Vacation Rentals by Owner

Machiya Townhouse - Comfort and Privacy in the Heart of Eastern Kyoto. [#256223ha] | View Property

Kyoto
Two bedrooms, full bath, kitchen, living, sleeps 4 (up to 6 with children)

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Traveler Reviews (24)

• Spacious house

  Spacious house

  • Guest Alyeska S.
  • Date of stay 04/25/13
  • Review Submitted 05/13/13
  The house was located along the Shirakawa river, which is nice, with lots of tree. We also found several ducks playing on the river. Bring your amenities, coz there are only some leftovers from previous occupant. The problem I had is that I think the house was not cleaned well enough. Maybe because Suisenkyo was very busy, and the cleaner didn't have enough time to clean it all. I had to scrub the cooking utensil and clean some of the spiderweb. The heated toilet seat is not working. The hot water is really superr!!! We love it!!! If you are coming back late at night, don't be surprised, you will be welcomed by a white dog guarding the house in front of you. There is no iron, so be prepared to have your shirt wrinkled when you washed your laundry. The lovely Yuko, gave us a lot of ideas of touring around the neighborhood. Too bad we didn't have the chance to check out the old market near the house. When we stroll around the market it was Sunday and lots of shops were closed.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• giving the extra yard

  giving the extra yard

  • Guest Erik S.
  • Date of stay 04/11/13
  • Review Submitted 04/28/13
  The accomodation is everything you need to have a wonderful, authentic stay in Kyoto. The owners are very helpful people, they provided everything and all information we needed, even arranged an appointment for me, and went too extensive lenght to have our medicine send to Tokyo after we forgot it in the house. Thanks for everything

  Owner response: Thank you Erik, and we enjoyed hosting you during your time in Kyoto. We consider that an important part of our service to guests is to help with special needs. We were happy to arrange express delivery of your medicine bag to the Tokyo Airport hotel. It was inconvenient that you forgot something important, but lucky that we were able to get it to you the next day, before you left the country. I hope that we have a chance to host you or your family and friends in the future. -M.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• Nice stay in kyoto

  Nice stay in kyoto

  • Guest Estella S.
  • Date of stay 11/29/12
  • Review Submitted 12/13/12
  Shirakawa Machiya was perfect for us (4 adults and 1 kid), Mike and Yuko are very nice and helpful before and during our stays. The walking map and advises, which provided by Yuko, are very useful. We are very enjoy to stay in this lovely local area. Mike has helped us to fix the bicycles, therefore we can cycling around. This is a very good experiences in Kyoto for us. If I have chance to go Kyoto again, I would stay in Shirakawa Machiya. Thanks Mike and Yuko.

  Owner response: Thank you again, it was great to meet you, and we are happy that you enjoyed everything. Many guests do not use the bikes because the location is so central, but we are happy that we can offer them for people like yourselves who want to explore the city. We would be happy to host you again anytime you or your family/friends come to our wonderful city. Mike and Yuko

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/3

• Lovely reasonably priced Kyoto machiya.

  Lovely reasonably priced Kyoto machiya.

  • Guest Meng
  • Date of stay 09/10/12
  • Review Submitted 09/30/12
  Mike and Yuko are both absolutely lovely to deal with. Yuko came over to the house on our first day there and gave us a lot of very useful tips about Kyoto. She also gave us probably the most useful walking map of Kyoto that you could ever get. They had plenty of information available about Kyoto and around including guide books as well. The air conditioning was very much appreciated as temperatures were high while we were there. Also handy having the washing machine and a place to hang our clothes out to dry in the balcony. It was the perfect place to stay at especially since we were there for 8 days all in all. There is a market nearby and Lawsons convenience store is only just round the corner. Subway station and train stations are also nearby. The bicycles also came in handy though watch out for the tyres as they may require a bit of pumping before use. Cycling in Japan is great as you are allowed to cycle on the pedestrian pathways but do watch out for the aggresive ladies on the road!

  Owner response: Thank you so much, it was wonderful to host you during your time in Kyoto. We truly enjoy meeting guests and sharing our knowledge of this amazing city. There is so much to see and do that we are still discovering new gems all the time. It is especially useful to check with the locals when you have some specific souvenir or handicraft shopping to do, and we are always happy to help. September was still quite warm this year as you mentioned -- the late fall is our favorite time in Kyoto, we hope that you come see us again sometime. We appreciate your comments and tips on cycling as well. Again, we are very pleased that you found the Shirakawa Machiya townhouse comfortable, and we'll be happy to serve you or your family and friends in the future, here or at one of our other holiday rentals.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/3

• Maison typique pleine d'atout

  Maison typique pleine d'atout

  • Guest laurence l.
  • Date of stay 07/22/12
  • Review Submitted 07/27/12
  Maison très fonctionnelle, très bien placée et très calme tout en étant à 5mn à pieds du centre de GION en longeant un joli cours d'eau. Les chambres sont spacieuses, la machine à laver le linge est un grand plus en vacances et le prêt de vélos nous a permis de visiter tout kyoto avec le plus grand plaisir. Plein de très bons restaurants à proximité, la ligne de métro à 2mn.. Bref, une adresse à conseiller.. D'autant plus que les propriétaires sont charmants

  Owner response: Merci beaucoup, c'était fantastique de vous rencontrer. Nous espérons vous voir encore un certain temps si vous venez à Kyoto. Nous avons également apprécié vous aider à trouver le gâteau d'anniversaire et les achats que vous recherchez. Je vous remercie pour votre gentillesse et encore, nous vous remercions d'avoir choisi Suisenkyo. Good luck in the future and we hope you have many fond memories of your time in Kyoto.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/3

• The perfect family holiday

  The perfect family holiday

  • Guest Emily
  • Date of stay 05/03/12
  • Review Submitted 05/30/12
  With three boys (7,5,3) the machiya was perfect for our Kyoto adventure. The walks along the nearby river, discoveries of nearby shrines and a 15 min walk to the centre of town, made it easy for our family take it easy and enjoy the sites. Bus stops and subway 5 mind away, restaurants the same distance and bikes to ride when we wanted to entire further. Kitchen is comfortable and easy to use, T.V.was a hit for the kids favorite Japanese shows. Our regret is that we stayed only three nights. Looking forward to our next visit.

  Owner response: We are very happy that you stayed at the Shirakawa Machiya, and hope that you come again sometime. The location is really the best aspect of the Shirakawa house, besides the comfort of the house itself. We are constantly making improvements based on guests needs, so if you come again you'll find that it just keeps getting better. I'm happy that you enjoyed exploring the area. It really is great to be so close to 24 hour convenience stores, downtown, and the subway, yet still in a cosy neighborhood next to the canal. I can imagine the kids enjoyed the park just downstream, and in the summer you can wade around in the water looking for interesting rocks, frogs, etc. Take care and good luck in your future travels.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 5/5

• Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!

  Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!

  • Guest Shuhua
  • Date of stay 01/31/12
  • Review Submitted 02/11/12
  ??? ???????????? Kyoto is really traditional and beautiful to do sightseeing. Thanks Yuko and Mike to provide such an old-style house,called Machiya, for us…… We enjoyed experiencing the traditional life in Kyoto very much. When we reached the guesthouse, Yuko and Mike had already prepared three bikes for us. We did ride the bikes to explore lots of attractions. The position of the guesthouse was excellent for us to get to subway, bus stop, convenient store, temples, shrines, and Gion easily. Besides, in the house, Yuko was considerate of all guests’ demand. She had written down all directions of electronic equipment . It helped us much easier to use the devices. Cooking facilities in the kitchen were good for us to make breakfast and supper. The washing machine worked to wash and dry clothes, then we hung up the laundry in the balcony. The Machiya guesthouse was really like my house in Taiwan. And we enjoyed it. Yuko gave us lots of helpful information and advice in the second day. We went to a lot of attractions that she recommended. Thanks Yuko again. In the last day, my brother missed the plane and felt nervous at that time. But Yuko and Mike let him to stay an extra night at no charge. He was very grateful for Yuko & Mike’s help. We had such a very good time in Kyoto. Thanks Yuko ? Mike very much again. ??? ????????????

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 6/6

• Perfect stay.

  Perfect stay.

  • Guest Dave T.
  • Date of stay 09/02/11
  • Review Submitted 01/04/12
  Great staying in a older style house and living in a local neighbourhood. We loved the way it has been renovated - but still has the feel of what Kyoto would have been like many years ago. There are many temples and shrines only a short distance from the house, an unexpected bonus was the art galleries we came across in the area. Used the kitchen mainly for breakfasts, and got other meals from restaurants, although you could prepare a good meal using the facilities. There is a covered market a short distance away for fresh produce and other supplies. The house is in walking distance to lots of local attractions, and only a few stops on the subway to the city. We also made good use of the bikes to explore parts of Kyoto we may never have seen otherwise. We were two couples, so staying here was much cheaper and more space than two hotel rooms. (And the beds were much more comfortable than in the hotels we stayed - those were only a bit softer than the floor.) We stayed for eight nights and used the house as a base, travelling to other cities on our JR pass. Yuko was very helpful, met us on our arrival and gave us lots of advice. Thanks Yuko.

  Owner response: Thank you so much, we are very happy that you enjoyed your time in Kyoto. We are constantly making improvements on our rentals and have big plans for bathroom renovations this off-season. We hope that if you or your friends and family return to Kyoto you'll find just what you need at Suisenkyo. We're also happy that you commented on the high quality bedding, which we think is the most important part of a holiday rental. Good luck with your continued travels and we'll see you again.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 8/9

• Family Stay

  Family Stay

  • Guest paul c.
  • Date of stay 08/02/11
  • Review Submitted 09/05/11
  A little frayed round the edges, but still very comfortable and absolutely ideal for immersing in the historic areas of Kyoto..... so much within walking distance and the atmosphere around Chion In temple was not surpassed anywhere we visited. Kyoto is probably the most beautiful city we have ever visited (and we've travelled widely in Europe and North Africa), and this little Machiya was ideal and added greatly to the experience. Very fond memories for the three of us.

  Recommended for: Tourists without a car, sightseeing.

  Owner response: Thank you very much for your comments, and we are very happy that you enjoyed your time in Kyoto, especially the area around Higashiyama. If you come back again I'm sure you'll find that the Shirakawa machiya townhouse continues to get better with each passing season. This summer we have made improvements and done maintenance in the garden and bath area. We changed the sofa recently and added a flat-screen digital TV for those who like to sample the local television. Good luck in your continuing travels, and we would love to see you in Kyoto again.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 8/8

• Great "Ninja" house

  Great "Ninja" house

  • Guest Alex
  • Date of stay 06/09/11
  • Review Submitted 06/22/11
  Our family (with 3 kids - 11, 9 and 6) all enjoyed our stay at what the kids called the "ninja" house. They enjoyed the stairways, bath and toilet all hidden away by secret doors. As others have said, the ceilings are a little low for tall > 6 foot people, but Mike and Yuko have placed rubber bumpers in key areas so it doesn't hurt, and it is all just part of the charm of living in a Japanese house. The location is really great, easy access to the subway, tourist spots, food, etc. Good restaurants are only a short walk away.

  Recommended for: Families with young children, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

  Owner response: Thank you for your kind comments. Yes, the machiya style houses of that era have lower doorways than we taller people are accustomed to, but as you say, that is part of the charm. Well done travelling the world with your three kids!

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 4/4

• Springtime in Kyoto

  Springtime in Kyoto

  • Guest J, D and K
  • Date of stay 04/02/11
  • Review Submitted 04/21/11
  We spent 10 days in early April 2011 in this charmingly funky machiya and had a truly great time. As other reviewers have said, the location can't be beat. Incredibly convenient. The cherry blossoms are everywhere. There are NO adverse impacts in Kyoto from the earthquake, tsunami or radiation issues. Now is a great time to visit. The machiya is nicely equipped. Very handy to have the small kitchen and the washing machine during our relatively long stay. The stairs to the upstairs bedrooms are steep and narrow, which can make going to the bathroom in the middle of the night a real adventure! But this sure beats staying in a hotel! We're really happy with our whole experience.

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

  Owner response: Thank you so much for your kindness and we are truly honored that you enjoyed Kyoto and our accommodation. We sincerely hope that we are able to help you or your friends and family when they come to Japan in the future. It was a pleasure to meet you as well; another fantastic aspect of operating our rentals is that we have a chance to share a place we love with travelers such as yourselves. Good luck with everything in the future, -M

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 6/6

• Loved our little home

  Loved our little home

  • Guest The Incredibles
  • Date of stay 01/19/11
  • Review Submitted 02/03/11
  Suisenkyo Shirakawa was just perfect for our family (2 adults, 3 kids aged 5, 10, 13). We felt we were living like locals in Kyoto, being able to relax in our home, rather than being in a sterile hotel. We stayed for 5 nights in January, and would have enjoyed an even longer stay. All facilities we needed were in the house, and it was clean and well looked after - heating, laundry, kitchen facilities were all great. The location is perfect - short walk to convenience stores, subway station, post office, restaurants, temples, and even the local Sento (Japanese public bath). Mike and Yuko were very helpful to us, from beginning to end, and our son got a real buzz from his unexpected birthday present from Mike and Yuko (thanks again). Recommended to anyone who's willing to let go of 5 star luxury and go for 5 star Kyoto living experience.

  Recommended for: Families with teenagers, families with young children, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

  Owner response: Great to hear from you, and we are always grateful to be a part of someone's positive experience in our wonderful city. It was also nice to meet your children and see you having the kind of action-packed holiday adventure that we enjoy too. You are one of a growing number who are finding that mixing a ski holiday with a week (or more) of culture and relaxed living in Kyoto is a winning combination! We certainly appreciate that you enjoyed having your own "home" during your stay -- it makes all the difference when you want to experience the city like a local. Stay in touch and thanks again! -M

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/3

• Great base location for the Japan trip

  Great base location for the Japan trip

  • Guest Peter
  • Date of stay 12/18/10
  • Review Submitted 12/29/10
  We loved Kyoto. The blend of the old and the new comes together in perfect harmony. I don't typically write reviews, but we had a great time at the Shirakawa Machiya townhouse. We loved the character of the house, and absolutely enjoyed its location. It is situated next to a stream that has ambiance light next to it which is absolutely gorgeous at night. The proximity to the subway is a huge plus. For foreign travelers, make sure you get the JR pass prior to going to Japan. It is absolutely worth it. I am glad we were able to call this very nice townhouse home for about 6 days, and it was also definitely affordable comparing to hotel stays. Thank you for a great experience.

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

  Owner response: Thank you so much, we are very happy that you enjoyed Kyoto, the area, and the machiya! It was a pleasure meeting you. Please come again in a different season, Kyoto has a lot to offer at all times of the year. We appreciate your business and comments.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/3

• Great value

  Great value

  • Guest dvd
  • Date of stay 11/14/10
  • Review Submitted 01/27/11
  This is a great value stay for the price. The place is clean and has a well-loved feel. It's a little dark (which probably can't be helped) and could use some freshening up, but we spent 6 nights here and really enjoyed the stay. The location is the best aspect - quiet, but very close to some of the major temples and only a short walk from town. Highly recommended.

  Recommended for: Girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/3

• Good accommodations, character, and location

  Good accommodations, character, and location

  • Guest Richard
  • Date of stay 11/11/10
  • Review Submitted 12/12/10
  Quiet, perfectly clean, comfortable, plenty of character. The description is accurate. It had everything we needed, and had vastly more personality than a standard hotel. I recommend this place, and especially so for those who want a more Japanese experience in their visit. We were there in cold weather, so the several heaters were welcome and completely sufficient. The bathroom was chilly, so we were grateful for the heated toilet seat. Food shops nearby are convenient for buying prepared food, or for buying food to cook in the kitchen. The subway is within close walking distance. Tall people (I'm 6'2") have to keep low to avoid bumping their heads. Steep steps not for the infirm.

  Recommended for: Tourists without a car, sightseeing.

  Owner response: Thank you very much Richard. You are correct about the doorways and stairs of machiya, (I'm 190cm so have a lot of practice too!) but that is part of the charm and style of Japanese traditional buildings... We enjoyed meeting you very much and hope to see you again in Kyoto sometime. Good luck with your future travels. -MB

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/3

• Accurate description and good customer service

  Accurate description and good customer service

  • Guest Ingrid
  • Date of stay 07/17/10
  • Review Submitted 08/11/10
  Ideally situated with the amenities you need during a one week or longer stay. Very nice and forthcoming owners. Just one disadvantage: it was not clean. However this is something that can be dealt with.

  Recommended for: Families with teenagers, families with young children, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

  Owner response: Thank you for your review, and we are happy that you enjoyed your time in Kyoto. We are disappointed that the house was not cleaned properly for your family, and we have dealt with the matter. If necessary we will change our cleaning staff in order to provide the highest possible service. We appreciate your comments.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• Great house, great location.

  Great house, great location.

  • Guest ozkingy
  • Date of stay 04/12/10
  • Review Submitted 04/26/10
  Myself, my wife and our 2 kids, aged 7 and 4, stayed here for a week. It was such a great spot and a lovely, cosy house. It was perfect for the 4 of us and had enough room for us to spread out and relax. The kids LOVED the big bath tub and the friendly dog across the lane. There were some excellent places to eat, and the street market only 3 minutes walk away was great for picking up yummy food for meals. The subway access was great - 2 minute walk - and buses to major sights are very easy to use. We had a super time and would most definitely use the house again if/when we return to visit Kyoto. Thanks!

  Recommended for: Families with young children, sightseeing.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 5/5

• Excellent , nice and clean

  Excellent , nice and clean

  • Guest Marcelo
  • Date of stay 02/26/10
  • Review Submitted 10/09/10
  Excellent , great location , very confortable nice experience , would stay there again.

  Recommended for: Families with teenagers, families with young children, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2

• Jan 13 - 20, 2010

  Guest comment entered by owner

  Jan 13 - 20, 2010

  • Guest Gene and family, Sydney
  • Date of stay 01/20/10
  • Review Submitted 01/26/10
  We enjoyed every moment of our week in Kyoto and leave wanting very much to return and experience more of this fascinating city. Your lovely house was just perfect for our family -- so well placed and so comfortable to return to after our long days out and about. The cozy quilts, super hot water and very efficient heaters were all much appreciated, as we arrived from the height of a Sydney summer to find Kyoto in the the grip of winter chill. It was wonderful to feel just a little of what it must be like to be a local -- we felt rather sorry for other visitors who had to return "home" to a hotel room at the end of their day. We managed to cram a great deal into our short time here -- besides day trips to Himeji castle and Nara (the girls bowed to every deer in the park!) we enjoyed Arashiyama, the serene gardens, the bamboo forests, the monkey park, Yasaka, a carnival Sunday morning, and the list goes on and on.... we will certainly be back!! Thank you so much for providing such special accommodation, and we wish you all the best,

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 5/5

• A Wonderful Trip

  Guest comment entered by owner

  A Wonderful Trip

  • Guest Mike and family, Arizona, USA
  • Date of stay 01/11/10
  • Review Submitted 01/26/10
  This past week has been a wonderful trip for us. We decided to visit Japan for an anniversary/family vacation and it has been a very memorable one. I'm so grateful we found you guys as this was a great home away from home for us! The kids enjoyed it and loved this little house. Perfect location as we got to visit so many places from the Imperial Palace to Universal Studios, old Kyoto to the shopping area and more! Would love to stay longer than six days as this is starting to feel like home but you're definitely on our list for places we'd love to to visit again & would recommend you to anyone. Oh, and the kids loved the shower/deep tub!! My favorite. I love that I feel so at peace and relaxed here. Thank you!

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/3

• Great base in Kyoto

  Great base in Kyoto

  • Guest Wardswizard
  • Date of stay 12/13/09
  • Review Submitted 12/27/09
  Great base in Kyoto. We stayed a week and could have stayed longer. Lovely location. Close to subway and buses yet very peaceful and quiet. Easy connection to JR Kyoto station. Taxi to and from station very reasonably priced when carting luggage. Comfy beds and good shower/bath facilities. Kitchen ample for needs and shopping for groceries is close by. Good heating for cold weather in all rooms except bathroom (we are sooks from Queensland in Australia!!!). Good lighting for reading. Good travel reference books available for use (Walks in Kyoto particularly helpful for planning day trips). Didn't need phone or internet use but are available and it's good to know that Mike and Yuko are available if needed. Great to be able to stay in a home rather than a hotel.

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 4/4

• Great base for staying in Kyoto

  Guest comment entered by owner

  Great base for staying in Kyoto

  • Guest Kerryn + Martyn
  • Date of stay 12/06/09
  • Review Submitted 12/13/09
  Thanks, Mike, the heating was great - quickly warmed up the place on those cold mornings and evenings for us from hot Queensland Australia.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• Fantastic place to stay in Kyoto

  Fantastic place to stay in Kyoto

  • Guest Gilena
  • Date of stay 10/30/09
  • Review Submitted 11/10/09
  What you see in the pictures is what you will find: a very romantic place. The house has everything to enjoy your stay. Maybe a bit cold but you have all you need to warm it. The location is perfect. Quiet and secure. The owners are really nice and helpfull. We highly recommend this place.

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• Fantastic placer and great location

  Guest comment entered by owner

  Fantastic placer and great location

  • Guest Karen, Paul, Melissa + Conner
  • Date of stay 09/24/09
  • Review Submitted 12/13/09
  Our Children (and us) were much happier here than in hotels. The machiya is set up brilliantly and had all we needed. Thanks again, we'll recommend it to others.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0