Kyoto Machiya Ninja Terrace House

We expected a memorable stay in Kyoto, but ours was deeply unpleasant. The apartment had a strong urine smell when we arrived, and it stayed for three days. It was dark and unwelcoming, with poor insulation and thin walls that let us hear what was going on around us. One bedroom opened onto a noisy street by a school, making it impossible to sleep. The plywood doors also didn’t feel at all like traditional Japanese style. We found dust and dirt in the corners, plus slugs near the bathroom. The washing machine was either unusable or left the laundry with a persistent bad smell, and there were no clear instructions or support. The internet kept disconnecting, so we couldn’t watch Netflix or YouTube, even after staff intervened, and there was no follow-up. We reported the problems right away, but the agency said everything was perfect and made no apology. They refused to refund the last night even though we left early, disgusted. The accommodation had none of the Japanese authenticity or charm we expected. It felt like part of a foreign rental company’s chain, with no attention to detail. Don’t be fooled, go elsewhere.

The house felt typically Japanese, with a lovely little garden and a bathtub set in a leafy space. Everything was arranged for a relaxing escape from everyday life. It’s somewhat remote, which is the one drawback, but the quiet comes at a price.

The room had such a peaceful feel that I could completely relax.

There’s plenty of room indoors for activities, and this Kyoto machiya is well equipped.