8INN Kyoto Kujo

If you need to step straight out into tourist central, or stairs are a problem, this probably won’t suit you. We didn’t mind the stairs or the short walk to subway and train stations, and some of Kyoto’s main sights were a 30-60 minute walk away, so it worked for us. Takeo clearly cares about guests and takes pride in the property. Everything was spotless, with thoughtful extras beyond the TV and pocket WiFi: spare combs and toothbrushes, hair ties, extra towels, and four bikes with locks. The keypad meant everyone could come and go. The photos were accurate about the steep stairs and the two sleeping areas, which are divided by a sliding screen rather than separate doors. Takeo sent clear directions with the door code, the cab fare down to the yen, and links to nearby restaurants. He even sent a greeting and weather report each morning. We ate twice at the little mom-and-pop izakaya across the street. Mom spoke enough English to point us toward great fried chicken, gyoza, grilled fish, and more. They allow smoking, but the owners were so nice and the food so good that we didn’t mind. One terminology issue: the listing’s “2 baths” didn’t mean two separate rooms with a toilet and bath or shower each, as I’d expect in standard American usage. In Japan or AirBnB Land, a tub and shower combo counts as one, while a separate sink and a toilet each count as half. We loved the neighborhood and the experience anyway.

The house is a good example of a typical Japanese home, with beds on tatami mats and a modern Japanese toilet. It’s in the middle of suburban Kyoto, only 150 meters from Jujo, the nearest train station.

A charming little Japanese house.