YADORU KYOTO HANARE Mizunoe No Yado

A lovely traditional Japanese house, very clean and good value for money. It made our Kyoto stay, and Nishiki market was within walking distance.

A beautiful Japanese house with a garden that felt magical. The hosts were really nice. Best place in Japan.

A quiet private stay where the water theme shows up in little details throughout the property. The renovated house brings traditional Japanese architecture together with modern touches, and the styling feels carefully thought out. It’s two storeys: living room, kitchen and bathroom downstairs, with a tatami bedroom and a Western-style bedroom with a bed upstairs. There are both beds and futons, so it could work well for families. The living room has a sofa and tatami area, and was a lovely spot for a couple to watch a movie together. The bathroom has glass walls looking onto the courtyard. Its bath is on the small side, but can be closed for an indoor soak or opened up for a semi-open-air bath. That flexibility and the peaceful atmosphere made it a wonderful place to bathe. The toiletries even include the Sekkisei range. You can eat out or ask the inn to make a reservation. Dinner, which needs to be reserved, is delivered to the room: handmade sushi from "AWOMB," a popular Kyoto restaurant known for long queues. The bento has around 50 ingredients, with rice, seaweed, matcha-flavoured shredded egg and soup. Reserved breakfast is delivered too, so you can enjoy the morning without watching the clock. It’s a collaboration with "Nakatani," the famous Gion coffee shop known for egg sandwiches delivered to geisha and maiko. The egg salad is elegantly seasoned and tucked into toast, with a comforting, nostalgic taste. We had the whole building to ourselves, so we cooked and had drinks in the evening. It felt luxurious to eat whenever we wanted, without thinking about other people or the time. Kitchen equipment and dishes were all there, so you can arrive empty-handed. There are also lots of shops nearby for a stroll in your free time. I’d recommend this unusual renovated inn for couples, families, or anyone wanting a special private getaway.

The stay was wonderful, and the hotel was very comfortable. It had useful amenities like underfloor heating, Apple TV and Wi-Fi. I drove there, and found paid parking lots as well as staffed parking nearby. I’d definitely stay here again.