Machiya Inn Kyoto (京町家の宿) is the machiya-stay brand operated in Kyoto by Machiya Inn Co., Ltd. We do not want to present a machiya only as a brief stage for sightseeing. We want to offer time spent in the house itself, in a place closer to everyday Kyoto life.
This article explains why we began offering machiya stays, what we care about during a stay, and how to find the correct official websites.
How the machiya stays began
One starting point was a stay in a bungalow in Bali. Unlike a large hotel or a dormitory, the stay brought contact with local children and daily life, and made it possible to come a little closer to the ordinary rhythm of the place. That left a strong impression.
From that experience came a question: could Kyoto also have a place where staying itself became time spent with a neighbourhood and the air of the town?
The operator spent about seven years as a tour conductor, working with travel in Japan and abroad. Completing an itinerary was not the whole of the work. The distance from local life and from people was what made travel memories deeper. That idea became a starting point for using Kyoto machiya as places to stay.
In 2003, as a backpacker, the operator visited Hunza in northern Pakistan and continued overland into China on the Karakoram Highway. Travelling not only between tourist sites, but in contact with local life and the presence of people, also led to the idea of beginning machiya stays in Kyoto.
Starting machiya stays while checking law and safety
Using a machiya as accommodation takes more than arranging the atmosphere of the building. The Building Standards Act, the Inns and Hotels Act, the Fire Service Act, and the actual running of each house all had to be checked against their own conditions.
To balance the wish to retain older buildings with guest safety and consideration for neighbours, we moved forward one step at a time, repeatedly checking requirements with the relevant authorities.
This article does not offer a general explanation of the rules or legal advice. Current requirements differ by building and by the form of the business. Anyone considering converting a machiya into accommodation needs to check the details with the administration and with specialists for that case.
What we care about in a whole-house stay
In our machiya stays, the same group can have exclusive use of a house or a self-contained unit. That does not mean every property is a physically detached building. Layouts, facilities, bedrooms, stairs, and changes in floor level differ from house to house.
A machiya is not a hotel guest room. You move through an entrance, kitchen, bathroom, living room, and bedrooms. Because the buildings are wooden, sound travels easily, and in a residential neighbourhood it is also necessary to be careful with late-night conversation and the sound of wheeled suitcases.
Convenience is not the only point. Living with the long-standing shape of the house, and spending time in a neighbourhood where people still live, are both part of a machiya stay.
Staying in a Kyoto machiya describes how time in the house feels. For what to know before you arrive, see Preparing for a machiya stay.
Machiya Inn Kyoto and the official websites
Our brand name is 京町家の宿 in Japanese and Machiya Inn Kyoto in English. The operating company is Machiya Inn Co., Ltd.
The official websites have different roles.
machiya-inn.com: the brand, machiya culture, and articles for travelling in Kyotomachiya-inn.net: property details, rates and availability, and guidance to official booking
To look for a stay, start from our Kyoto machiya townhouses.
Frequently asked questions
Are 京町家の宿 and Machiya Inn Kyoto the same?
Yes. They are the Japanese and English names of the same accommodation brand. Machiya Inn Co., Ltd. operates it.
Is there a relationship with other machiya-stay brands?
No. Machiya Inn Kyoto (京町家の宿) is an independent brand operated by Machiya Inn Co., Ltd. It is a different company and brand from the operator of Machiya Residence Inn Kyoto (町家レジデンスイン京都), and there is no capital relationship or operational relationship.
Is every property a detached house?
You can have exclusive use of the stay, but not every property is a physically detached building. Some stays use a whole house, and others use a self-contained unit in a row of machiya. Check the information for each property for the exact layout and facilities.
Where can I check properties and availability?
Go from our Kyoto machiya townhouses to the information for each property, then check availability from the official booking guidance at the bottom of the page.
