Gion - Kinpyo

The traditional wooden bath was clean and lovely, and they even provide a sake bath, which felt refreshing. The kitchenette and bath are downstairs, while the toilet is upstairs, a bit inconvenient but understandable in such an old house. At the entrance, you get a nice sense of its history. The owner lives next door and came over after we paged through the intercom, explaining how the historic house works and its quirks. Check-in was easy enough. Up the steep stairs are the lounge and bedroom. The traditional beds on tatami were much more comfortable than they looked. There were good heaters, basic water, coffee, and tea, and you can buy the inn’s own sake at a modest price. I’d recommend it for a short stay to get the experience. For longer visits, the separate bath and toilet and the various things to remember, like the water heater, lights, and entry code, could get bothersome. Still, I’d highly recommend it to anyone passing through Kyoto who wants that traditional-home experience.

The host was so kind and made sure we had everything we needed. The sake bath was lovely, and we enjoyed wearing the complimentary Yukata she lent us. The location was perfect, quiet but close to a convenience store, restaurants, and a coffee shop.

It was a real honor and pleasure to stay somewhere that lets you experience a piece of Japanese history. The Machiya architecture is pristine and still feels like 1810 Kyoto. The simplicity is amazing, and the service was just as wonderful as expected.

We rented the entire townhouse through GoTo Travel and found it almost too spacious and luxurious for just the two of us. We could have ordered meals, but chose to head out to Pontocho by the Kamo River instead. There’s so much nearby to see, including Gion, Yasaka Shrine, Chion-in Temple, and Heian Shrine. We’d love to come back if we get another chance!