The Machiya Kazahaya

A cozy little place with a washing machine and small hot plate, among other things. It’s a bit of a trek from Kyoto station, though close to other tourist spots like the markets. Carrying luggage up to the second floor was a little painful.

The neighbourhood was quiet and residential, which I liked. The room itself was simple, with a bath and shower, and there are no staff on site or other facilities. The photos might make you expect something like a ryokan, but it’s really just a small, basic hotel. It wasn’t bad, but for the price you could get the same experience at a three-star hotel for half as much, with more facilities on site. I wouldn’t recommend it. I’d choose a cheaper, larger hotel.

The staff were polite and helpful. My room was clean and comfortable, and the toilet was big by Japanese hotel standards.

We had a great stay. The staff were organized and very accommodating. They arranged for our bags to come from Tokyo straight to our room before check-in, so we didn’t have to carry them to the accommodation or up to the room. Check-in and check-out were both easy. The common lounge was lovely, with books and useful shared items like a shoe dryer. There were both firm and soft pillows, which should suit different preferences. A few small things could be better: the walls in the machia are thin, so earplugs would be useful, even though noise didn’t bother us. The bathroom door would work better as a sliding door because the space is tight, and the entry light is dim, making it hard to see clothes on the shelves.