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Iho-an (Cottage of Lingering Fragrance) Kyoto Machiya

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Welcome to Iho-an

Welcome to Iho-an Beautiful bedroom with modern double bed and aircon Old Kyoto laneway, quiet- and with its own Buddhist  & Shinto Shrines, very Kitchen, modern, new and clean Cast Iron bath Lounge dining area Genkan, traditional entrance, take your shoes off stairway handmade Shigaraki Pottery ceramic handbasin front entrance room Upstairs loungeroom-traditional blended with the modern and a big comfy sofa Bedroom with round window, caligraphy panel & antique cabinet Upstairs lounge Front door lock detail Heian Jingu and many of Kyoto's sights easy 10 min walk

Calendar

Last updated: 06/18/2013
Check availability
23 Available
21 Unavailable
22 Today
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24 Special offer
  • Minimum stay:Contact owner
  • Internet:Yes
  • Pets allowed:No
  • Wheel chair accessible:No

IHO-AN is a Traditional Kyoto Machiya (townhouse)
IHO means Lingering Fragrance, AN means Cottage. The name came about from the lingering fragrance of incense that sometimes permeates the house from the adjacent temple.

Iho-An is a traditional Kyoto Machiya located down a tiny quiet laneway in an enclave of 12 houses. It has been lovingly restored in the traditional style and furnished with antiques along with modern amenities like air-conditioning, western toilet and modern kitchen. It is fully equipped with a kettle, toaster, hairdryer, linen, towels, microwave, washing machine, dryer, everything you need to make your stay comfortable and enjoyable.

Iho-An is NON-SMOKING.

Iho-an has two stories, upstairs is a large bedroom with a double bed, with adjacent lounge room overlooking Kyoto’s beautiful old tile rooftops. Be aware that the steps are very steep. Downstairs is a dining room with adjacent lounge room with fold down sofa bed. Through the sliding doors is a fully equipped modern kitchen. Also down stairs is the modern toilet and traditional round cast iron Japanese bath set in stonework but with a modern hot water system. WIFI available.

Iho-An is located in the temple district of Kyoto adjacent to Kyoto’s Higashiyama tourist area. The area around the house has many interesting shops and is steeped in Kyoto history. The highlights of Kyoto; Heian Jinju, Kyoto Museum, Nanzenji, Kodaiji and Chion-in Temples, Maruyama Park, Philosophers Path and many more are an easy stroll from Iho-An. There are many interesting cafes, antique shops and specialty shops that make sweets, incense and bags from old kimonos. Fifteen minutes away are the Higashiyama mountains that have superb hiking. Also the upmarket restaurant area of Pontocho along the banks of the Kamagawa River is an easy stroll. This whole area is flat and an easy walk and as with all Kyoto is quiet and perfectly safe.

Iho –An has lots of maps and information on sights and things to do in Kyoto and we are more than happy to help guests plan their itineraries while in Kyoto.


Keywords: House

Property Type

      • House

      Accommodation Type

          • Vacation Rental

          Meals

              • Guests Provide Their Own Meals

              Suitability

              • Non Smoking Only
              • Children Welcome
              • Pets Not Allowed
              • Minimum Age Limit For Renters

              Bedrooms: 1 Bedrooms, Sleeps 4, Beds for 2-4

              • Bedroom 1

                ...moreless

              • Convertible bed(s)

                ...moreless

              • Double Beds (1) Western Style Double bed, Sleep Sofa or Futons (1) Fold down sofa bed downstairs , sleeps one...moreless

              Bathrooms: 1 Bathrooms

              Kitchen & Dining

              • Refrigerator
              • Kitchen
              • Cooking Utensils

              Amenities

              • Clothes Dryer
              • Air Conditioning
              • Linens Provided
              • Washing Machine

              Other Amenities

                  • Kyotos famous gardens, temples, antique shops, restaurants and superb hiking all within a few minutes walk....moreless

                  Entertainment

                  • Television
                  • DVD Player
                  • Video Library

                  Communications

                      • Broadband Access:

                        we have a connection for internet for your computer...moreless

                      Activities

                      • Sight Seeing
                      • Shopping
                      • Hiking
                      • Cycling
                      • Antiquing
                      • Museums
                      • Cinemas
                      • Zoo
                      • Restaurants
                       

                      Reviews

                      Write a review
                      • Excellent location, character accomodation

                        Excellent location, character accomodation

                        • Guest Chris
                        • Date of stay 05/31/13
                        • Review Submitted 06/13/13
                        Iho-an is in an excellent location, very convenient to the train system, it was quite and comfortable and gave a feeling for what old Kyoto would have been like . Wendy and Naoko went out of their way to make our stay as pleasant as possible, we thank them for making the reservation at the Rikichi; we had a wonderful evening at an excellent restaurant. The only catch is if you are a little tall watch out for your head the beams and doorways are low, this is not meant as a negative all of the old machiyas are the same.

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

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

                      • Iho-an - We highly recommend it!

                        Iho-an - We highly recommend it!

                        • Guest Pikachu Australia
                        • Date of stay 12/29/12
                        • Review Submitted 01/24/13
                        We loved our stay here. Here's why - The machiya is in an excellent position for sight seeing in Kyoto. On a previous visit to Kyoto, we stayed in a hotel close to the main train station and found it complicated to get around. Iho-an, on the other hand, is in a great position for sight seeing - within easy walking distance of Gion, Pontocho, Higashiyama temples etc, fantastic. We also preferred it for a more "Japanese experience", rather than staying in a hotel. We caught a taxi to the property after arriving on the shinkansen and it was not expensive, around 1200 yen from memory. The streets are a grid design and, once we had our bearings, we found it really easy to walk around. The machiya itself is gorgeous, carefully renovated so that it's comfortable and pleasing but hasn't lost its character. It also has the modern conveniences of a washing machine (with dryer function) and a great kitchen. The bed upstairs is very comfy and we were really cosy up there in the midst of winter! Even with the heating on however, the downstairs area was a little chilly (remember, midst of winter!) Having said that, the kids were cosy when tucked up in bed under the doonas. And, blissfully, the toilet seat is heated! The area has the conveniences of a supermarket close by, taxis, buses and subway easily accessed, loads and loads of restaurants and (for the kids tired of eating unfamiliar food and adults looking for a nice latte!) MacDonalds is a block away. For an affordable, comfortable, convenient, "full of character" place to stay, you can't go past Iho-an. Before I booked this accommodation, I read a review of Iho-an that said "Just do it". So I did and am so glad. We loved it. :-)

                        Recommended for: Families with teenagers, tourists without a car.

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

                      • Very well located machiya with all you need for a beautiful stay

                        Very well located machiya with all you need for a beautiful stay

                        • Guest Tahiche d.
                        • Date of stay 11/11/12
                        • Review Submitted 12/04/12
                        We found the house to be very clean and well maintained. It had all we need for our stay and if there was something extra that we requested, the owners provided from one day to the next. The location is very good in a quiet neighborhood. You can walk to Gion, Kawaramachi and all the Eastern temples, but there is also a good subway and bus connection. We had a beautiful stay in Kyoto.

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

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

                      • Perfect Location - Kyoto!

                        Perfect Location - Kyoto!

                        • Guest Liz
                        • Date of stay 10/06/12
                        • Review Submitted 10/25/12
                        My husband and I recently traveled to Japan for our honeymoon. We spent 5 nights in Kyoto at the Iho-An Kyoto Machiya. The "machiya" was beautiful and had everything we needed. The location was also perfect. We were able to walk to and from dinner each night and were also very near a station for our day trips. Wendy and Avi were wonderful and extremely welcoming and responsive. I absolutely recommend!

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

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

                      • Great experience!

                        Great experience!

                        • Guest Oceanographer
                        • Date of stay 07/06/12
                        • Review Submitted 07/23/12
                        The apartment is centrally located to the main shopping district and the Gion district. There's a grocery store conveniently located just a few blocks walking from the apartment, and the bus station is also only a short walk from the apartment. Very easy to get around Kyoto from this point. We easily caught trains, the subway, or buses as needed from this place. The apartment is lovely! They even had a few movies in the apartment to watch while I got my body acclimated to the time zone. The landlady is very nice and gracious as well. The one thing that you need is the Japanese version of a map to the apartment, which she provides. It's nearly impossible for a taxi to find without it. I highly recommend this apartment as a vacation spot for a jumping off point to sightseeing, as a place to stay while at a meeting, or just as a quiet getaway in central Kyoto.

                        Recommended for: Age 55+, romantic getaway, girls getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

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

                      • Fantastic and interesting

                        Fantastic and interesting

                        • Guest Grant
                        • Date of stay 06/24/12
                        • Review Submitted 07/08/12
                        We loved every minute of our stay at Wendy and Ari's Kyoto Machiya. Not only was it beautifully renovated, well-appointed, and convenient to the Metro and many sights in the city, it was also interesting to learn about the history of that kind of structure. Have you ever learned something about a city's social history by staying in some generic hotel? Me either. Highly recommended and we will be back if we're in Kyoto again. Oh, and the owners are lovely people, as well. Great communication and near-instantaneous responses to our requests and questions.

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

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

                      • Richard

                        Richard

                        • Guest Richard
                        • Date of stay 05/10/12
                        • Review Submitted 05/25/12
                        My wife and I loved staying at this machiya. It is beautifully and artistically restored and yet very efficient. The location is great, very close to subway and bus line. There is a grocery store a block away, and Suzuki will help with food selection. There is a great restaurant area within walking distance. The kitchen is set up to cook as little or as much as you like. The cottage was clean and ready on arrival. There are bikes to rent including ones at the Hertz shop at the end of Niomon Dori that have an electric power boost. Riding along the river, both levels, going to a few temples, the arcade, you can cover a lot of ground. Watch the Japanese the first day to see how they do it. The owner's book is very helpful and what to do with maps and directions. They were very helpful and prompt. Thank you, Wendy and Avi. We would rec a kaiseki rest, Giro Giro. Sit downstairs! We thought Nara and arashiyama were worth the trip, including the open air train in Arashiyama. We also enjoyed the 11th floor of Iseten dept store, good restaurants, with view of Kyoto tower, Nishiki market, including the famous knife store. We enjoyed our stay at iho an and would recommend it highly, Richard and Mary

                        Recommended for: Age 55+, romantic getaway, adventure seekers, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

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

                      • Iho-an remains at the top of the pile!

                        Iho-an remains at the top of the pile!

                        • Guest hugh campbell
                        • Date of stay 10/09/11
                        • Review Submitted 01/04/12
                        I returned to Iho-an for 5 weeks this autumn after visiting for a short period in 2009. Everything i said then still applies some years on. Still kept in beautiful as new condition, spotlessly clean and full of character, and of the course the position is unbeatable. That Rory is easy to deal with and friendly - just makes it all so easy and appealing. Stay here!

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

                      • Perfect location, great accommodation

                        Perfect location, great accommodation

                        • Guest Scott
                        • Date of stay 02/25/11
                        • Review Submitted 03/21/11
                        How much did I like staying here?: I'm trying to work out just how soon I can go back. This property is immaculately presented, but still looks more like a home than a gallery, which makes it relaxing and inviting. Perfect for taking advantage of the kitchen, washer, dryer, TV, internet, couches, beds, dining room table... It had everything we needed - even with our family of 4 - while still feeling like an authentic Kyoto home with its distinctive style and little artistic touches. The Machiya is in a very quiet neighbourhood - you are unlikely to hear even a car drive down the street or talking neighbours. It's surprising, because it isn't out-of-the-way... The location is great if you plan on spending more than just a day or two in Kyoto. Once you orient yourself to the river and the nearby supermarket (also incredibly handy being just down the street), you'll find it easy to walk to a LOT of Kyoto's great sights. Even our 6-year old had no trouble walking with us to the downtown shopping area of Teramachi (hopping across the river stepping stones rather than taking the bridge), the amazing Kiyomizu mountain temple, the great old streets of Gion and even to the Imperial palace gardens. Of course the fact that there's interesting things to see at almost every turn certainly helps. If you don't mind a stroll, you can save your cab and train money here and walk to so many sights. The owners have provided lots of information on things within the house and beyond - and I'm sure would have helped us with any other request. That was our only problem here: we didn't stay long enough. Five nights could easily have turned into 10 or more. Our trip took us from Kyoto to Nagano (where the kids saw snow for the first time and loved it) and to Tokyo, including all the excitement of Tokyo Disney... yet when we sat down together to look back through our photos, we had more pics of our time in and around Iho-an and Kyoto - and it is Kyoto that the kids want to go back to and Iho-an where they felt at home. I'm with them. To Rory and Sayaka: I hope to book with you again sometime soon. To anyone else considering booking here: do it. ...Just not when I want to stay :)

                        Recommended for: Families with young children, age 55+, romantic getaway, families with teenagers, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

                        Owner response: Thanks Scott for the great review, im glad you all enjoyed Iho-an and Kyoto

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

                      • Happy travellers

                        Happy travellers

                        • Guest happy australia
                        • Date of stay 12/01/10
                        • Review Submitted 01/05/11
                        My husband and I stayed in Iho-an for the first week in Dec. We could not say a bad word about it. It was very clean,well equipped and the location is fantastic. Rory is fabulous to deal with. We will definitely stay here again on our return to Kyoto or perhaps try one of Rory's other apartments.

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

                        Owner response: Thanks very much, i hope to see you again.

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

                       
                      Normal season Rate
                      Yen 15,000/night for 2 people (3 night minimum)
                      Yen 18,000/night for 3 people: Yen 20,000/night for 4 people (3 night minimum)
                      High season Rate 
                      Yen 18,000/night for 2 people (3 night minimum)
                      Yen 21,000/night for 3 people (3 night minimum); Yen 23,000/night for 4 people 
                      High season is as below
                      Jul.13-16, Aug.13-18, Dec.29-Jan.3, Mar.30-Apr.7
                      

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


                      This owner accepts: Credit cards.
                      Call the owner directly to confirm reservation details and pay with an approved method (credit card, check, or bank transfer), to protect your payment up to $1,000.

                       

                      Calendar

                      Last updated: 06/18/2013
                      Check availability
                      23 Available
                      21 Unavailable
                      22 Today
                      23 Selected dates
                      24 Special offer
                       

                      Location

                       

                      Owner info

                      Year Purchased: 2009

                      About the owner: As guests at Iho-An, you can benefit not only from the great setting of the house, but also from your hosts’ extensive knowledge and experience of tourism and travel in Japan – Avi and Wendy also own and run “Windows to Japan”, a specialist tour agency which opens authentic, soul stirring windows to Japan for independent travelers. From planning to operating and guiding tours in Japan to hosting guests at Iho-An, Avi and Wendy take great pleasure in introducing visitors to the real Japan and focusing on the individual requirements and wishes of all their guests.


                      Contact us

                      • Primary: + +81 757112527 (Japan)
                      • Secondary: +81 9063701921

                       

                      Photos

                      • Welcome to Iho-an

                        Welcome to Iho-an

                      • Old Kyoto laneway, quiet- and with its own Buddhist  & Shinto Shrines, very

                        Old Kyoto laneway, quiet- and with its own Buddhist & Shinto Shrines, very

                      • Cast Iron bath

                        Cast Iron bath

                      • Genkan, traditional entrance, take your shoes off

                        Genkan, traditional entrance, take your shoes off

                      • handmade Shigaraki Pottery ceramic handbasin

                        handmade Shigaraki Pottery ceramic handbasin

                      • Upstairs loungeroom-traditional blended with the modern and a big comfy sofa

                        Upstairs loungeroom-traditional blended with the modern and a big comfy sofa

                      • Front door lock detail

                        Front door lock detail

                      • Beautiful bedroom with modern double bed and aircon

                        Beautiful bedroom with modern double bed and aircon

                      • Kitchen, modern, new and clean

                        Kitchen, modern, new and clean

                      • Lounge dining area

                        Lounge dining area

                      • stairway

                        stairway

                      • front entrance room

                        front entrance room

                      • Bedroom with round window, caligraphy panel & antique cabinet

                        Bedroom with round window, caligraphy panel & antique cabinet

                      • Upstairs lounge

                        Upstairs lounge

                      • Heian Jingu and many of Kyoto's sights easy 10 min walk

                        Heian Jingu and many of Kyoto's sights easy 10 min walk

                      Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #259026

                      There have been  visitors to this page since the counter was last reset in .
                      This listing was first published here in 2009.
                      Date last modified - Friday, May 24, 2013

                      16

                      1 Bedroom / 1 Bathroom
                      Sleeps 4


                      Dates are unavailable
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                      Owner

                      + +81 757112527 (Japan)

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                      This owner accepts credit cards
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