| Date | Rating | Comment
[Guest Comments: 36 positive, 0 negative]
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| 11/25/09 |
Positive
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| We loved the house, the pictures in your web are very good but they do not do justice to the great charm of the place. We felt it was our home in Kyoto, we loved the tatami floors, the bikes, all your wonderful details and the Japanese style bedroom. Everytime we come back, we would love to stay there. Gion district is the best place to stay at. Thank you for sharing your house. |
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Guadalupe Cortés, barcelona, spain |
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| 10/16/09 |
Positive
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The Gion house provides the ideal balance of comfort, location, and privacy. Just minutes from Shijo dori, one of the main streets, and, just around the corner, from Hanamikoji dori, which runs through the Gion; walking out your door and around the corner, puts you in the middle of one of the most interesting sections of Kyoto, with easy access to restaurants, bars, temples, and shopping. When you decide to expand beyond the Gion, there is nearby and easy access to public transport. The house is quiet, private, tastefully appointed, clean, and comfortable; for 4 adults, it was ideal.
If I return to Kyoto, I will stay here again. |
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Anonymous, Seattle, WA |
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| 10/03/09 |
Positive
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| We stayed here September, 2008 for nearly 3 weeks. Everything about it was magic!. We loved hearing the temple bells in the morning, making a Japanese breakfast in the kitchen (rice with fried egg topping and miso soup) and heading out for the day. Despite the very quiet location, two bus lines and the subway are within an easy walk as is the grocery store and the department store complex. We walked and rode to more temples and shrines than one could imagine. We had lunches and suppers in exquisite restaurants and plain eateries and occasionally cooked at home. The furo tub is quintescential and experiencing bathing the Japanese way was wonderful. Walking past the big hotels downtown, we truly felt sorry for the people staying there, spending so much more and missing the core experience of really being in Japan. We were sad when our time was up and we would love, someday, to return. |
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Anonymous, Albuquerque, NM
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| 09/27/09 |
Positive
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| Grab this unique opportunity to stay in an authentic and beautifully restored traditional Japanese "Machiya" dwelling. Our Kyoto experience was greatly enriched by staying here. Wonderful neighborhood restaurants, shopping and sightseeing, walked everywhere... We felt very fortunate to have this special experience and look forward to next time. Excellent shower/bath, and a small but workable kitchen -- even a washer/dryer. Roof deck too! And very gracious, helpful hosts. Can't say enough. |
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Anonymous, Bay Area, CA |
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| 09/10/09 |
Positive
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We have stayed at this beautiful Machiya House for
one week at the end of August, with two friends
and our baby. The house is great, mixing
traditional Japanese style and modern kitchen and
bathroom design. It's very well located. Our hosts
were very gracious and we had a great time. We will
certainly come back again. |
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Joelle B., Tokyo, Japan |
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| 08/26/09 |
Positive
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We enjoyed a most wonderful stay in this beautiful
traditional machiya in the fantastic city of Kyoto.
They say location is everything and this machiya
has a perfect location on a quiet street within
walking distance to famous sites. It was quiet,
immaculately clean and beautifully furnished with
all the amenities necessary for a most comfortable
stay. We look forward to returning to this fabulous
machiya. |
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Marie, Browns Point, WA |
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| 08/20/09 |
Positive
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| Highly recommended. A beautiful property in an excellent neighborhood. Well appointed, well maintained, and well managed. Others have gone on at length, so I will just say that you can believe them all. We read the comments here before our trip, and it still managed to exceed our expectations. I have already recommended this property to friends who are traveling to Kyoto next spring, and would certainly stay here again if I had the opportunity. |
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D. Brown, California |
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| 06/12/09 |
Positive
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| We stayed at Gion House for one week. Great location and such a beautiful Machiya. Next time we will stay there again. |
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Anna, San Francisco,Ca.
415-385-1013 |
|
| 06/09/09 |
Positive
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| We had a great stay at the Gion House. The location is amazing and the house has everything for a relaxing stay. It has become one of our lasting memories of Kyoto. I highly recommend it. |
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Joe and Tyrone, Sunnyvale, California |
|
| 04/23/09 |
Positive
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We had such a wonderful stay - the house is
immaculate and I can't imagine a better location in
Kyoto. We enjoyed visiting the temple just two
blocks away, eating in the many excellent
restaurants in the neighborhood, and just hanging
out at the house. There were three of us and the
house was quite comfortable. The bathroom is
particularly lovely, and the house is perfectly
furnished with very comfortable futon, excellent
bedding and towels, and all the kitchen supplies
you need to cook a meal. I appreicated that the
appliances were labeled with English translations,
too! We will definitely be back. |
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Anonymous, Los Angeles, CA
415.359.4851 |
|
| 04/18/09 |
Positive
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We had such a spectacular stay at the Gion House.
Having lived in Kyoto for 3 years and being away
for over a decade, Curtis's home was beyond the
perfect way to return to the city I love so much.
The home is gorgeously appointed combining
traditional design with modern facilities. The roof
deck is so special and having Kenniji Temple as a
neighbor couldn't be better! Thank you! |
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Jonathan and Joe, New York City |
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| 04/02/09 |
Positive
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staying at a traditional "machiya" house is a very good way to experience japanese culture. especially in curtis house, as it is close to most of the must-vistit sights and best restaurants in kyoto.
we had a wonderfull wintertime in kyoto and were happy in the very cold evenings to enjoy the cosiness in this place. thanks also curtis for your nice dvd collection! it is great to close a long day with some hot sake , seeing THE GEISHA and being reminded of all the beautiful impressions one got during the day.
i will be back, but next time in summer to enjoy the great rooftop! |
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anne-marie, luxembourg |
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| 01/11/09 |
Positive
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| We have stayed in "Gion House" for a whole week, and it has exceeded our expectations. We knew that the location was going to be excellent even before we arrived, but this was most appreciated when we got here - central to all the locations we wanted to see, close to the action, yet in such a quiet street that noise was never an issue. Not only did the location exceed our expectations, but so did the house - well-appointed, clean, and with all the facilities we could want. The bicycles came in very handy, especially during the busy holiday long weekend meant incredible crowds on the streets/roads, but bicycles allowed "zipping" along the small side streets to get to our destinations quickly. The drums/bells from Kenninji Temple at 6 AM every morning was fantastic - yet not loud enough to wake us up! Ayako-san greeted us and warmly welcomed us to the house and gave us instructions that got us orientated and settled in quickly. We would certainly recommend "Gion House" for anyone who wants to visit this great place, in a terrific location, and all the charm of a machiya. We will certainly be back! |
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Michelle Bromwich, Sydney, Australia |
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| 01/03/09 |
Positive
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This apartment was a highlight of our trip to Japan! Not only is the neighborhood amazing and so full of history and culture but the apartment itself is beautiful with a wonderful kitchen, bathroom and living room. There are many shops and restos in the area and it's an inexpensive cab ride to Kyoto station.
Thank you Curtis, we hope to visit Kyoto again and would not hesitate to rent you apartment. |
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Wendy, Seattle, WA USA
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| 11/19/08 |
Positive
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Gion House is in a perfect location for a stay in Kyoto:
we walked from the house to many temple locations,
to the subway and the bus terminal while absorbing
the traditional culture of the neighborhood. Watching
Memoirs of a Geisha on DVD thanks to Curtis was an
added plus. |
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Janet Ghattas, Cambridge, MA
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|
| 10/27/08 |
Positive
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| Gion House is a fantastic place to stay in Kyoto. Very comfortable in a great location. A taste of traditional Japan! |
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Ann O'Donnell |
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| 09/18/08 |
Positive
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Just returned from 10 days in the machiya. It really is an architectural experience so aesthetically Japanese yet so liveable. There isn't much to say that others haven't said before. The proximity is fantastic. Kyoto is such a bike friendly city it was easy to cycle everywhere. It was great to find the bike parking station next to Isetan at Kyoto Station because it meant we could ride - park the bikes for 150 yen and catch the train to Nara etc. Also the bike parking station one street back from the river by all the restaurants made shopping and eating worry free.
For those of you who haven't used VRBO before Curtis makes it all so easy by accepting VISA.
So come on Aussies take advantage of the cheap Jetstar airfares.
Regards
Gaynor |
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Gaynor and David, Australia |
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| 09/08/08 |
Positive
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The Gion house was a wonderful home in Kyoto and
a great base for travel throughout the Kansai
region. The bikes were a great touch, as was the
home elements like some DVDs and some basics in
the fridge. The cooking class with Emi was a
highlight as well- but I can't post a link to it so
people should search kyotouzuki. Thank you Curtis
for setting up such a great place for visitors. |
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Zak Pashak, Vancouver BC |
|
| 07/21/08 |
Positive
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| Sorry, it's taken so long to say a public thanks for a wonderful stay in a beautiful house. The Gion house is a perfect combination of traditional style and modern design updates. My parents loved the bathroom in particular, although I liked sitting on the chairs on the roof watching the evening lights come on across the river. The location couldn't be better, right in the heart of old Gion and I don't think there are any better places to stay in Kyoto, especially in this price range. |
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David & Kayo, Newcastle, UK |
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| 06/09/08 |
Positive
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| Just returned from 3 week holiday in Japan and one of the highlights was definitely our stay in Kyoto in the Machiya house in Gion. Every need is catered for and having home comforts and space is a pleasant change from hotel rooms. The location is perfect for exploring the Gion area whilst still within walking distance of Kyoto downtown. Highly recommend. Sue |
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Sue McCrossin, Qld Australia
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| 05/21/08 |
Positive
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We have just returned from an awesome trip to Japan. Our first week was spent at the "Machiya" House in Gion and what an absolutely awesome experience it was!!! The house is stunning, the location is awesome and Gion was definitely the highlight of our trip!!!
The only problem we encountered was the hiring of additional bikes, the recommendation that came through the house for the additional bikes wasn't able or didn't want to assist so 2 bikes between 5 of us made for a lot of walking or buses.
Other than that, all of the restaurants around the house, temples, public transport access and the house were awesome.
Watch your head if you are tall!
I highly recommend this property!
Nicole |
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Nicole, Queensland
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| 04/10/08 |
Positive
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Now that we have been back, almost 1 week, from a wonderful trip to Japan I am getting questions from friends and co-workers - "How was it?". The first thing that comes to mind is it was great! but the best part of the trip was staying in Kyoto in a traditional "Machiya" house in Gion!
We had such a wonderful time staying in the house, the location is perfect, the restaurants within walking distance were some of the best we have eaten. The house was fantastic. Super clean, heated floors, spa type bathroom, roof deck, tatami mats, futon all added to the experience.
Being right in the middle of the Gion area we we were able to walk to many temples, eat in great restaurants and just walk everywhere...the best way to see Kyoto!
So the answer I have been giving my friends and co-workers wanting to go to Japan... You have to stay at this "Machiya" in Gion... here is the link to the listing on VRBO...it's everything it says it is and more!!!! |
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Gil , San Francisco, CA
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| 04/04/08 |
Positive
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So, we are back in LA after a week at the Gion House in Kyoto, and we REALLY want to be back in Kyoto!
The house was great and the location of the house was wonderful. It is walking distance to fantastic shopping areas, lots of restaurants, a grocery store, many shrines or temples, and it is also very convenient to public transportation. And the two bicycles at the house were a great way to get around Kyoto and see the different neighborhoods. My husband and my son rode the bikes, while my daughter and I walked a few blocks to the bus stop where you can easily catch busses to the Ginkakuji, Nijo Castle, the Kinkakuji, etc. On the bus, you can buy a one-day pass for 500 yen which allows you unlimited rides on the bus system for the day. Although crowded, the busses are very convenient. The bikes always beat us to our destinations though.
Ayako, in the office downstairs, was extremely helpful and we were happy that we used the airport shuttle and cell phone rental services that she recommended. Both were very convenient and reasonably priced. The airport shuttle was 3,500 yen per person for door to door service from Kansai Airport, which meant no lugging around our suitcases on trains, or getting lost trying to find the house when we arrived. Also thanks to Ayako, our daughter got an A in her math class, but that is another story.
While we were in Kyoto, we took Japanese cooking lessons from Emi Hirayama of Kyoto Uzuki Cookery, who teaches homestyle Japanese cooking in her house, in English. Emi is a great cook and a great teacher and all four of us really enjoyed the class and the food. A three hour lesson costs about $30 per person, and you get to eat the delicous food that she shows you how to make!
Another fun thing was doing a Maiko Makeover. Maikos are apprentice geishas, and Maiko Makeovers are two hour sessions where you are dressed in kimonos and white face make-up and wigs and then professionally photographed. The Gion Studio of Yumekoubou-Maiko Makeover Studio is walking distance from the Gion House. The makeover costs about $95 including 3 professional photos.
The Gion House itself was everything we hoped for, allowing us to enjoy the ambiance of the Japanese-style tatami rooms, but in Westernized comfort with heated floors and a Western-style bathroom. The shower was great. The house was very thoughtfully and well equipped, and the kitchen, though compact, had plenty of pots and pans, a two burner stove, a microwave and a combined washer/driver. And the wireless Internet was a welcome plus. My husband loved the rooftop terrace. The neighborhood was quiet and peaceful, as it is a couple blocks off the main streets. Guys should watch their heads, though! My 5 foot 11 inch son kept bashing his head against the low crossbeams between the rooms (and hanging lights) because they were just above eye-level and he kept forgetting to duck!
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Anonymous, Los Angeles, CA |
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| 03/20/08 |
Positive
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| We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in the Gion House last month. I have always been intrigued by machiya, so it was a genuine pleasure to have the opportunity to stay in this lovely machiya-apartment. One of the nicest features was the temperature control. Anyone who knows Japanese winters knows that it can be very cold. It was freezing and snowed two of the days of our stay (Kyoto in the snow is beautiful!), but we were toasty warm inside the machiya. With the heated floors in the hallway, kitchen, and bath combined with the heaters in every room, we felt cozy and comfortable the short hours we were actually there. With all of the provided amenities, I can't think of anything else I need that isn't already there. The only thing lacking was that the wireless Internet connection was unavailable more than half the time we were there, which was actually pretty inconvenient since I needed it. Location-wise, Gion House is in the most "Kyoto" part of Kyoto, and provides convenient access to many wonderful places, old and new (Kiyomizu Temple, Kenninji Temple (a must-see), Gion, Pontocho, Karasuma-dori, and more). I would highly recommend this rental to anyone looking for a nice, comfortable hideaway while in Kyoto. |
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Margie, Menlo Park, CA |
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Homeowner Response:
Thanks for your stay, and your comments! Noted about the wireless internet problem, we're working on it.
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| 01/10/08 |
Positive
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Gion House is the perfect answer for anyone visiting Kyoto who dislikes hotel living. I can’t think of a time in my life when I have enjoyed being away from home as much. Perhaps it was because it was like being at home – comfortable, cozy, convenient. Yet just outside the door a different world to explore and enjoy. Situated in the old geisha district (the district is old - not the geisha), it is a colorful and fascinating area, yet central to everything. There is even a supermarket close by that sells English muffins for Westerners who can’t survive without breakfast. The kitchen is equipment-ready for eating in (even an automatic rice cooker), a welcome break from the neighborhood restaurants, good as they are. There is a tiny inexpensive sticker restaurant just around the corner which became a favorite.
Located on a very quiet street, the apartment is spotless, with thoughtful details (the Internat. Herald Tribune at the door every morning), and thermostat-control in each room. And English speakers in the office below that are very friendly and helpful. I guarantee you will thoroughly enjoy your stay here.
Richard Sutherland (San Francisco)
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Richard Sutherland, San Francisco, CA
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| 01/09/08 |
Positive
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We've just spent two weeks at the house, and would highly recommend it. It's right in the middle of Gion, with hundreds of great places to eat nearby and very convenient access to everything Kyoto has to offer.
The house itself has been very tastefully restored, keeping a lot of the original features. The kitchen is more than adequate with enough pots, pans and knives to cook amply, and the bathroom has been beautifully designed - it's a pleasure to relax in the tub in the evenings with the window open looking out into the small garden behind the house. The flower arrangements were changed each week, and was a lovely touch.
A couple of minor items which weren't on the inventory may be worth noting - the house has an iron, ironing board and hair dryer.
Overall 10/10! |
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Chris White, Tokyo |
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| 11/24/07 |
Positive
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The Machiya House was great, and we thoroughly enjoyed it. The location was superb, next to Kinin-ji and we loved listening to the monks chant early in the morning. The house was very comfortable, and the clothes washer plays little Mozart bits as signals! Kyoto was very hot and sticky in August, and the airconditioning was very welcome. It was conveniently located, and cycling along the river paths was very pleasant. Only complaint was a very weak wireless signal. But the house itself was lovely, the tatami mats smelled (and cedar wood throughout the house) wonderful, and the flower arrangements in the livingroom and bedroom were very nice touches. Definitely would revisit!
Carolyn Aldwin |
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Carolyn, Corvallis, OR
Aldwin |
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Homeowner Response:
Wireless signal has been checked, and it is now strong and stable. Sorry about that!
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| 11/18/07 |
Positive
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My husband and I returned to this vacation rental in Kyoto for a second time, one year later. It felt like we were "coming home".
During our one week there we visited some sights that we have already explored and discovered some remarkable new places.
Not only do we appreciate the traditional details of the spacious apartment, we love the bicycles. During the day we would bike along the river (a wildlife refuge)to get to where we were going.
At night, on foot, we would wander through the Gion district. Scurrying from one dark doorway to another, we would often see a geisha girl.
Our hope is to return again next year. I guess that we just can not get enough of the "most romantic city in the world." |
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Patricia Belyea, Seattle, WA
206-784-5159 |
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| 07/04/07 |
Positive
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| The perfect blend of new and old are what make the Machiya House in Gion a wonderful place to stay when visiting Kyoto. My daughter and significant other and I stayed a week and loved every minute. We were within walking distance of every subway/train/bus station; the Keninnji Temple was a stone's throw; and the bikes were a blast. The house has air conditioning, which is a welcome relief for those of us from California visiting during the hot and muggy monsoon season. The people in general are so kind, respectful and civilized. I can't say enough about that and I hope I have brought some of their nature back with me to California. Thank you Curtis and Takuji for making our stay so memorable. We all agreed, this was the best Asian trip we have ever had! |
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Julie Ringwood, Agoura, CA |
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| 06/25/07 |
Positive
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To celebrate our 50th anniversary my wife & I just rounded off a tour of Europe with a week at The Gion House in Kyoto work off the jet lag and also recall memories of our last visit in 1982.
In a few words - wonderful. Kyoto is a beautiful place to visit - 1 week is hardly enough and to be able to stay at a traditional, well equipped Machiya house in the heart of the Gion area is a luxury few will get the opportunity to enjoy. You have Japanese life style with the most modern appliances and the availability of Tokuji Tanaka to help with all those issues which befall the holiday maker. And all this at a very fair price.
We would recommend The Gion House to anyone who really wants a "Japanese" holiday. |
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David & Beryl Roberts, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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| 05/20/07 |
Positive
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| My friend and I have recently returned home from Kyoto. While there we stayed at the Gion House. What a WONDERFUL location. My daughter is teaching English in Japan and had a weeks vacation so we met up with her in Kyoto. The location of the house couldn't be better. We could walk to so many attractions. The people have to be the friendliest people in the world. What a WONDERFUL place! We even made some probable life-long friends while there! If you go to Kyoto, be sure to try and get this house, WAY better than any hotel can offer! |
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Angie, Lovilia, IA
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| 04/03/07 |
Positive
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| We have just returned from staying in this delightful apartment having had a fantastic time in Kyoto. The apartment's locality couldn't have been better - in the charming older part of Kyoto yet within walking distance of so many places to visit, from heritage sites, to eating places, and shopping venues. We were well looked after and disappointed that we didn't have more time in Kyoto to explore. The apartment had everything we needed, including books on and maps of Kyoto,which were useful - not that we had much time to read them! There was so much to do and see, and when we returned to the apartment footweary and happily tired it was lovely to have our feet warmed by the gentle underfloor heating and to relax in a traditional Japanese house. |
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matilda kent, Somerset, UK
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| 03/09/07 |
Positive
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Our month-long stay at Gion House was a delight
from start to finish. The space is perfect for a
couple and very well-equipped and comfortable.
The location in Gion is wonderful, and we spent
considerable time just exploring the outstanding
restaurants less than a half block away.
Exploring Kyoto using a machiya instead of a hotel
as a base, provides a richness and texture to travel
that we have never experienced in previous stays at
hotels. |
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Anonymous, Santa Barbara, CA |
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| 01/03/07 |
Positive
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| My husband, son and I rented this lovely house for a week in December, '06, and it turned out to be a perfect launchpad for all our site seeing. There is much to see within walking distance and public transportation is conveniently accessible. The house has been beautifully renovated complete with a great little kitchen, in floor heating (which was great to have in December) and a Japanese style mini-onsen bath with scrubbing station and soaking tub - perfect for rejuvenating those weary feet. I wholeheartedly recommend this Gion house to anyone interested in charm, cleanliness, comfort and the best location in town. |
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S Kessler, Berkeley, CA |
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| 11/11/06 |
Positive
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My husband and I have just stayed at the traditional machiya in the Gion district for two weeks, celebrating 22 years of marriage. It was a perfect home away from home, with a wonderful ambiance and non-stop amenities.
The home is spacious, immaculate and full of traditional finishes such as tatami mats, shoji screens, antique doors, vintage light fixtures and fine woodworking. In contrast, there is a flat screen TV with Cable, wireless Internet and a modern kitchen.
The bathroom is a water wonderland complete with two showers, a set-up for Japanese bathing and deep Western-style tub. The toilet, in its own room, has a bidet for more water action.
Thoughtful details abound in this rental--a library of books on Kyoto, two bicycles for cruising the city like locals, tastefully chosen house wares, heated wooden floors and a rooftop deck.
Our days were spent cycling everywhere to see temples, shrines, the Shogun Castle and Imperial Palace. The most ambitious ride was out to Arashiyama, a town known for its bamboo forest, World Heritage temple and monkey mountain. Some days we would bicycle to the JR station to catch a train to a nearby town, such as Nara or Hikone, for more sightseeing. (The bicycles are standard issue. Mine had three speeds and my husband’s had seven. No Lycra or special attire needed. With baskets on the front, we often packed a picnic lunch or brought groceries home with our bikes.)
The location is on a quiet street. Across the street is a high quality ceramics store where we bought a lovely platter made by a Gion potter. Within a few blocks are dozens of Japanese restaurants. And for those of you who cannot give it up—three Starbucks are nearby.
There is a book in the home’s library called “Old Kyoto” that gave me the confidence to enter the distinctive curtained doorways of Kyoto’s traditional stores. Often found in back alleys, many of these establishments have been in business for over 100 years.
A helpful service from the homeowner was help getting to and from the Kansai Airport. Via e-mail, we gave Curtis our travel itinerary and he arranged for a shuttle to pick us up and deliver us right to the door. As the Japanese address system is completely irrational, this service is invaluable. (It took two hours each way, at a cost of approximately $30 per person.)
Our Gion home was the comfortable backdrop to all of our adventures. Would we recommend this home to others? Absolutely. In fact we hope to return ourselves in a few years—to celebrate our 25th anniversary.
(On a final note, my husband and I only know three Japanese words: thank you, yes and goodbye. The locals are some of the friendliest people we have ever met. They made it fun to communicate with them—whether using their high school English or gestures.)
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Patricia Belyea, Seattle, WA
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