hopefully the lockbox will be replaced...otherwise the combination plus a well-placed smash will solve all. Property provided some information about the area, but was a little out-of-date and one of the maps needed addendum by the owners, so I would recommend picking up some maps & local info at Kyoto Station when convenient. Would definitely recommend! Also, there's an amazing handmade onigiri place nearby the metro station on the other branch of the river; just around the corner from the Lotteria - look for the yellow sign with the drawn rice balls. Best find! Thanks for the great Kyoto experience, Mike & Yuko!

Owner response:Thanks a lot Erin, it was great to meet you and I'm glad that you enjoyed Kyoto. Sorry about the key box jamming, it has been replaced. We do our best to keep up with seasonal changes in the tourist information and provide the best maps and guidebooks that we can, but as you said it is a good idea to go to the T.I.C. at Kyoto station, it is a fantastic resource. For those who prefer western bedding rather than the double futons in the loft, the queen bed in the main living space is very comfortable as well. Thank you for your input, we always enjoy meeting visitors and your comments help us to provide the best service possible. Good luck in your future travels and I hope that we see you or your friends and family again sometime.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway.

local touches made the difference

Guest: Fritz (San Francisco)
Date of Stay: 03/15/11 Review Submitted: 03/21/11

Mike and Yuko made me feel at home and provided me everything I needed to discover the gems that Kyoto has to offer. The included bike rentals, laundry, and local reccomendations were much appreciated and they really helped me learn about Japan despite my non-existant Japanese. I enjoyed my stay at their property so much I am changing plans to return to Kyoto before I leave Japan!

Owner response:Thank you, it was great to meet you too. Our boys enjoyed talking with you as well. There is no place quite like Kyoto in the spring. We are happy that you are making the most of your time in Japan despite the bad news from the far-away Northeast. Please remember that we in the tourist industry are donating generously to the relief effort, so by not cancelling your trip, you have made a difference! See you again next week!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, adventure seekers, families with young children.

Very Welcoming

Guest: Habari (Delhi, India)
Date of Stay: 02/28/11 Review Submitted: 03/08/11

Mike and Yuko were very helpful with everything and we had a great time staying at the Kamo House. Our luggage reached Osaka as expected thanks to Yuko helping us send it.The location was just perfect next to the river and the view of the snow covered mountains was just unforgettable. Me and my husband had a wonderful three days in Kyoto. The house had all basic requirements for cooking, etc and even though it was cold the heater was quite adequate.Thanks for everything!

Owner response:Thank you so much, it was nice to have you stay with us, and we're really happy that you enjoyed being next to the Kamo river -- it's fantastic for people like you who enjoy going for a run, cycle, or stroll in the mornings. If you have a favorite photo that captures the essence of the Kamo cottage, please send it and I will post it for the benefit of future guests. Good luck with you future travels, and hopefully we'll see you again if you come to Japan for the next Tokyo Marathon!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with teenagers.

Kamo Cottage - Wonderful oasis in Kyoto

Guest: Ryan (Washington, DC)
Date of Stay: 02/09/11 Review Submitted: 03/04/11

My wife and I spent 9 days in Kyoto in February and had a wonderful time at the Kamo Cottage. Easy access to Kyoto's excellent bus and subway system, and just steps from the lovely Kamo river. Comfortable and convenient, it hardly gets better than this.

Recommended for:

Highly recommend, great time, great people.

Guest: Julie (Queensland, Australia)
Date of Stay: 12/19/10 Review Submitted: 02/11/11

What an awesome time we had. Perfect accomodation for 2-3 people or a small family. Beautiful spot by the Kamo River. Mike and Yuko ( and kids of course) are lovely and very helpful. Would highly recommend and would love to visit again. Marcus and Julie :)

Owner response:Thank you and we are so happy that you enjoyed your "home away from home" over the Christmas / New Year holiday. Please come back again anytime!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, families with young children.

Suisen-Kyo Kamo River cottage

Guest: Roger (Honolulu)
Date of Stay: 10/30/10 Review Submitted: 11/12/10

My 7-year-old son and I (male, mid-50s) had a great time here. Mike and Yuko are very nice knowledgeable hosts and their kids were very eager to make friends with my son. The house is very quiet and convenient to public transport. It's quite small, you wouldn't want more than 2 adults and 1 or 2 small kids here, and the loft stairs are probably a bit steep for really young kids, but it was perfect for us. The in-house highlight of our 2-night stay, aside from meeting Mike, Yuko and their family, was falling asleep in the loft on a rainy night with the rain pattering on the roof only about 2 feet above our heads. My son loved it!

Owner response:Thank you very much. We are glad that you enjoyed staying on the riverside, and it was great to meet you. Good luck with everything and we'll see you in Kyoto again sometime.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children.

lovely little place

Guest: dwight (Los Angeles)
Date of Stay: 09/08/09 Review Submitted: 11/10/10

This place has a great location, is very cozy, would be perfect for a couple. It is right on the river, it feels like you are in the country almost, but it is easy to get to all the sites on public transportation or walking. Mike and Yuko are very nice people as well.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children.

Cosy Kyoto Haven

Guest: AussieTraveller55 (Cairns, Queensland, Australia)
Date of Stay: 09/24/10 Review Submitted: 10/14/10

This was our first visit to Kyoto. We were very optimistic about our booked accommodation (found with the help of Mr Google) - and were very pleased with our stay. Communication had been cordial and thorough. Payment via Paypal was easy. The delightful cottage is handy to public transport and withing walking distance of the Imperial Palace (if you don't mind walking). And there is a bicycle path at the back gate with 2 bicycles provided. So pleasant to awaken to birdcalls and the sound of water tumbling over the river weir. There is so much to see and do within walking/cycling distance. Note the the cottage is small and cosy, a bit like living on a boat. And the sleeping loft is upstairs. Mike and Yuko were both very helpful and welcoming. We heartily recommend their Kamo River Cottage.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing.