We just returned home from four very pleasant nights at Kamiza-an. I was looking for a traditional-type accommodation for our first trip to Kyoto, and liked the way Kamiza-an had been renovated, while keeping traditional details. The three rooms were comfortable, with beautiful wood ceilings, and very nice, new shower room, washer/dryer, and separate bath. What isn't mentioned is that the cooktop is a rather groovy induction unit, and special and cool materials are used in a variety of places- especially the toilet space and the kitchen backsplash. The small deck overlooking the garden was a perfect place for a cocktail after long days of exploring. Another special thing was being able to experience the feeling of a traditional house- when it's warm, opening up the windows created a very pleasant cross ventilation- smart traditional design. Kyoto proved to be wonderfully walkable, and the neighborhood surrounding Kamiza-an held all sorts of very cool places to eat, shop for crafts, and within a number of blocks, awesome food shopping. The rental contact was very responsive, and Mariko had lots of great tips for shopping and getting around. We'd stay here again, and are planning to.