You can't beat the location in Gion. Absolutely well placed. If you are over 5'6" be prepared to bow a lot. The Nespresso was very nice. The shower is great and the kitchen has a western style table. Best for a couple, not a family. It's easy to go anywhere from here and in a hip area. We would go back, but then again the world is a large place and we never return.

We had a wonderful stay at the house. Very clean with all important amenities. It was conveniently located near the bus stop, grocery store, historical places, restaurants and in a peaceful neighbourhood which isn't too far from all the action. Mariko was extremely helpful to us from the time we arrived to the time we left.

My first time traveling to Kyoto and staying in this machiya was the best idea. So close to so many attractions, restaurants, market, etc. The owner was so nice, waited for us until we arrive to the machiya. Didn't expected for the futons to be so comfortable and we slept so well. Will definitely be returning and staying here in the future.

The suite takes up most of the lower floor of a 2-storey traditional Japanese wooden house. 390 sq ft, consists of a tatami room for sleeping on futons, small kitchen with stove, fridge, microwave, small table and chairs for 3, private garden, hi-tech toilet, shower room with washer/dryer. One suggestion - the table in the kitchen is a little small, while there is enough room for a larger table to allow for using a laptop at the same time that another is using the table as well. The suite was comfortable and well-laid out. Perfect for 2, but could fit 3. There was plenty of storage for bags and jackets. The futons were comfortable and we slept well. There was some noise from the street but due to the location on a quiet side street, this wasn't an issue. We could hear the emergency vehicles from the fire stn 1 block away, these didn’t disturb us. The noise from other tenants was more of an issue. At one point during our stay a noisy family was occupying the suite above us keeping late hours and early rising, often yelling between floors. We had to use earplugs to sleep during this period. Other guests were more considerate and less noticeable. The suite was clean and well-appointed. Housekeeping came weekly and were efficient and thorough. Air-con and the under-floor heating in the tatami room, kitchen and shower was very nice! We arrived late, but were able to find the location by giving our taxi driver the map sent to us. The instructions for the key box were clear, we had no issues with orienting ourselves to the suite. We met the owner the next day and she was very friendly and answered all our questions. Throughout our stay she was available by phone. Checkout was easy. When we booked on VRBO, we found her responses quick and detailed. The location of the suite is perfect! The only detraction from the location is the distance from the nearest subway. It is in a perfect location for the traditional streets surrounding Kyomizu-dera. There are also many other shrines and temples within a short walk. Nearby there are quite a few excellent places to eat, and the pottery places are amazing! Bus and taxi is within a couple of blocks. Kyoto station is a short taxi or bus ride away. There are a number of options for groceries in vicinity. Wifi worked very well. TV has only Japanese stations. Land-line allows for toll-free calling throughout the area. Our stay here was so perfect - we have such excellent memories of this beautiful place!

The suite takes up most of the lower floor of a 2-storey traditional Japanese wooden house. 390 sq ft, consists of a tatami room for sleeping on futons, small kitchen with stove, fridge, microwave, small table and chairs for 3, private garden, hi-tech toilet, shower room with washer/dryer. One suggestion - the table in the kitchen is a little small, while there is enough room for a larger table to allow for using a laptop at the same time that another is using the table as well. The suite was comfortable and well-laid out. Perfect for 2, but could fit 3. There was plenty of storage for bags and jackets. The futons were comfortable and we slept well. There was some noise from the street but due to the location on a quiet side street, this wasn't an issue. We could hear the emergency vehicles from the fire stn 1 block away, these didn’t disturb us. The noise from other tenants was more of an issue. At one point during our stay a noisy family was occupying the suite above us keeping late hours and early rising, often yelling between floors. We had to use earplugs to sleep during this period. Other guests were more considerate and less noticeable. The suite was clean and well-appointed. Housekeeping came weekly and were efficient and thorough. Air-con and the under-floor heating in the tatami room, kitchen and shower was very nice! We arrived late, but were able to find the location by giving our taxi driver the map sent to us. The instructions for the key box were clear, we had no issues with orienting ourselves to the suite. We met the owner the next day and she was very friendly and answered all our questions. Throughout our stay she was available by phone. Checkout was easy. When we booked on VRBO, we found her responses quick and detailed. The location of the suite is perfect! The only detraction from the location is the distance from the nearest subway. It is in a perfect location for the traditional streets surrounding Kyomizu-dera. There are also many other shrines and temples within a short walk. Nearby there are quite a few excellent places to eat, and the pottery places are amazing! Bus and taxi is within a couple of blocks. Kyoto station is a short taxi or bus ride away. There are a number of options for groceries in vicinity. Wifi worked very well. TV has only Japanese stations. Land-line allows for toll-free calling throughout the area. Our stay here was so perfect - we have such excellent memories of this beautiful place!

On our first (but certainly not last) visit to Kyoto, we (mother and daughter) couldn't have been happier with staying at Bairin-an. Mariko is so wonderful, making sure to meet you and showing you the accommodations and making suggestions for restaurants, etc. if you need them. The apartment is so lovely and so well taken care of. We enjoyed being able to make breakfast and late night snacks in the kitchen and sleeping on the supremely comfortable tatami mats in the bedroom. The shower is heaven and it was helpful to have a washing machine/dryer so we left Kyoto with fresh clean clothing. The bathroom is very modern. They had many nice amenities in the apartment, from soap to shampoo to tea and condiments. We loved the location! It is very close to old Gion. We easily walked to a supermarket. When you look down an alleyway, just about everywhere you look is a temple or shrine. We enjoyed being able to walk to so many temples from our apartment. While you can easily take the bus, there is also a taxi stand about 1 1/2 blocks away which we found to be very convenient. Mariko introduced us to a neighborhood soba restaurant and we loved it so much we went there three times. There are many interesting shops and restaurants off Higashi-dori. We highly recommend any of their machiya's (depending on how many people you are traveling with). We visited a Japanese home, and we felt we truly got a taste of Japanese living by staying in Bairin-an. We loved the amibiance of Bairin-an and would return there in a heartbeat!

On our first (but certainly not last) visit to Kyoto, we (mother and daughter) couldn't have been happier with staying at Bairin-an. Mariko is so wonderful, making sure to meet you and showing you the accommodations and making suggestions for restaurants, etc. if you need them. The apartment is so lovely and so well taken care of. We enjoyed being able to make breakfast and late night snacks in the kitchen and sleeping on the supremely comfortable tatami mats in the bedroom. The shower is heaven and it was helpful to have a washing machine/dryer so we left Kyoto with fresh clean clothing. The bathroom is very modern. They had many nice amenities in the apartment, from soap to shampoo to tea and condiments. We loved the location! It is very close to old Gion. We easily walked to a supermarket. When you look down an alleyway, just about everywhere you look is a temple or shrine. We enjoyed being able to walk to so many temples from our apartment. While you can easily take the bus, there is also a taxi stand about 1 1/2 blocks away which we found to be very convenient. Mariko introduced us to a neighborhood soba restaurant and we loved it so much we went there three times. There are many interesting shops and restaurants off Higashi-dori. We highly recommend any of their machiya's (depending on how many people you are traveling with). We visited a Japanese home, and we felt we truly got a taste of Japanese living by staying in Bairin-an. We loved the amibiance of Bairin-an and would return there in a heartbeat!

This was our second stay at Bairin-an and it was like coming home. The first time we stayed at this great place was just awesome but our second time was even better. The machiya has everything you need for daily life, fully equipped kitchen, TV, aircondition and many more. You can enjoy a lot of nice restaurants close to the machiya or you can go to the supermarket a five minutes walk far away and take care of your self. It is very convenient to start your trips from there to explore Kyoto or just to stroll around in higashiyama area. At the machiya you will find also a lot of brochures and pamhplets which will make organising your stay the best way. The stuff is also brilliant and very friendly. In case of questions or another assistance they will help you. Making my long story short, we love Bairin-an and we already make plans for our third stay. Many thanks to the stuff and see you soon.

This was our second stay at Bairin-an and it was like coming home. The first time we stayed at this great place was just awesome but our second time was even better. The machiya has everything you need for daily life, fully equipped kitchen, TV, aircondition and many more. You can enjoy a lot of nice restaurants close to the machiya or you can go to the supermarket a five minutes walk far away and take care of your self. It is very convenient to start your trips from there to explore Kyoto or just to stroll around in higashiyama area. At the machiya you will find also a lot of brochures and pamhplets which will make organising your stay the best way. The stuff is also brilliant and very friendly. In case of questions or another assistance they will help you. Making my long story short, we love Bairin-an and we already make plans for our third stay. Many thanks to the stuff and see you soon.

Our family of three, stayed in this lovely Machiya during our Christmas/New Year vacation in Kyoto. It was more than what we could asked for. Location is superb. Walking distance to many attractions. The small kitchen is adequately equipped. The futon is very comfortable. The washer and dryer definitely comes in handy. If you are looking for a temporary home in Kyoto, this is it! You will go no wrong.

The most beautiful part of the city, a traditional house and wonderful "hostess" - what more could anybody ask for? We loved the house - it is typical Japanese so we learnt to be "light on foot" in the hope that neighbours would do the same :-) The appt was a wonderful base in a fabulous location, so much so that we abandoned our "out of town" days and stuck to the area with a detour up the Philosopher's Path and another detour to Kurama Mt. Other than that we still have temples in the area we want to go back to. We just cannot say enough about Roxana - so helpful, so knowledgeable and she really made our stay so memorable and enjoyable. We didn't intend to go back to Japan when we booked this trip, alas it is back on the shortlist :-) Huge thank you to Roxana for everything.

My wife and I spent another two weeks in the beautiful Bairin-an this November. It was even nicer than last year. Everything you could want is provided - a beautiful tatami room with comfortable futons, a cozy and efficient kitchen with dining table overlooking a beautiful Zen garden, a modern bathroom with a spacious walk-in shower, and even a modern washer/dryer. The location cannot be beat - just minutes from Kiyomizu Temple, Kodaiji Temple and Yasaka Pagoda and within easy walking distance of Kenninji, Chion-in and the Higashiyama-Shijo shopping area. There are many very nice restaurants nearby - including Ashiya, Sodoh, and Shuhaku for fine dining and Nekomata, Smile Burger and some okonomiyachi and soba restaurants for simpler and less expensive meals. What makes the experience unforgettable is the lovely Roxana who could not be more helpful. She gives great advice on places to see, restaurants, how to get around on the bus, trains and metro and also provides many insights into Kyoto history and culture. She is a treasure! We plan to return to Bairin-an next year for another relaxing and interesting stay.

My wife and I spent a wonderful week in Kyoto staying at Bairin-an. The information provided in the listing was accurate both in terms of the great location and the condition of the property itself. The property is well maintained and clean. It was a pleasure staying in this traditional Japanese home. The location provides easy access to the Gion area and has excellent bus connections to other areas. The property manager, Roxana, was wonderfully helpful both before and after we arrived. Her local knowledge and recommendations were invaluable in our making the most of our time in Kyoto. Kyoto was the highlight of our one month in Japan and Bairin-an was a big part of that. I would not hesitate in recommending Bairin-an to any other traveller looking to spend time in Kyoto.

Staying in Kyo Machiya Miyabi - Bairin-an, in the Higashiyama was a highlight of Kyoto and of our whole trip. It made us feel like we were a part of the area and gave us a feeling for old world Japan, that we would not have had just visiting temples and walking around Gion. Roxana is super friendly and helpful, we ran into her a couple of times and it was great to hear her tips and insights, there were quite a few things that were not in the guide books that we would have not known about and would have missed otherwise. Thanks Roxana! We hope to see you again!

This lovely Japanese machiya surpassed our expectations in every way. Traditionally decorated yet fitted out with the most modern amenities - it was a joy stay there. Situated at the foot of Kiyomizudera, the location was very convenient for sightseeing, with other places easy to reach. Shops and restaurants were plentiful and within a few minutes of the house. The house was spotlessly clean and well-maintained. The host, Roxana, was exceptional. She was always on hand to help with suggestions and practical things like booking taxis. She couldn't have been kinder to us - it was a pleasure to meet her and made our trip even better.

This is a beautiful machiya that has been carefully renovated and thoughtfully cared for. The host was equally attentive and thoughtful. A most enjoyable stay. I will definitely be back.

Very nice apartment, Japanse style, in a quiet street of Kyoto. Clean and complete with kitchen and bathroom. Warm welcome and suggestions by Roxana are very informative. Highly recommanded!

Bairin-an is a well appointed traditional house with new, modern facilities, located within minute's walk to major tourist attractions like Kiyomizudera temple, Kodaji temple and Yasaka Shrine. Bus stop was just a few steps away so we were able to reach the train station and other attractions like the Ginkakuji temple in north Kyoto easily. The futons were extremely comfortable and gave us a good night's rest after a full day of sightseeing. The lovely machiya manager, Roxana, was extremely helpful, giving us detailed instructions of how to get to Bairin-an and access to the tourist attractions nearby. All details were looked into to ensure we had an enjoyable stay. Little touches like preparing an ikebana floral piece and helping us to make reservations at several superb restaurants, made our stay a memorable one.

What a beautiful place to live in! If you want to experience living in a traditional and historical Kyoto home and neighborhood, this place is it! Wonderful home which is comfortable, clean, well-equipped, elegant, traditional and modern - it will be an experience you will not forget. Best of all, it is so close to the temples, cute coffee shops and eateries. Roxana, the host, knows the place so well. She is very warm, efficient and helpful, and gave me wonderful tips on sight-seeing close by, and life in Kyoto. I certainly will be back!