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Our Machiya Rental in Kyoto, Japan

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This is a continuation of my Japan/China trip report. See also Back from China and Japan Trip! 5 Takeaways, Worth it: JAL Premium Economy Award Seats, Better Than Expected: AA Premium Economy Shanghai PVG to DFW, Hits and Misses from our day at Tokyo DisneySea, Take this Line and Shove It (Literally): Shanghai Disneyland Hits and Misses, Dormy Inn Shibuya Jingumae Hot Spring in Tokyo, Highlights of our Tokyo Shenanigans, Surprise Upgrade at Hyatt Regency Tokyo Bay, Our Machiya Rental in Kyoto (this post)

My original plan for lodging in Kyoto was to use points for a few rooms at Hyatt Place Kyoto. But Leana’s post about staying in a traditional Japanese townhouse (machiya) convinced me to seek out a machiya that would fit all 6 of us.

Booking the Machiya

It took some research to find a machiya in Kyoto that fit my requirements of:

  • At least one bedroom with a Western-style bed instead of traditional Japanese floor mattresses (for me and my husband, we’re old!)
  • At least two bathrooms

Many of the machiyas I found for rent either had all traditional floor mattresses or just one bathroom. So I didn’t really have too many to choose from.

Thankfully, I found BenTen Residences online. I booked the BenTen East unit through Booking.com (our affiliate link). The cost was around $400/night, including all taxes and fees.

Location and Arrival

The BenTen East machiya is in a great location in one of the old, traditional sections of Kyoto. The streets were very narrow, and the area had a lot of character. We were just a 7-minute walk away from this:

A narrow, cobblestone street lined with traditional wooden buildings leads to a tall, multi-tiered pagoda in the distance. The sky is clear with a few clouds, and there are trees and a lamppost along the street.

The machiya was a short distance to several temples, and we saw many locals and visitors walking around in traditional Japanese clothing.

A stone pathway lined with greenery and traditional stone lanterns leads into the distance. Several people wearing colorful kimonos are walking along the path. The sky is overcast, and the surrounding area is lush with trees and bushes.

We were only about a 10-minute walk to the Kamo River and the popular Shijo-dori shopping area, with tons of restaurants and shops.

The property manager had been in touch with us on WhatsApp, and he met us at the townhome when we arrived. He showed us how to get inside and demonstrated how to use the amenities.

The Machiya

The townhome is a duplex, with its sister property attached (BenTen West). We never heard our neighbors during our stay.

The image shows a traditional Japanese-style building on a quiet street. The building has a wooden facade with vertical slats and a tiled roof. There are power lines and a utility pole visible on the left side of the image. The sky is partly cloudy, and there is a small vehicle parked on the right side.

The main area had a small sofa and a table with floor chairs. The sliding glass door revealed a small rock garden. A sliding wooden door led to the downstairs bathroom (with tub and shower) plus the washer/dryer combo. We used the washing machine, but unfortunately the drying part of it was not great. But, that is common in Europe and Asia.

The image shows a cozy living room with a minimalist design. There is a dark gray sofa on the left with patterned cushions and a blanket. A wooden coffee table is in the center of the room, and a sliding glass door with a view of a small outdoor area is at the back. The floor is made of light wood, and there is a tall, slim fan or heater next to the sofa. The room has a warm, inviting atmosphere.

The kitchen itself was quite small, but it suited our needs since we only ate breakfast in the unit. The restaurants in Japan are just too good, so we didn’t plan on cooking lunches/dinners at the rental. The higher table had 6 seats.

The image shows a modern kitchen with a wooden dining table and four matching chairs. The table has various items on it, including a bright orange shopping bag, papers, and a few other objects. The kitchen area in the background features a sink, a microwave, and some kitchen appliances. Two pendant lights hang above the table, and the room has wooden and neutral-toned walls and flooring.

Upstairs, the small loft had a seating area:

The image shows a small seating area on a landing with a dark wooden bench. There are three cushions on the bench: two are round with a patchwork design in yellow and floral patterns, and one is a green hexagonal cushion. The area is enclosed by metal railings, and there are two pendant lights hanging from the ceiling above. A small white device is on the floor near the bench.

The Western bedroom with two beds plus a walk-in closet:

The image shows a minimalist bedroom with two low beds placed side by side on a wooden floor. The beds have white bedding and pillows. The room features a wooden accent wall with a shelf above the beds, holding a few items. A shoji-style sliding door is visible on the right side, adding a traditional Japanese touch to the room. The lighting is soft and warm, creating a cozy atmosphere.

The hallway had a small bathroom, and on the other side was a bedroom with traditional Japanese floor mattresses:

A room with a tatami mat floor features a low bed with white rumpled bedding. Clothes and a pair of shoes are scattered on the bed. A wooden side table holds a few items, including a wrapped package. A shoji screen window allows diffused light into the room.

Downstairs behind the kitchen was another bedroom similar to this one.

Overall, we loved the machiya, and I’m glad we chose it over a regular hotel. The location just couldn’t be beat, and I’m glad we found a traditional rental with the beds and bathrooms we needed.

Author: Nancy

Nancy lives near Dallas, Texas, with her husband and three kids. Her favorite vacations include the beach, cruising and everything Disney.

Comments

  1. Aleks says

    Nice place you found. Seems like pretty ideal for 6 people, and location is great.
    We stayed at Crown Plaza Kyoto in a nice room with western bed but Japanese bathroom (which we loved). The hotel is right across the castle and also close to many other attractions. Kyoto is full of nice small neighborhoods that travelers wants to explore, including food, temples, gardens – some of then not on the maps, so best just wonder around on foot, and explore.

    Happy travels!!

    Reply

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