Perfect Location - Best area of Eastern Kyoto - comfortable family accommodation
Sakara - the characters mean 'cherry blossom', 'aroma', and 'ease/comfort' -- Sakara is unique and original with Japanese decor, private restroom, bath, laundry machine, kitchenette, and high quality western queen sized beds. Free wireless internet signal, local TV, and local phone line standard. Sakara has a common tatami room next to the lobby overlooking a Zen garden. The first floor tatami lounge has complimentary coffee and green tea for guests. We want you to get the most out of your trip to Kyoto. With that in mind we have designed this accommodation especially for the foreign traveler in Kyoto. Traditional styling is important to us, so we have incorporated the Japanese elements we love with an eye to Western comfort. You will enjoy the feel of a classic historical machiya building; natural wood, plaster, paper, and tatami highlighted with Japanese art and furniture.
The Best of Both Worlds: : *** Sakara offers you the convenience of a hotel or Ryokan with the privacy of a house rental. The kitchen allows you to cook as you like. You can do laundry and take a hot bath.
*** Japanese feel and decor are complimented with highest quality bedding, High ceilings and doorways, and personal touches. Art and antiques blend the modern with the traditional.
*** Sakara is walking distance from the Gion district, shops, and subway. There are many nearby cafes and restaurants.
Sakara is great for families. If you have a larger group please contact us for information about other options as well.
*** The Bamboo Suite is ideal for a family or group of four guests.
*** Please contact us directly about discounts for longer stays or options for larger groups.
Add dates for prices
Have a question?
AI iconBetaBeta
Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts cash
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
About the area
Kyoto
Located in Kyoto, this holiday home is in the city centre. Yasaka Shrine and Heian Shrine are notable landmarks, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Lake Biwa and Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. Kyoto Municipal Zoo and Kyoto Gyoen National Garden are also worth visiting. Explore all the area has to offer with cycling and ecotours.
Is Perfect Location - Best area of Eastern Kyoto - comfortable family accommodation pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at Perfect Location - Best area of Eastern Kyoto - comfortable family accommodation?
As of 12 May, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Perfect Location - Best area of Eastern Kyoto - comfortable family accommodation on 1 Jun, 2026 start from S$226, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at Perfect Location - Best area of Eastern Kyoto - comfortable family accommodation?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Perfect Location - Best area of Eastern Kyoto - comfortable family accommodation?
Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Perfect Location - Best area of Eastern Kyoto - comfortable family accommodation?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Perfect Location - Best area of Eastern Kyoto - comfortable family accommodation located?
Located in Higashiyama Ward, this holiday home is within a 10-minute walk of Hanamikoji Street, Yasaka Shrine and Shijo Street. Pontocho Alley and Heian Shrine are also within 15 minutes. Higashiyama Station is only a 2-minute walk and Sanjo Keihan Station is 7 minutes.
Reviews
9.8
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
We can't say enough about our great stay at Sakara. The owners were so helpful in providing suggestions to places to visit and eat and even made reservations to a local restaurant that was awesome!
This machiya-style house allows to experience a bit of authentic Kyoto life. Apartment is sparkling clean.Yuka and Mike are always ready to answer questions and help. Convenient communication via messages. Yuka shared a Google map with site recommendations to visit and local restaurants.
The location was fantastic close to the subway and shops. There was plenty of room and beds were very comfortable. I would highly recommend staying here.
Sue L.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 1 Jun, 2023
Thank you so much for staying with us, and we look forward to hosting you on your next trip!
Highly recommend. Travelled to Kyoto for a three day stay. The area is perfect. Mike and Yuko are available for any questions and very accommodating. I will recommend this stay to anyone I know coming to Kyoto.
Christine H.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025
Verified
10/10 Excellent
ghislaine j.
17 Apr, 2019
Perfect quiet location, in the heart of historical Kyoto
I recommend it!
ghislaine j.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 5 Mar, 2020
Thank you so much! We were very happy to host you and would love to see you or your family and friends another time!
My husband and truly enjoyed our 4 days staying in Sakara's Bamboo Suite. The suite is comfortable and quiet, and very conveniently located. Mike was super pleasant to work with and made checking in and out a breeze. I definitely recommend staying here!
We enjoyed our stay in the Bamboo Suite. It was comfortable and clean. It is a great area and location with many shops and restaurants within walking distance. Our hosts were very helpful and responded quickly to any questions. We would stay again!
Devi M.
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 5 Mar, 2020
Thank you so much Devi, and we were happy to assist with your questions. It's great that you enjoyed Kyoto at the New Year. Sakara is a small family-owned business, and we are doing our best to give our guests a great experience in Kyoto by sharing our "insider" knowledge. Please send your family or friends our way in the future, and come see us again in the warm season!
Mike
Great stay for four of us in the Bamboo suite. Perfect location, close to food and transport, easy and fast communication with hosts.
Camille H.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 20 Oct, 2023
Thank you so much, Camille: we are really happy that you enjoyed the location and the place. It was fun to recommend some of my favorite places in the area so that you could make the most of your time in Kyoto! Please come again sometime!
My family stayed in this suite for 3 nights. It was in a really nice quiet location, close to public transit, restaurants, and within walking distance to the nishiki market. I highly recommend it.
Michelle L.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Joshua B.
21 Sept, 2010
Affordable, comfortable and friendly
My girlfriend and I stayed in the relatively inexpensive "Ninja" room, and everything was great. Not a huge room, but the lofted bed is very comfortable, and the kitchen/bathroom area has all the necessary amenities. Would definitely go back next time I'm in Kyoto!
Joshua B.
Response from VrboOwner on 5 Mar, 2020
Thank you very much, Josh. We enjoyed meeting you and we're happy that you enjoyed Kyoto and the surrounding areas as well. Good luck in all your future travels. We have made some improvements since you were here, so next time you come Sakara should be even better.
Sakara Kyoto was everything we hoped it would be. Served as a perfect base for our week in Kyoto, having basically all of higashiyama at walking distance or a quick transport away, with everything needed being close by. Lovely well equipped and good sized room, with good noise isolation from other rooms, able to go in and out in whatever schedule fits your needs, held our baggage on checkout day so as to make the most of it.
Couldn't be happier about this stay.
The bamboo suite was extremely clean and spacious for two people. The shower was especially excellent. It was right next to a train station which was extremely convenient. Restaurants, shops and convenience stores are all nearby and it is about a 10 minute walk to the action of Gion and downtown. Highly recommend!
Kaitlin R.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 5 Mar, 2020
Excellent! Thank you for your review and we are happy that you enjoyed your stay. We designed the shower and other amenities to be especially comfortable (and the right size!) for foreign guests,
Take care and I hope that we can host you or your family and friends another time,
-mgmt.
My wife and I stayed for more than a week and enjoyed it very much. The hosts are super friendly and helpful with anything that is needed. The apt has a washer and kitchen so long term stays are easy. It is right next to the subway so easy to get to the sites and kyoto station, and the location itself is perfect to walk to many of the best places. We highly recommend for a stay in Kyoto.
We loved our time in Kyoto and Mike’s place was perfect. Yuko met us there and made us feel very welcome. We all slept great and loved that it was quiet. Sitting by the water and all the cute shops and restaurants close by gave us a feel for life there. Also, subway station right around the corner.
We loved our stay at Sakara. The simple comfort, extremely convenient location, charming neighborhood in the middle of everything (but at the same time tucked away) — it was perfect. Our hosts were so helpful and gracious. We made this our home base and then did day trips to Osaka and Nara. Having rented many VRBOs over the years, this is one of my all time favorites. We will be back.
Excellent location. Easy access to many subway lines. Easy walking to many of Kyōto’s highlights. Very close to nightlife, restaurants, food market etc.
Sakara is clean, and quiet. Staff
Is very helpful and responsive. Highly recommend.
Susan L.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 5 Mar, 2020
Thank you so much Susan. We are really happy to help guests like yourselves enjoy Kyoto. As you mentioned, the location near the Higashiyama subway station is ideal for walking to the historical sites or downtown. We'd love to host you or your family and friends another time.
Regards, Mike, reservations
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Dan R.
28 Jan, 2017
Beautiful accommodation in great location
We stayed at Sakara Kyoto in the Hinoki Suite and it was fantastic. The hotel room was really well equipped, very clean and there was lots of room for all of us (2 adults and 3 kids). The staff were super friendly and helpful. The location is superb, right next to Higashiyama train station and bus stops so really easy to get to the main attractions in Kyoto. It is also really quiet and only a short walk into central Kyoto. We really recommend staying at Sakara and will definitely be staying here next time we are back in Kyoto!
Thanks so much!
Dan
Dan R.
Response from VrboOwner on 5 Mar, 2020
Thank you so much for your positive review, Dan. The Hinoki Suite was specifically designed for family travelers like you, and the unique location is ideal for guests who are always on the move. I'm also really happy that we could be helpful with some useful information when you were coming and going in the mornings and evenings. Take care and please come back to Kyoto again, we would love to host you on another trip.
-mgmt.
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Todd M.
12 May, 2019
Big, bright, well-situated and super quiet
This is very nice size room, in great condition, close to the subway and walking distance to many fantastic sights, as well as bars and restaurants. Despite that, it is supremely quiet. The WC and shower are also fantastic.
Check in and check out was a breeze. We would be very glad to return here on our next visit to Kyoto.
Todd M.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 5 Mar, 2020
Thank you so much! We designed the Sakara building specifically with groups like yours in mind. I hope that we have a chance to host your friends or family another time when/if you come to Kyoto again,
We think that the location and convenience are a big reason that Sakara is so popular, and the room is designed to be as comfortable as possible for western visitors.
Good luck in your future travels!
My husband and I with 2 teens had enough room in this charming well- located accommodation. It’s about 15-20 mins walk to Nishiki market and 10 minutes walk to Gion district. Bus stop and train station is 3 mins walk. There’s a McDonald’s at the corner and a few convenient stores nearby. Over all it was a great place to stay in Kyoto! Huge thanks to Mike, the reservation manager for the extra travel tips!
Maria Leah B.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 5 Mar, 2020
Thank you very much for staying with us during your trip to Kyoto. We know that visitors have a lot of options for where to stay, so we always do our best to treat visitors well and help them find what they need. Everyone loves the central and convenient location, and it is also really nice to be tucked away in a pedestrian traditional shopping arcade. Please come to see us again in a different season, or we would love to host your friends and family when they see how much you enjoyed your time in Kyoto!
I cannot say enough positive things about our stay at Sakara Kyoto. Yuko met us at check-in and provided valuable information about our stay and recommendations for nearby restaurants and supermarkets. The location was steps from Higashiyama station, making getting around town (and to other stations) very easy. And we also found that the location of this lodging made most destinations easily walkable, right out the door. The lodging itself was clean, comfortable, and nicely decorated. Honestly, I cannot think of any downsides, and if we ever have a chance to visit Kyoto again, I hope this accommodation is available for us to stay in!
Kim P.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024
Archival
10/10 Excellent
M P.
5 Aug, 2015
Enjoyable stay, comfortable & welll located
We stayed in the Bamboo Suite for 4 nights and had a most enjoyable stay. The location was excellent, within walking distance of Gion and the shopping area of Higashimiya. The beds were comfortable, the bathroom rather fun with the big ttub and the compact kitchen was well equipped. It was also good to have a proper table for breakfast. We had dinner on 3 nights at little restaurants recommended to us within walking distance and all of them had very good food. The little cafes and food marts in and around the covered alleyway were also brilliant for picking up snacks and provisions. We would definitely stay here again for our next trip to Kyoto.
M P.
Response from VrboOwner on 5 Mar, 2020
Thank you very much and we are so happy that you enjoyed the area. We love to recommend local restaurants, and in Kyoto there are thousands of choices for every style of food. Many travelers also like to make some food for themselves, which is why the kitchen comes in handy.
I'm also happy that you enjoyed sitting at the table with a view of the small private garden, that is a tranquil space to start your day. We would love to host you or your friends and family in the future.
Safe and happy travels to you!
-mgmt .
About the host
Hosted by Mike, reservations manager
We have been renovating - and living in - traditional Kyoto buildings for over 18 years. Mike first came to Japan in 1997 for a working holiday, and fell in love with the city, while Yuko originally comes from Osaka. We want to share our city with you.
Why they chose this property
We designed and built Sakara in 2009, when holiday rentals were not yet so popular in Kyoto. During this ten year period we have seen eastern Kyoto explode in popularity, and we know why! The area around Higashiyama is the best place to use as a home base while you explore the historic town of Kyoto.
What makes this property unique
Stay with us and you get the added benefit of being able to ask bilingual Kyoto residents questions that you need answered.