Apple House - for the City, Temples, Shrines and Mountains!

Location: When you visit Kyoto, Japan's capital city for about 1,000 years, why not have a real Japanese experience instead of staying in yet another hotel? Our comfortable Apple House is located in Shugakuin on the east side of Kyoto City. It is in a peaceful residential area, yet benefits from a variety of local amenities and easy public transport links to all parts of the city. After a busy day full of sightseeing, come home and sleep extremely well. Do not panic at the thought of "living in Japan"! We live very near and will collect you from the local subway station and help you settle in. The house has clear instructions in English about things such as the washing machine, Japanese bathtub and DVD player, plus plenty of English maps etc. During your stay, we are always nearby. Guests from overseas tell us how "easy to live in" the house is. You will feel at home quickly. ( Please read the positive comments left by people who have stayed with us ). Shugakuin has three good supermarkets, a 7-11 ( 24 hour ), two bakeries, coffee shops, restaurants, liquor stores, a post-office, banks etc. Access and Getting Around: Kyoto is a compact city with tremendous public transport. It is a LOT smaller than Tokyo, and all areas of the city are easily accessible. Apple House is a five-minute walk from the nearest bus stop. From here the regular Number 5 bus ( every 10 minutes for most of the day ) takes you south along Kyoto's famous east side, past Ginkakuji ( The Silver Temple ), the north edge of the Gion district and through the congested city centre to Kyoto Station. From Shugakuin station you can easily access Gion, Kiyomizu Temple and Fushimiinari Shrine by train ( Gion about 20 minutes ). Central Osaka is at the end of the line ( one hour ). Taxis from Gion to Apple House cost approximately ¥2,200 in the early hours of the morning. Most Kyotoites get around by bicycle, and this really is the best way to get around the city. We provide two modern six-speed bicycles with baskets for you to explore the narrow streets. It is along the quiet side streets that you will find the "true" Kyoto - local people going about their daily business, chidren playing on roads, elderly people dressed in "kimono" or "yukata", tiny shrines and hundreds of old wooden buildings. Accommodation: Apple House is a detached house with its own private entrance. The entrance hall has a modern Western-style ( heated seat! ) toilet off it, and leads into the kitchen area. Four people can comfortably sit and eat in the kitchen. Next to the kitchen is a traditional "tatami" mat living room with a low table and chairs. Also downstairs is the bathroom. Upstairs consists of two more "tatami" mat rooms. These are separated by thin sliding doors ( "fusuma" ). Please note that access to the second bedroom is through the first bedroom. Guests sleep on Japanese futons placed directly on the floor. Extra supportive mattresses are provided for people who are used to softer sleeps. So many of our guests comment on how well they sleep at night. The house has lots of information and maps in English about the area, getting around etc. Come and enjoy a piece of real Japan in this special part of Kyoto! See our website for more information and pictures. Keywords: House