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TSUBARA - a restored 100 year old Machiya -Elegant.Calm.Lovely- So close to Gion

Photo gallery for TSUBARA - a restored 100 year old Machiya -Elegant.Calm.Lovely- So close to Gion

Tsubara’s specially! Out Door Bath!!! You can heal your tiredness of the day!!!
Entrance. Live like a Kyoto native! There is a globular lighting as a mark!
Entrance hall, welcome to Tsubara!
Koji and Eri sincerely await your arrival!
Floor plan
Reviews
10 out of 10 Exceptional
2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 562 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Hot tubHot tubHot tub
  • WasherWasherWasher
  • DryerDryerDryer
  • Outdoor spaceOutdoor spaceOutdoor space
  • KitchenKitchenKitchen
  • Air conditioningAir conditioningAir conditioning

Check out the area

Map
Unknown, Kyoto
  • Popular LocationKawaramachi Street10 min walk
  • Popular LocationKiyomizu Temple12 min walk
  • Popular LocationNishiki Market20 min walk
  • AirportKobe (UKB)89 min drive

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 5)

Bedroom 1

Bedroom 2

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathtub · Bidet · Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Kitchen
Balcony
Garden
Dining Area

About this property

TSUBARA - a restored 100 year old Machiya -Elegant.Calm.Lovely- So close to Gion

Machiya Tubara is located in the Higashiyama area in Kyoto.
There are sooo many sightseeing spots, famous historical places, temples and shrines in this Higashiyama area. And are many shops of Kiyomizu-pottery and neighbours are very friendly.
Gion district where is so popular of Geiko-san girls(same Geisha girl) & Maiko-san girls, gorgeous Kaisei restaurants is also close.(10mins walk!)
And there are many kinds of restaurants, easy eating places(Izakaya, Ramen, Yakitori restaurants...), Bars, local shops, convenience stores, good grocerry and public baths near the house.
You can go to many places like that from Tsubara on foot.
We can tell you some good restaurants and nice Maiko-san stage or some Japanese experiences (for ex. Ninja class, Making Japanese sweets class, Tea ceremony class, amazing Japanese massage parlor ...etc). Also we know good guides for sightseeing.

The house is convenient for transportation(bus, train, taxi).
We recommend using taxi from Kyoto station (10mins).

Tsubara was over 100 year old Machiya(traditional Kyoto house), we lovely restored all possible to original style using antique fittings & materials by traditional craftsmanship.
Tsubara has many Machiya's features ~'Doma' long Japanese corridor from the entrance to the garden, 'Hibukuro' open ceiling in the kitchen, old hand made window glasses, 'Koushi' window lattices...etc.

And we prepared new comfortable equipments in it - air conditioning , internet, microwave, washing machine, IHcooker, clean comfortable Futon(Japanese bedding) ....more.

Especially, we set up “Roten-buro” out-door bath tub(Shigaraki pottery made) and “Suikinkutsu” in the Tsuboniwa garden(small Kyoto garden)!!
The out-door bath is great for tired bodies by sightseeing all of the seasons! You must feel like a hot spring!
“Suikinkutsu” is a decoration device in a Japanese garden that generates a sound like the Koto-Japanese harp~with drops of water. You could have relaxed bath time hearing its sound!

“Tsubara” is a very old Japanese word from “Manyousyu” (the oldest Waka poet collection over 1200years ago!).
It means “enough” or “detail” or “calmly”.
I thought it perfectly matches the house!

Experience a fascinating, peaceful and amazing Kyoto stay in Tsubara !

We're looking forward to meeting you!

Property manager

Koji
Premier Host
Premier Host

Amenities

Hot tub
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Air conditioning
Outdoor space
Machiya Momiji from the street.
Lovingly Restored Townhouse In Central Kyoto Kiyomizu/Gion
Hot tub
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
10.0 out of 10, (81 reviews)
Lovingly Restored Townhouse In Central Kyoto Kiyomizu/Gion

House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0-17
But be careful about the steps and window glasses.

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Non smoking in the house and the garden.

Damage and incidentals

You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit

We should mention

The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare requires all international visitors to submit their passport number and nationality when registering at any lodging facility (inns, hotels, motels, etc. ); additionally, lodging proprietors are required to photocopy passports for all registering guests and keep the photocopy on file
A car is not required for transportation to and from this property

About the area

Kyoto

Located on a river, this vacation home is in Gion, a neighborhood in Kyoto. Nishiki Market and Sanjusangen-do Temple are notable landmarks, and travelers looking to shop may want to visit Kawaramachi Street and Pontocho Alley. Kyoto Municipal Zoo and Kyoto Aquarium are also worth visiting. Take an opportunity to explore the area for outdoor excitement like hiking.
Map
Unknown, Kyoto

What's nearby

  • Kawaramachi Street - 10 min walk
  • Kiyomizu Temple - 12 min walk
  • Yasaka Shrine - 14 min walk
  • Pontocho Alley - 15 min walk
  • Nishiki Market - 20 min walk

Getting around

  • Kiyomizu-gojo Station - 6 min walk
  • Gojo Station - 15 min walk
  • Itami Airport (ITM) - 63 min drive

Restaurants

  • 十六代権太夫 - 4 min walk
  • 辨慶東山店 - 4 min walk
  • サガン - 3 min walk
  • 市川屋珈琲 - 4 min walk
  • 五建外良屋本店 - 3 min walk

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 60 out of 61 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 61 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 61 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 61 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 61 reviews" "

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Emma W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Kyoto Love
The Machiya is spacious and well located near the Gion area. There are also many restaurants near by and it's close to the train station. After a tour with Eri, the owner, we felt right at home. She left some treats for my teens which was a nice touch. During our stay we had to weather Typhoon #7 and Eri made sure we felt taken care of and safe. The kitchen area could be cleaner with some dust on the cupboards and some splashes on the cabinets. A caution to all, the stone leading out of the shower area to the house is very slippery when wet. My 18 year old slipped on it and fell on his tail bone. Fortunately he was okay, his 18 year old body could handle the impact. One final note is that there isn't anyone who lives at the Machiya which is the way I like it, however it can present a logistical challenge for late check ins or shipping luggage. I was able to work it out but it required some work and well worth it in my opinion. In summary, I would stay there again without a second thought. I traveled all through Japan and stayed a many accommodations of various types. My children and I rank this as one of the top three stays we had in Japan. With much gratitude to Eri.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wonderful stay
The perfect property for our Kyoto trip. I really appreciated the original details of the Machiya property and the thorough tour we had when we arrived. Very clean and quiet neighborhood which was still close to amenities and tourist attractions. Would love to come back again!
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

James T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Authenticity, Modernity, Safety
An extraordinary property ranking uppermost in our experiences of staying in top-shelf accommodation all over the world, combining a truly authentic Japanese living experience rooted in Kyoto's past, with the modernity of wifi, leading edge bathroom facilities, and strongly engaged ownership. When planning a visit, stay here as long as you can - at least a week - in order to immerse yourself in the culture of Kyoto - a unique mixture of modern and historical. Take inexpensive, convenient transit to historical shrines that are hundreds of years old. The owners are of the very highest rank (I have booked many VRBO stays around the world) and are engaged, helpful, courteous and so very responsive. A property that is worth the trip all on its own - and then you have all the wonders of Kyoto, easily accessible on top of that.
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2020

10/10 Excellent

Pia M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The most beautiful house!
We stayed in this gorgeous restored Machiya (tea house) and honestly, there were some days I didn't want to go out because I felt I was experiencing old Japan simply by sipping tea on the floor and looking out onto the perfectly manicured garden listening to the water drops. The location in Gion was fantastic and quiet; we could walk everywhere in 20 minutes like Nishiki Market, Hanamikoji Street, Shirakawa Street, and Pontocho Alley. 7-11 and Family Mart were 5 minutes walk away and there was so much to explore in the area. Our host Eri was very welcoming and kind, and couldn't do enough for us. She even left us an assortment of ice creams in the freezer! My husband who is 6'2" had to watch his head a bit due to low door frames and he would have liked to stretch out on a long sofa, but the house was perfect for me and my daughters, who incidentally soaked in the garden hot tub every night! I highly recommend staying here for an amazing experience surrounded by beauty.
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Sialia R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Like living in a museum
This is an elegant and lovingly restored historical house furnished with some family heirlooms. The outdoor tub (basically a freshwater hot tub) is divine. Gaze at the peaceful garden and listen to a “water harp” feature only found in historical gardens! Eri and her husband were so kind and helpful to us. Please note that here are steep stairs, antique sliding doors, and shoe changes between various rooms. If you want to relive a moment of Kyoto history this is the place for you. If that sounds tedious, I suggest the house they have just finished restoring next door. It has a more modern interior and is just as charming.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2024

About the host

Hosted by Koji

Host profile image
Hi, my name is Koji, I'm Japanese. My family and I were born and grew up here in Kyoto.
I like car, motorbike, eating, drinking, etc.
My wife Eri speaks English. She likes eating Kyoto cuisine, seeing Kabuki, music(singing & listening soul music, Stones, Clapton...), Kimono, seeing Maiko-san&Geiko-San dance....of course we like, no, love Kyoto and traditional culture so much!!!
We’d like to show you Kyoto’s great sights and introduce you delicious Kyoto restaurants!
We're waiting for guests at check-in in the house, and we give them many information as we can.
We hope our guests will have a fantastic days in my house in Kyoto.

Why they chose this property

Although this machiya has gone by such a long time, it was been remained keeping quite original Machiya style.
I thought I'll give it a new life as a guest house.
You might be time travel to old Kyoto days!!!

What makes this property unique

Outdoor bath, beautiful Japanese garden, Suikinkutsu, long Japanese corridor......

Premier Host

Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
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