| Date | Rating | Comment
[Guest Comments: 26 positive, 0 negative]
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| 10/12/09 |
Positive
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| Once again, a VRBO rental is SOOOO much better than even a 5-star hotel. It allows you so much flexibility in eating, washing, relaxing, but most of all - you really get to embrace the culture of the region. Ginkaku-An is in a great location, handy to the bus service which is the main way to get around Kyoto (not the subway). It has more than every facility you could need and makes for a great value holiday. Our kids, 9 & 10, can't wait to go back there and see even more of Japan, using Ginkaku-An as a main base. Kyoto is possibly the friendliest, cleanest, safest city in the world. Enjoy! |
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Gus & Lisa, Sunshine Coast, Australia |
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Homeowner Response:
I would like to thank you for choosing Ginkaku-An for your stay in Kyoto. I hope you were able to enjoy beautiful fall. I can use very poor English words and my gestures, but I become friends to your cheerful child.
I am so happy that Ginkaku-An was your home away from home. I am fortunate to have met such kind and wonderful people. I would love to have you at Ginkaku-An again the next time you are in Kyoto.
Fumiko Asada
Ginkaku-An
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| 10/09/09 |
Positive
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| Had a WONDERFUL time at the house. Such a wonderful neighborhood! Calm, serene and beautiful and still close enough to the downtown area that one could get out an explore. I highly recommend renting the bikes to take nightly drives along the river! I loved my stay there and hope to come back again...and SOON! It was, quite literally, a dream come true. |
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Jessica C. |
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Homeowner Response:
Thank you for coming to stay at Ginkaku-An. I'm moved when you come at my gallery the neighborhood of Ginkaku-an last spring you took the pamphlet of it. I'm delighted to hear that you were able to relax at Ginkaku-An like a second home in Kyoto and went around by bicycles and public bath near here. I hope you will with us here again at Ginkaku-An during your next trip to Kyoto. I like your cool smiles very much.
Fumiko Asada
Ginkaku-An
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|
| 08/13/09 |
Positive
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08/09/2009 Our stay was from 8/1/09 to 8/7/09. This very traditional Japanese townhouse is absolutely perfect in every way; location, cost, owner's assistance, fully supplied with everything you need for a perfect stay. Ginkaku has many local shops within 20 steps of the townhouse, as well as local restaurants. Bus 100, which is only about 1 block down, is a perfect start to getting wherever you need to go within Kyoto. Several markets are located nearby for groceries, drinks, etc. Fumiko Asada is a wonderful Hostess and has equipped this townhome to meet your every need. The air conditioners work very well and cool quickly. There are 2 television stations which are in English for nightime watching. She has a laptop upstairs connected to the internet for your convenience. If you bring a laptop, you can also connect to the internet from the dining room table as well. My family (5 adults) all stayed very comfortably. There are 3 tatami matted bedrooms which were quite spacious and comfortable. We could not believe the quality of this townhouse for the inexpensive price. Kyoto is a beautiful area, but very very hot during July and August. The bus/subway systems take you anywhere you need to go. The taxi ride was $29 to go from the JR Station to the townhouse. It was only $18 to go back. Not sure why the difference in price, but we had plenty of luggage, so it was worth every penny. The electricity/water/gas only cost $38 for a full week. For 5 people and running all of the a/c's for 6 nights was not a bad price. If you want a true Japanese experience, stay at Ginkaku an. If ever we come back to Kyoto, I will stay here again.
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Tammy Matte, Church Point LA |
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Homeowner Response:
Thank you for staying at Ginkaku-An.
I'm very happy to hear that you and your family were able to enjoy summer in Kyoto.
I could not have conversations with English or Japanese, but have communication with hearts with you.
I really appreciate your keeping Ginkaku-An clean during your stay.
I would love to have you at Ginkaku-An again the next time you are in Kyoto in another season.
I hope you and your lovely family stay healthy and happy.
Warm regards, Fumiko Asada
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|
| 08/09/09 |
Positive
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| Our stay was from 8/1/09 to 8/7/09. This very traditional Japanese townhouse is absolutely perfect in every way; location, cost, owner's assistance, fully supplied with everything you need for a perfect stay. Ginkaku has many local shops within 20 steps of the townhouse, as well as local restaurants. Bus 100, which is only about 1 block down, is a perfect start to getting wherever you need to go within Kyoto. Several markets are located nearby for groceries, drinks, etc. Fumiko Asada is a wonderful Hostess and has equipped this townhome to meet your every need. The air conditioners work very well and cool quickly. There are 2 television stations which are in English for nightime watching. She has a laptop upstairs connected to the internet for your convenience. If you bring a laptop, you can also connect to the internet from the dining room table as well. My family (5 adults) all stayed very comfortably. There are 3 tatami matted bedrooms which were quite spacious and comfortable. We could not believe the quality of this townhouse for the inexpensive price. Kyoto is a beautiful area, but very very hot during July and August. The bus/subway systems take you anywhere you need to go. The taxi ride was $29 to go from the JR Station to the townhouse. It was only $18 to go back. Not sure why the difference in price, but we had plenty of luggage, so it was worth every penny. The electricity/water/gas only cost $38 for a full week. For 5 people and running all of the a/c's for 6 nights was not a bad price. If you want a true Japanese experience, stay at Ginkaku an. If ever we come back to Kyoto, I will stay here again. |
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Tammy Matte, Church Point LA
337 322 6809 |
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Homeowner Response:
Thank you for staying at Ginkaku-An.
I'm very happy to hear that you and your family were able to enjoy summer in Kyoto.
I could not have conversations with English or Japanese, but have communication with hearts with you.
I really appreciate your keeping Ginkaku-An clean during your stay.
I would love to have you at Ginkaku-An again the next time you are in Kyoto in another season.
I hope you and your lovely family stay healthy and happy.
Warm regards, Fumiko Asada
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|
| 08/03/09 |
Positive
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| My family (2 adults and 3 children aged under 10) had a wonderful week staying at Ginkaku-an. The house is very well located, comfortable, clean and very well equipt. Asada san is very helpful. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this property. |
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Anonymous, Sydney, Australia |
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Homeowner Response:
Thank you for coming with your family to stay at Ginkaku-An.
I'm glad that you and your family had a safe trip home and enjoy the beautiful early summer scenery in Kyoto.
I am very glad to have met you and your family.
I'm also very grateful for how clean and considerate you were during your stay.
Please think of Ginkaku-An as your home away from home in Kyoto if you are planning to come to Japan.
I hope you and your lovely family stay healthy and happy.
Warm regards,
Fumiko Asada
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|
| 07/31/09 |
Positive
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My two sisters and I stayed for a week at Ginkaku-an in early July. It's a lovely contemporary Japanese home, complete with all of the comforts that you could ask for, including full kitchen facilities, new TV, computer & internet access, washing machine, and plentiful space to spread your things. And to top it off, the house is impeccably clean. Asada-san speaks minimal English (and we spoke no Japanese), but she provided written English instructions for almost everything and made sure that we understood how to take care of things in the house. We took full advantage of the washing machine and line dried the clothes under the skylight or in the shower/bathing room, with adjustable ventilation controls. The futon bedding was comfortable, and the air conditioning units were quiet and effective to ward off the effects of the heat and humidity outside. The neighborhood is charming and very quiet. Asada-san provided maps and lists of nearby markets, public baths and restaurants, and she even had one-day bus passes available to purchase. Ginkaku-an is located 20 to 30 minutes away from Kyoto Station, so you do need to work that time & distance into your travel plans. But the extra space, the kitchen and laundry facilities, and charming neighborhood more than outweigh any inconvenience (if any!) of staying outside of the downtown/train station areas of Kyoto. I would highly recommend Ginkaku-an to any traveler staying in Kyoto for one week or more.
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Dawn Suyenaga, Honolulu, Hawaii |
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Homeowner Response:
Thank you for staying at Ginkaku-An.
It was lovely to see you and your sisters enjoying Kyoto's beautiful early summer together. You are very refined and elegant sisters.
I could not have conversations with English or Japanese, but have cominication with smiles with you.
I would love to have you at Ginkaku-An again the next time you are in Kyoto.
I hope you and your lovely family stay healthy and happy.
Warm regards,
Fumiko Asada
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|
| 07/20/09 |
Positive
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This is a wonderful place to stay. It is very spacious
and the owner is very nice. If you come with your
family, I highly recommend Ginkakuan. It is cheaper
than staying in a Hotel, especially during the off-
season. |
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Anonymous, Seoul |
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Homeowner Response:
Thank you for coming with your family to stay at Ginkaku-An. I'm delighted to hear that you were able to relax at Ginkaku-An like a second home in Kyoto. I'm also very grateful for how clean and considerate you were during your stay. I do not forget your fined, wonderful smiles. I hope you will with us here again at Ginkaku-An during your next trip to Kyoto. Fumiko Asada Ginkaku-An
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| 07/07/09 |
Positive
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My family and I would like to thank you again for our wonderful stay at Ginkaku-an a couple of weeks ago. We are still talking about our time there and when we might be able to return for a longer visit. We feel we had such an ideal first experience of Japan and Kyoto and are so glad we had the opportunity to stay at your townhome rather than a hotel. My husband especially enjoyed sleeping as a family on futons in the tatami rooms; he slept that way growing up in Hawaii as part of what we call a "local Japanese family" (born in Hawaii but of Japanese heritage). Thank you again for your wonderful hospitality. Hopefully, we can return in the not too distant future.
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Eric, Gretchen and Julia Yamaguch, Honolulu, Hawaii
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Homeowner Response:
Thank you for coming with your family to stay at Ginkaku-An. I'm delighted to hear that you were able to relax at tatami-rooms and so s on in Ginkaku-An like a second home in Kyoto, and took a lot of memories of Kyoto to photographs. I'm also very grateful for how clean and considerate you were during your stay. I hope you will with us here again at Ginkaku-An during your next trip to Kyoto. I hope you and your lovely family stay healthy and happy. Warm regards, Fumiko Asada
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| 06/10/09 |
Positive
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Our family of four grown-ups spent ten lovely days at Ginkaku-An in May.
The house was everything we expected it to be: spotlessly clean and well-equipped - larger than the impression we received from viewing the video.
The location of the house cannot be over-estimated for lovers of old Kyoto:
the surrounding area is charming with traditional, Japanese houses and gardens and the famous Philosopher's Path just a minute away, giving walking access to the whole upper part the Hirashiyama district without entering any busy street.
We heartily recommend a stay at Ginkaku-An for anyone who would like to feel as if they are at home while vacationing in Kyoto.
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Peter and Bente, Ventura, California |
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Homeowner Response:
Thank you for staying at Ginkaku-An.
I'm glad that you and your family had a safe trip home and enjoy the beautiful early summer scenery in Kyoto.
Thank you for taking such good care of the house while you were here.
I am very glad to have met you and your family.
Thank you for giving us a lot of convenient daily necessities.
Please think of Ginkaku-An as your home away from home in Kyoto if you are planning to come to Japan.
I hope you and your lovely family stay healthy and happy.
Warm regards,
Fumiko Asada
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| 04/29/09 |
Positive
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We are high demanding travelers,we have stayed
Ginkaku-an for one moth,just two of us, while
cherry blossom was full blooming, this charming
house was just like our own home, small but well
equipped,clean comfortable,and owner Fumiko san
was very gentle, kind landlady to help us anything
we needed. very convenient to anywhere- bus stop
was 5 miutes and take us everywhere.three
markets around the corner,all kinds of restaurants
were right there,Ginkakuji temple is very famous so
during the day is crowded but after the sun-down
place is quiet and very nice area to walk,and
romantic!!,we had just perfect vacation this year,
we kept-based this house- then to traveled to
Tokyo for 3-days,Koyasan for 2-days,day trip to
hiroshima,Nara,Shigaraki,,,so on,Fumiko san is
always watchover and welcome our return,we just
love this place and made one of the our memorable
trip,Thank you Fumiko san, we will see you again,
.Mrs,Kioko Morganstern Brentwood,Califprnia U.S.A. |
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Mr & Mrs Kioko ,Richard Morganste, Los Angeles,California 90049
310-476-9422 |
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Homeowner Response:
Thank you for your having stayed in Ginkaku-an the other day. I am very glad that you stayed in Ginkaku-an comfortably as "your house in Kyoto" for about 1 month.
I appreciate that your husband is very intellectual and tolerant and you like study and are also good at the housework. I thank for your considering me like your old friend and for having communicated with me well. I appreciate that you cleaned the "small, pretty house" well.
You made Japanese-style dishes because you liked cooking. You improved your Japanese day by day, and you did various pleasant conversation with me.
I very much look forward to a day to be able to meet you again.
Thank you again!
Fumiko Asada, Ginkaku-An
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| 03/16/09 |
Positive
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| My partner and I stayed for six weeks at Ginkaku-an during February and March. The house is utterly charming and the owner is gracious and very helpful. The house was equipped with everything we needed. It is spotless and recently renovated, with three tatami rooms. The location is perfect, extremely quiet and a minute from the Path of Philosophy, less than ten minutes walk to supermarkets and shops, and fifteen minutes walk to Kyoto University. The owner could not be more charming. If you do not speak Japanese (like us), you will find it important to have someone interpret for you upon arrival/departure. The care and attention that the owner had put into preparing Ginkaku-an for our stay were evident at every moment and greatly appreciated by us. If you are looking for an authentic and comfortable and well cared for house in Kyoto then it would be hard to imagine a better place than Ginkaku-an. We are very grateful to Fumiko Asada for having helped make our stay in Kyoto such a pleasant one. |
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Gordon Slade, Vancouver, BC
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Homeowner Response:
Thank you for your having stayed in Ginkaku-an the other day.
I am very glad that you stayed in Ginkaku-an comfortably as "your house in Kyoto" for about 6 weeks.
You used to walk to Kyoto University where you worked. Going on foot to there was more efficient than taking a bus, and it would be a moderate exercise for you.
I thought that you or your wife is good at cooking as I smelled the delicious fragrance from the kitchen. As you cleaned it very neatly, I thank you very much.
As I cannot speak English, the staffs of Kyoto University of the place that you worked interpreted for me. As I usually ask experts for interpreter and translation for visitors of Ginkaku-an, they may feel convenient about the explanation and the question at check-in and check-out.
I was not able to communicate to you in English or Japanese, but I do not forget your fined, wonderful smiles.
I would be very glad if there is an opportunity when you stay in Ginkaku-an again.
Thank you again!
Fumiko Asada, Ginkaku-An
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| 11/04/08 |
Positive
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| We cannot say enough good things about our stay at Ginkaku-An. It was a well-kept home with a lovely front garden and with enough amenities to satisfy and more than enough information packages to overwhelm. The townhome is located on a very quiet sidestreet with walking access in minutes to the temples and gardens and hiking trails on the mountainside, and to taxis, busses, grocery stores, shops and restaurants (and more small shrines) to the north, west and south sides. No automobiles are allowed in the daytime on the main street to Ginkaku-ji temple which is a good thing because it makes it so pedestrian friendly, and one should definitely explore all the neighborhood sidestreets. Although we generally walked everywhere, one should definitely take advantage of the one-day bus passes...ask Asada-san...even though she speaks limited English, she gets her message across...and if there is a real problem she can telephone her interpreter and you will be handing the phone back and forth till your are satisfied (especially if you are worried about getting yourself and all your souvenirs to the airport on time). The highlight of our stay was having a Goodwill Guide from a local university volunteer to take us to the neighborhood grocery and interpret all the ingredients on packages and explain about the various vegetables, fruits, meats, and fishes both raw and in prepared (ready to eat) packages. Ginkaku-An's kitchen was well equipped so we could make fresh rice and have kaiseki-style meals everynight. I highly recommend a stay here and hope to come back again. |
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Catalino B. Valdovino II, Tampa, Florida, United States
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Homeowner Response:
Thank you for staying at Ginkaku-An.
I do hope you were able to take lots of photos to commemorate your trip!
I am glad that you were able to think of Ginkaku-An as your home away
from home in Kyoto. It made me very happy to see that you enjoyed
climbing Daimonji Mountain (400m), having a student interpreter show
you around, and experiencing Kyoto life.
We could not speak each other's languages, but I feel that I was truly
able to communicate with both of you.
You both have the brightest, warmest smiles. The next time you come to
Kyoto, please come back home to "Your Ginkaku-An". Thank you for
everything.
Fumiko Asada
Ginkaku-An
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| 11/03/08 |
Positive
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Thank you for providing a wonderful place for our family of five! Our young boys, ages 7, 3, and 2, enjoyed having a home away from home. We felt comfortable taking our shoes off before entering the home, which is commonplace in Hawaii, and experienced living Japanese-style with tatami rooms and futons to sleep on. The area surrounding Ginkaku-an is beautiful and peaceful. So with three active boys, we inquired and Ms. Asada suggested a playground located minutes away from the house. The park is simple yet sufficient and our boys enjoyed playing the the concrete slide and swing!
The home is fully equipped and met our needs and more! With our family, having a washer and dryer is essential and while the home does not have a dryer machine, clothes can be dried by hanging them on the second floor veranda or overnight in the shower room using the heater setting, which worked perfectly! Ms. Asada provides all you need - maps, guide books, recommendations for shopping, restaurants, etc- and she also has one-day bus passes for purchase!
We will definitely remember Ms. Asada and Ginkaku-an and recommend her lovely home to others. We plan to return!!
For those traveling with young children, don't overlook the Umekoji Steam Locomotive Museum, which our boys thoroughly enjoyed! As fans of "Thomas the Train", they had fun riding a steam locomotive train and watching it as it went around the turntable! |
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Pikake and Kevin Kimata, Honolulu, Hawaii |
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Homeowner Response:
Thank you for bringing your family to stay at Ginkaku-An.
I do hope you were able to take lots of photos to commemorate your trip!
I was so happy to have been able to meet such a polite and kind
couple, and such well behaved children. Thank you for taking such good
care of the house while you were here, just like it was your own home!
I am glad that you had a nice time here.
I will make sure to prepare a map of the Umekoji Steam Locomotive
Museum so that future guests can easily bring their children there as
well.
Please think of Ginkaku-An as your home in Kyoto the next time you
come to visit.
Fumiko Asada
Ginkaku-An
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| 10/14/08 |
Positive
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I stayed in Ginkaku during early autumn by myself. The place
is neat, quiet, clean and well-managed. I thoroughly enjoyed the house and the
environ. It is great to walk 3 min. to Ginkakuji in early morning before the
other tourists arrive! The owner, Mrs Asada is very efficient and organized.
I have no hesitation to recommend it to friends. Suitable for 1-3 people.
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Ophelia Chan, Hong Kong |
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Homeowner Response:
Thank you for staying at Ginkaku-An.
I am sure you were very comfortable by yourself in the 5-person house.
We could only communicate with gestures, but you have a beautiful
smile, and I was very happy to have had such a wonderful guest. I do
hope you come to stay again.
Fumiko Asada
Ginkaku-An
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| 08/27/08 |
Positive
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We spent one week at Ginkaku-an in August, and it
was one of the highlights of our trip to Japan. We
highly recommend it to anyone looking for
Japanese homestyle accommodations in Kyoto. The
house is spotless and lovingly kept, there is lots of
great information, it is comfortable and in a
fantastic location. Can't say enough good things.
Thank you, Asada-san! |
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Jean, Ken and Calvin, Sunnyvale, CA, USA
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Homeowner Response:
Thank you for staying at Ginkaku-An.
I am thankful for your consideration in cleaning the house so well
before you left.
It was lovely to see you and your family enjoying Kyoto's beautiful
summer together.
You have such a bright, happy, and considerate family. You are also
very good travelers, and you travel light! I can tell that you put a
lot of thought into planning your trip.
Please consider Ginkaku-An your "home away from home" the next time
you come to Kyoto.
Fumiko Asada
Ginkaku-An
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| 07/28/08 |
Positive
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We just enjoyed two wonderful weeks in Kyoto and were thrilled with our accommodation at Ginkakuji-An. This is simply the best place to stay in Kyoto - the area is absolutely lovely from The Path of Philosophy to the beautiful Daimonji Mountain. Ginkakuji-An is a lovely and clean little house, complete with all amenities. The owner, Fumiko-san, is honest and gracious. We appreciated all of the tourist information she left for us - sightseeing spots, restaurant options, nearby grocery stores and most importantly bus maps! The nearby grocery stores were excellent and had the most incredible assortment of ready-made Japanese food (great if you want to make a kind of "foreigner Obento"!). We highly recommend the restaurant Omen (5 minute walk), climbing mount Daimonji, the onsen at Kurama, and visiting Honen-in.
If you are lucky enough to visit Japan and stay at Ginkakuji-An, consider yourself blessed! |
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Karen and Dave, Ottawa, Canada |
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Homeowner Response:
I would like to thank you for choosing Ginkaku-An for your stay in
Kyoto. I hope you were able to enjoy everything that our beautiful
summer has to offer, and that you took lots of photos while you were
here! I am so happy that Ginkaku-An was your home away from home, and
that you took such good care of the house while you were here. I am
fortunate to have met such kind and wonderful people. I would love to
have you at Ginkaku-An again the next time you are in Kyoto.
Fumiko Asada
Ginkaku-An
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| 07/06/08 |
Positive
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| We very much enjoyed our recent stay in Ginkaku-An. It is a small home in a very nice neighborhood, perhaps a three minute walk from Ginkaku-Ji. From here, we were able to take buses to basically any location in Kyoto. Mrs. Asada is a very organized and gracious host. She has a map in the living area in which she shows you where the grocery stores and other points of interest ara; in addition, she has brochures from various places of interest. She even has bus passes avaiable for purchase if you would like to use the extensive bus system in Kyoto. The house is very comfortable and is immaculate. All cooking utensils, dishes, etc are provided. It is air conditioned and has a very nice television in the tatami room. The neighborhood is quiet. We took advantage of the kitchen and cooked several meals. We hope to return to Kyoto in the future and will try to stay here again and plan to recommend to our family and friends that they stay here too. Overall, it is a very nice alternative to a hotel, very reasonable in price, and a very relaxing place to stay. Our only regret is that we could not communicate more with Mrs. Asada (our Japanese is very limited) who impressed us very much and whom we believe to be a person of high integrity. |
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Anonymous, Torrance, CA, U.S.A. |
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Homeowner Response:
Thank you for coming with your family to stay at Ginkaku-An.
I'm delighted to hear that you were able to relax at Ginkaku-An like a
second home in Kyoto. I'm also very grateful for how clean and
considerate you were during your stay. I hope you were able to use the
bus passes to make some nice memories here. I hope you will with us
here again at Ginkaku-An during your next trip to Kyoto. If any of
your friends should come we will welcome them with open arms as well.
I'm truly sorry if my inability to speak English caused you any
inconvenience during your stay.
Fumiko Asada
Ginkaku-An
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| 06/30/08 |
Positive
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This is a lovely small house, perfect if you want to enjoy a relaxed morning
before touring the beautiful Philosopher's path and Ginkakuji Temple, both of which are just 2 blocks away. The house is on a small quiet street a short block from the mostly pedestrian road that leads to the Silver Pavillion, Philosopher's path, and to bus and taxi stands that allow access to the rest of Kyoto. There is a small kitchen which we used mostly for breakfast, purchasing provisions from two large markets a few blocks away.
Fumiko Asada was a gracious and very accommodating hostess, who went out of
her way to help us, even providing a laptop computer so we could access the
internet through a wired connection in the house.
Regards
Bill |
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Anonymous |
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Homeowner Response:
Thank you so much for staying at Ginkaku-An with your family! I hope
you were able to capture many memories with your camera. I truly
appreciate you keeping Ginkaku-An clean and beautiful during your stay
as well.
The next time you are in Kyoto, please consider staying again at
Ginkaku-An, Your Home in Kyoto!
Warm regards,
Fumiko Asada
Ginkaku-An
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| 06/30/08 |
Positive
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This is a lovely small house, perfect if you want to enjoy a relaxed morning
before touring the beautiful Philosopher's path and Ginkakuji Temple, both
of which are just 2 blocks away. The house is on a small quiet street a
short block from the mostly pedestrian road that leads to the Silver
Pavillion, Philosopher's path, and to bus and taxi stands that allow access
to the rest of Kyoto. There is a small kitchen which we used mostly for
breakfast, purchasing provisions from two large markets a few blocks away.
Fumiko Asada was a gracious and very accommodating hostess, who went out of
her way to help us, even providing a laptop computer so we could access the
internet through a wired connection in the house.
Regards
Bill |
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Anonymous |
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| 02/19/08 |
Positive
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Our family of 4 had the great pleasure of staying in
this charming home in early February. Fumiko
Asada's hospitality was very welcoming. The home
was exactly as described, and we were sad to leave
it so soon. The location was superb for
sightseeing; the area is filled with restaurants and
shops, and is very close to the Philosopher's Walk,
which was especially beautiful on one of the snowy
mornings. Of course we were not able to see
everything we wanted to see in Kyoto, so I guess
that means we'll have to return someday! |
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The Ulses Family, Virginia, USA |
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Homeowner Response:
Thank you very much for staying at Ginkaku-An!
I'm also very happy that you had a good trip to Japan and enjoyed your
stay at Ginkaku-An and the Kyoto winter.
Thank you so much for keeping everything so tidy during your stay. I
was very impressed by how friendly you were. Your family was also very
kind and polite. Even though we couldn't speak the same language I was
very happy to meet you all and have you stay at Ginkaku-An. It seems
like your adorable children have been raised with a lot of love, so I
am sure they are going to grow into great people! I can still remember
their smiles.
There are lots places and things to see in Kyoto. If you should happen
to visit again, please stay at Ginkaku-An as your home here. I look
forward to seeing you all again.
Many blessings for you and your family,
Fumiko Asada
Ginkaku-An
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| 02/11/08 |
Positive
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I stayed at this charming house about a week at the beginning of last autumn. Sorry Asada-san (the kindest landlady of this house) to upload my comment so late. Anyway, We really loved this house.
As other people already noted, it's very close to Gingaku-ji Temple and philosopher's walk. With a one day bus ticket, you have no problem to go anywhere around Kyoto from this excellent base station. You can cook by yourself or Asada-san can recommend you good restaurants around the place. There are 3 big supermarkets around there to buy anything you want.
The atmosphere is very quite and calm down. You can feel real Kyoto life at this house. The house is a kind of modern traditional Japanse house. It has a kitchen / dining room, a TV room, a toilette and a bathroom in the first floor and a japanse style tadami bedroom and a study with a desk (computer-windows98 and high speed internet-free of charge) and a single bed. There is a high speed internet plug in the dining room also. You can bring out two bicycles (also free of charge) waiting for your touch in the small garden to explore Kyoto street and river side in very Japanese way. The house and garden is very clean and well maintained.
Asada-san (the land lady) and her husband are very kind to give me good Japanse tea, great Kyoto Tofu and even farewell gifts. Her Japanese is very good but her English is short. she use a mobile phone to connect you with her translator at any time.
Have a great time in Kyoto Ginkaku-an !!
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Jungkwon Heo, Seoul, Korea |
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Homeowner Response:
Thank you both for coming to stay at Ginkaku-An, and for taking the
time to write such a wonderful comment. Even though you had to stay at
a regular hotel for a few days due to another reservation you kindly
understood and then still chose to stay at Ginkaku-An. By means of
apology and gratitude, I tried to give you my best service.
I truly appreciate your neat and careful use of Ginkaku-An as "your
home in Kyoto". It really told me a lot about what good people you
are.
It seems that you got a good taste of Kyoto life while riding around
the city on bike and bus. I'm looking forward to your next visit.
Starting from the middle of March, I am opening "Craft Shop
Ginkaku-An" in my home next door to Ginkaku-An. I'm doing my best to
make sure it has a very relaxing atmosphere.
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| 02/11/08 |
Positive
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| My families( 2 adults & 2 kids)stayed here for 11 days in this winter. Though the weather was pretty cold but we had a very good time in Ginkakuan. It located in a very quiet place, just walked a few minutes to Gingakuji temple and "Path of Philosophy". The house was very clean and just comfortable. The landlad was very kind and warm. It is a really wonderful place which brings travellers nice Kyoto stay. |
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Ivonne Chen, Taipei, Taiwan
0966-686038 |
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Homeowner Response:
Thank you for staying at Ginkaku-An!
I was happy to have your family come to Kyoto from Taipei. Your
children seemed to really enjoy the snow; they were so cute! I hope
you were able to capture many memories with your camera. Your wife is
very good at Japanese! I appreciated receiving her polite e-mails.
I really appreciate your keeping Ginkaku-An clean during your stay. I
hope you were able to feel at home as well.
It was really unfortunate that you could not stay for the time period
you first applied for. Another guest had already made a reservation at
the time.
The next time you come to Kyoto, please stay again at "Your Home in
Kyoto, Ginkaku-An"!
Fumiko Asada
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| 01/22/08 |
Positive
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Our family of 5 (2 adults and 3 children) stayed for 3 nights at this charming Ryokan.The house is located in a very quiet street close to the Silver Temple and other temples on the Philosper's Walk.Although the house is situated about 15 minutes out of the centre of Kyoto,it is easy to get into the centre and other parts by bus or taxi.
The owner is very kind and helpful and rang a translator twice to enable queries of ours to be quickly answered.
For those wanting a traditional stay in Japan,we recommend the house.
Christina |
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Anonymous, Sydney,Australia |
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Homeowner Response:
Thank you very much for staying at Ginkaku-An!
I'm very happy to hear that you and your family were able to enjoy
winter in Kyoto. Your family was wonderful to have stay at Ginkaku-An,
and such cheerful and well-mannered children!
Do please stay again at Ginkaku-An as your home in Kyoto! Many
blessings for you and your family.
Fumiko Asada
Ginkaku-An
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| 12/25/07 |
Positive
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We were 3 adults that stayed at this lovely townhouse towards the end of December.
This is my 2nd time to Kyoto and I just loved this house! The location is wonderful, very serene and a two minute walk to the Silver Temple. The house itself is located down a very quiet, very Japanese lane. Although not close to a tube station, we took buses everywhere and they are very very easy to navigate.
Inside, the house is decorated very nicely, spotlessy clean and has everything you could want or need.
Fumiko Asada, the owner can't do enough to make sure you are happy and comfortable.
I would not hesitate to recommend this house to anyone. It was one of the highlights of our trip!
Stephen
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Stephen Lock, Vancouver, BC
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Homeowner Response:
Thank you for your stay at our Ginkaku-An.
I am glad because you seem to have enjoyed the winter Kyoto
with our Ginkaku-An.
You were handsome and courteous because you stayed at
our Ginkaku-An politely as your home.
Please use our house when you will come to Kyoto again.
I look forward to meeting you again.
Sincerely,
Ginkaku-An, Fumiko Asada
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| 11/29/07 |
Positive
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| I stayed at the Ginkakuan for one week with my parents. The house was extremely clean with a typical Japanese atmosphere. Everything is available to enjoy a perfect stay, from broadband internet to nice furniture. Although located near the overcrowded Ginkakuji-michi, it is very calm because located in a narrow street. The Ooya-san Ms. Asada was also very helpful and made our stay perfect. I highly recommend this house for anyone who wishes to stay in Kyoto for one week or more. |
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BARIANT JF, Tokyo
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Homeowner Response:
Thank you for staying at Ginkaku-An!
I am happy to hear you and your parents were able to enjoy the late
autumn in Kyoto. For the latter half of the stay, it was only the
parents, but though our words couldn't be understood, we were able to
convey our feelings through gestures. I am honored to have had your
strong yet gentle father and your mother, great at housework and with
a wonderful smile, stay at Ginkaku-An. Please send them my kindest
regards!
You can use the points you've earned from this last stay towards a
discount on your next stay at Ginkaku-An. I am looking forward to it!
Thank you again!
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