Hanatoki Machiya Holiday House

The Hanatoki Machiya was our favorite place on a three-week Japan trip in mid-June. We spent five days there and loved the character of the house, the great amenities, and the area of Kyoto. We’re already dreaming about coming back!

We’d stay here again and again. It’s a beautiful traditional home in a wonderful part of Kyoto, with excellent facilities, a lovely garden, and comfortable beds.

The clean room and large bathtub made for a comfortable stay, and the stylish miniature garden added a nice Kyoto touch. For our family of five, including an elementary school-aged child, the size was just right. The location was superb too. I’d strongly recommend this over a tourist hotel at a similar price, and we’ll definitely stay here again.

We picked this machiya for a family stay connected with a memorial service, based on its location, layout, and COVID-19 measures. We got answers to our questions by email beforehand, and the explanations were clear and helpful. We did have to visit the reception counter before going to the house. The place had just opened and was designed in a modern Japanese style. The layout worked very well for a family stay without meals, with the dining table as the heart of the space. A projector, speakers, underfloor heating, and other amenities made things comfortable and stress-free. The amenities were high quality, the umbrellas in the dirt floor area were a thoughtful touch, and all the kitchen appliances were ready to use, so cooking was easy. Outlets under the dining table were placed thoughtfully for using the table. The overall space was high quality, and my five-star rating is unwavering. One suggestion about the tableware: there were enough glasses, plates, bowls, and cutlery, but not enough small bowls or slightly deep curry plates for the number of guests. This seems to be true of similar lodgings too. Since the floor plan is available ahead of time, photos showing the cooking utensils and tableware could help distinguish the property. The shower and bathtub were spacious and had no downsides. The black stone tile and hot water system were excellent, and I thought original bath salts would be a nice addition. I also felt there should be more bath towels. There’s a washer/dryer, but it’s noisy and takes time to run, so I’d suggest offering extra towels as an optional paid add-on. Thanks for the courteous service, including arranging rental items, explaining the check-in counter, providing taxi tickets with the accommodation plan, and sending stay-related emails.