Lovely escape from the tourist-eccentric Gion. Room had a very relaxed feel to it with lovely views into the back of a temple. Good to experience a more traditional stay. Front room was large with traditional tatami mats. Staff spoke little English but conversed well enough via google translate and helped with some inquires prior to the visit. Balcony was a lovely space to have breakfast or a coffee.

Being tall there were some minor head height issues with a few of the doors haha, I guess that's what you get with traditional homes. Bedroom was located over the entrance to the building, this meant if other guests were up early in the morning you wake with them shutting the door - only happened once with us but perhaps an update to the front door could potentially fix

The property was exactly as advertised and pictured. a beautifully renovated apartment in the heart of Gion. It was peaceful, contemplative, beautifully finished and the location is absolutely perfect. We loved the peace and quiet and the proximity to several amazing temples and shrines. The hosts were helpful, friendly and available. By the end of the stay here we really didnt want to leave having settled into a different way of living. Magic.

I thought when we first arrived that I wouldnt get used to the prpperty and the layout but I really couldnt have been more wrong. If you want to try a more authentic Japanese experience then this is the perfect apartment.

The property was an authentic Japanese Ryokan apartment, with a bedroom, lounge room with tatami mats and futon bed, kitchen, toilet, and bathroom with washing machine / drier. The location was perfect - virtually next door to the Kennin-Ji temple, and a very short walk or train to all of the other sights of Kyoto. Very easy access to restaurants in Gion. Moments away from the Geiko area of Gion, where we saw Geiko and Meiko at work. This was a perfect place to visit. We would definitely stay here again on our next visit to Kyoto

The only thing that wasn't perfect was the pillows, which were too small and too soft. Not a big deal. And I kept hitting my head on the beams, which were very low. Please note that there is no restaurant associated with this accomodation. We were OK with this, as the cafes and restaurants of Gion were a very short walk away.

The location is superb! You’re right next to the oldest zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto, and even though the neighborhood is full of tourists, Machiya Maya is on a quiet side street away from the crowds. The absolute best part about this 2nd floor unit was the outside terrace and large glass-enclosed bedroom surrounded by trees with a temple view. The Kennin-Ji temple is literally right next door, from our terrace you can see the rock garden, and hear the chanting—paradise! The sheets were super soft cotton, comfy, and the shower was incredibly powerful. The host was very helpful too!

The front bedroom has a large bed, but the room is small so the bed fills the entire space, meaning you have to climb onto the bed to get on and off. There’s no space around it. Also, the kitchen and bathroom areas smelled a bit musty….not too much, but it was something we noticed. But the view and greenery made up for this:)

We stayed in the downstairs accommodation as we were a family of 4 (max 3 people upstairs as it overlooks the temple). The accommodation was perfect for our family, warm, charming and spacious. The underfloor heating was a bonus in the chilly winter nights. The townhouse is beautifully appointed using traditional Japanese materials. Highly recommend.

Unfortunately the noise does carry from the upstairs apartment. Also, to other guests’ point, it is I the dark side but it fits with the traditional aesthetic so didn’t bother me.

Beautifully crafted traditional apartment in a neighborhood of picturesque back lanes tucked into the all too popular but still amazing heart of Gion. Location great, a short walk to Gion Shijo subway station and river. Big screened windows overlook serene temple garden. Woodwork, workmanship, and traditional interior design and joinery a marvel--worth booking just to appreciate. Stylish, decently equipped little kitchen tucked behind closet doors. Balcony shaded by temple trees that was pleasant to dine on on balmy nights. Extremely sweet hosts--went out of their way to secure us a departure taxi after one proved unexpectedly difficult to order.

Very small bedrooms, almost no storage, one bedroom overlooks parking lot and is dark (but surprisingly quiet), the other has full loft-style glass windows onto temple greenery, which gives it a lovely treehouse effect during the day, but no real curtains/shades, which makes it glaringly bright to wake up in and hot. Entry to front door and apt door through codes which are supposed to be sent in advance, but apparently aren't always received, plus front door is tricksy. This beautiful jewel-box of a machiya flat is probably not really comfortable for more than three guests.

Great stay to experience authentic Japanese stay. It's next to Keninji Temple which adds to the traditional Japanese charm. The location is perfect, as its close to the Hanamachi street. On our first night walk, we saw two Geisha's in all their glory. Since it was raining a bit, we saw one of them with a red umbrella. It was special! The stay also had fully functional kitchen, which was very helpful given we had a 2yr old with us.

There is no full time staff there. More like an Abnb. Keeping that in mind, the pricing was on the higher side.

The house was absolutely stunning, open with lots of windows, over looking the temple next door. A beautiful authentic Japanese home, it felt very cosy and homely. The location is perfect, it is within walking distance to many restaurants, bars and temples. The staff were very friendly and helpful, even though there was a language barrier, we had no miscommunication, the staff use a translator app to ensure everyone is on the same page. We highly reccomend staying here!

Lovely traditional homely atmosphere in a fabulous location. We were a group of 3 couples and found it just big enough for group gatherings but we had lots of fun sharing meals. The temple next door is well worth visiting.

There is limited space for luggage in the bedrooms. We also had some issues with the heating controls (hot floors!) but the staff were very quick to assist. Be aware of steep stairs and small rooms.

Loved the location of this machiya! Right next to Kennin-Ji Temple and the heart of Gion! It has two bedrooms and a small kitchenette, which made it nice for fixing breakfast in the morning. The bathroom had two sinks, bath amenities, and a shower with great water pressure. The staff was especially helpful, especially when we needed help getting a taxi!

The second bedroom was across a small patio, which meant you had to go outside to cross into the other section of the house to use the restroom in the middle of the night. Only became an issue when it rained at night.