Machiya Residence Inn is a company that specializing in taking old homes, renovating them, and modernizing the interiors while still maintaining the traditional Japanese aesthetic. We stayed in one of the houses, Gion Shirakawa Kouki. It’s in the heart of Kyoto’s Gion district and has tons of space and all of the amenities found in hotels (and then some, including a kitchenette, laundry machine and two bathrooms), minus in-room dining and daily housekeeping. But everything else is there. For large(-r) groups of tourists and families, Machiya Residence is a great choice. It’s also much more cost effective than staying in a suite room at a mid-range hotel, which will likely come at a higher cost.
