Maana Kamo

Getting around Kyoto was easy from Maana Kamo, even though it sits beside a big road. We barely noticed the traffic and loved how central it was. The house itself felt peaceful and beautiful, like staying in a traditional Maachia with the thoughtful touches of a high-end hotel. Best hospitality experience I've had.

There was nowhere to sit and put our feet up after sightseeing, and the house felt cramped for six. Two futons are downstairs beside the porch and entrance, where the porch light stays on; the front door also lets in sound. I found it impossible to sleep. The place is on one of Kyoto's busiest roads and isn't well insulated, so it was noisy. The photos made the rooms look much larger than they were, and the description was misleading. I appreciated some of the design details and the effort to preserve tradition, but traveler comfort matters too. It wasn't a good base for our Kyoto stay, and I wouldn't come back.

Breakfast being delivered was the best part. Otherwise, this was far too expensive for what we got. The wide-angle photos make it look bigger, and both bedrooms are only inches apart. The advertised hot tub and garden view were misleading: there's a one-person bathtub in an unheated room, and the garden is a tree beside a pile of rocks about 2 by 8 feet. It was drafty in winter and extremely loud facing the main road. There was nowhere to unpack clothes, and the location was poor for activities. Comparable places are available for half the price. I wouldn't recommend it.

The old building's renovation, known as a "machiya," gives the place its look, and the stay felt like an immersive, authentic Edo-era experience. Modern technology also made it comfortable and clean, so I got the best of both worlds. I'm very tall, though, and had to duck under some doorways to avoid hitting my head.