Japan: slow cities and a ryokan
Tokyo, a ryokan in the hills, and Kyoto with mornings left open.
A private restored machiya townhouse in Kyoto with a courtyard, a cedar bath, and a guide on call.
A townhouse rather than a hotel gives a family or a couple a quiet base in the old streets. Tatami rooms, a small garden, and a bath to end the day.
- Type
- house
- Where
- Japan, East Asia
- Suited to
- Couples · Families · Longer stays
- Best time
- Late March to April for blossom; October to November for colour. May, June, and September are quieter and still excellent.
Why we like it
What makes Kyoto machiya work
- A restored townhouse on a quiet lane, with the old city on foot and a kitchen for early mornings.
- Space for a family or two couples in a city where hotel rooms are small.
- A guide for the first day, then the freedom to wander.
Good to know
Before you decide
- Sleeps four to six; shoes off at the door and tatami in some rooms.
- Spring blossom and autumn colour are the busiest and most beautiful times.
- Pairs naturally with a ryokan night in Hakone or the Japanese Alps.
Part of
Journeys that use this stay
Nearby
Other stays in Japan
Hakone ryokan
A private onsen bath and a kaiseki dinner.
Build a journey around Kyoto machiya
A specialist replies within one working day with a first private proposal: stays, pacing, and a guide price. No planning fee for the first conversation.