7 best machiya hotels and guest houses in Kyoto

Tucked away in Kyoto’s lively downtown area, The Machiya Kazahaya is a renovated traditional townhouse with six stylish rooms. At two of the rooms you’ll find a fully equipped kitchen plus a washer and dryer, ideal for big groups or those looking to stay longer. Regardless of size, each room is tastefully decorated with contemporary furniture and art including traditional indigo-dyed sayagata textiles. Original features from the building such as the wooden beams are still showcased throughout the machiya.

Rooms from ¥11,900 per person per night.

For affordable luxury, Candeo Hotel Kyoto Karasuma Rokkaku is your best bet. The hotel is built around the 125-year-old former Ban family residence, an authentic machiya that's a designated cultural property. The entire machiya has been beautifully restored and refurbished, including the house’s original features such as tatami mat rooms and stone courtyard. The family's former kimono shop, which was attached to the residence, is now the hotel lobby and lounge. While the hotel rooms are not part of the original structure, they’ve been designed to fit in seamlessly with the machiya.

Rooms from ¥22,420 per person per night.

Set inside a restored 100-year-old townhouse, this boutique accommodation has just three suites. Each of them features sophisticated interiors whilst preserving classic Japanese design elements. You’ll find gorgeous details in all the rooms including textured Japanese paper by craftsman Hatano Wataru, Shigaraki tableware, and beautiful sashiko stitched pillows. One of the suites even has a bathtub overlooking Toyokuni Shrine. Maana Kiyomizu shares the townhouse with two other businesses: café Kissa Kishin and shop POJ Studio.

Rooms from ¥73,001 per night for two people.

Located just minutes from Kyoto's famous Nishiki Market, Hiramatsu Kyoto’s late 19th-century Kyo-machiya was restored by architect Nakamura Sotoji Komuten, who specialises in sukiya tea house designs. It’s now home to 29 rooms and a beautiful bamboo courtyard. The hotel retains the historical townhouse’s original features such as exterior lattice windows and earthen walls. It's worth staying here just for the food as the hotel has two exquisite restaurants: Izumi, specialising in traditional kappo-style cuisine, and La Luce offering modern Italian.

Rooms from ¥79,420 per person per night.

This gorgeous Nazuna Kyoto Gosho in central Kyoto is made up of two Kyo-machiya. Just a ten-minute walk from the Kyoto Imperial Palace and Nijo Castle, this ryokan is perfectly placed as a base to explore Kyoto’s main attractions. There are seven rooms themed after different wagashi, or traditional Japanese sweets, plus a serene Japanese garden shielded away from the city’s hustle and bustle. To top it all off, your stay comes with Japanese breakfast and complimentary beverages in the evening.

Rooms from ¥80,700 per person per night.