Kaikoan

We’ll never forget this stay, and Chie deserves a special thank you. The accommodation was just as described, with a cute, authentic Japanese feel. The hosts were lovely and helpful, made great suggestions, and helped us reserve tables at some of Kyoto’s best restaurants, arguably in Japan. They went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable with our 18-month-old son. Kaikoan is a wonderful experience. Some negative reviews seem to come from people expecting a 5-star hotel, which this isn’t, but in every other way it’s better. I can’t recommend it enough.

After three weeks here, I’m still under the spell of living in this lovely, clean machiya in a central but quiet neighborhood. I’m staying in the Ukon house with my 7-year-old son, and it’s been wonderful. The hosts are friendly and always ready to help, especially Chiye. The stairs are a bit narrow but sturdy and fine going down, and that’s flagged when booking. The kitchen works perfectly, with a kettle, coffee machine, stove, sink, fridge, and freezer. There’s a powerful shower in the bathroom, which is not a shed as a previous review said. Two AC units, one upstairs and one downstairs, cool and heat without any trouble. It isn’t a 5-star hotel. But if you want a homely, old-school Japanese townhouse with a 3-star feel, don’t miss it. It adds a lot to a Kyoto visit.

We stayed in Komachi, one of five cozy Japanese townhouses along an atmospheric private alley. It has tatami rooms, traditional furnishings, a fully equipped kitchen, a one-person outdoor onsen, a roomy bathroom and bathtub, and a record player with a fun collection of records. The neighborhood is quiet and pleasant, while the city center is close: metro stations, the river, and Kyoto’s main shopping and dining areas are a 5-10 minute walk away. The friendly, helpful hosts explained the quirks of an old building like this and shared useful details about nearby facilities. We’d happily stay again.

The friendliest staff even booked dinner for us at a great nearby restaurant. The house was spacious, quiet, and so cozy. It’s the best place we’ve stayed in Japan. Thanks for everything, we’ll tell our friends!