Gion Kinpyo

Japan , Kyoto
KYOTO, 335 Miyoshicho Higashiyama Ku
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50 reviews shown

8/10

Excellent

28 Dec 2025

Jihun

Great experience and awesome staff. The only thing we don’t like is we can’t bring our luggage to our room. We left our luggage in down stairs and up and down hundreds times when we need something.

Except that everything was acceptable. Thank you for everything.

10/10

Exceptional

31 Oct 2025

David

This place was a dream, I thought the listing was too good to be true and was delighted with it! Yuka who checked us in and communicated with us during the trip was so incredibly helpful, we felt right at home. Easy walk to some key spots we wanted to see and the subway line.

Partner

2/10

Poor

01 Jul 2025

Michael

Not what I expected. AC everywhere was great though and the location is very good.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

12 Jun 2025

Kevin

It was an amazing experience

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

10 Apr 2025

Brad

This stay was absolutely wonderful, and the host was extremely attentive and understanding. The entire house is very well kept, and everything is in great condition. The bedroom and linens were very comfortable, and the large window in the room let's you wake up to a nice natural light (or block it out entirely if that's your thing).

We arrived a bit later than expected, and that wasn't an issue. We were given a full tour of the house and amenities along with instructions on how everything worked.

10/10

Exceptional

30 Mar 2025

Christina

The setting was amazing and perfect for casual photos with our kimono rental. The host was friendly and helpful.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

03 Feb 2025

Kevin

It’s the cutest little house, with nice living room and comfortable bedroom!

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

08 Nov 2024

Kevin

Had a pleasant stay here, location is great. Host was very nice and helpful

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

25 Oct 2024

Juli

Beautiful property, great communication and close by to major areas. Will definitely visit again!

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

01 Oct 2024

Simon

Beatiful property. Great restaurants nearby. Walkable to local attractions. Quiet. Lovely bath.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

06 Sep 2024

Mahyar

This place was amazing! Highly recommend and would come back for sure. Worth every penny paid. The host was accommodating and very kind and helpful.

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

05 Aug 2024

Christian

Great location, warm feel, friendly host. It has it all.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

28 Jul 2024

Narinchai

great stay

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

16 Jul 2024

Jennifer

This is a very special place - we absolutely loved staying here and felt very honored to be able to so! It is an excellent location, close to everything we needed including two train stations, restaurants and shops, laundromat, two convenience stores, and lovely walks. We especially enjoyed walking along the river canal in the evening. The place itself is historic and wonderfully appointed with antiques, as well as very spacious, the most spacious place we stayed in throughout our long trip through Japan. Our host was very kind and we lacked for nothing. I don't recommend it for those with mobility issues, as the stairs to the second floor where the bedroom and toilet are located are steep and narrow. Otherwise, if you would like to experience a little of 'old' Kyoto and have an apartment to yourself, this is it!

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

10 May 2024

Sarah

The property offered a unique opportunity to stay in a historic building with a unique story. Lots of interesting antique stores in the vicinity and good access to transportation nodes.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

06 Mar 2024

Sarah

We loved the building. Unique and traditional but had wonderful modern upgrades that fit the style beautifully.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

20 Feb 2024

Yifen

This place is elegant and charming. The host welcomed us warmly. It has a small library and my kids were thrilled at its comic book collection.

Business Family

10/10

Exceptional

10 Dec 2023

Ka Yan

Amazing stay

Loved it. The place used to be a sake brewery and the place smells like sake. The sake bath was also very nice. The place was very clean and special.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

10 Nov 2023

CHRISTOPHER

We had an amazing time! This is a great location near Gion with easy access to the neighborhood and all of the sights.

On top of this, the property is spacious and comfortable and the hosts are extremely welcoming and helpful.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

27 Oct 2023

Militsa

Great place in the middle of Gion

Great authentic Kyoto home! We truly enjoyed our stay; location next to many restaurants was super convenient, sleeping at futons, taking a wooden hinoki bath and enjoying Japanese breakfast was a great experience.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

15 Apr 2023

Michael

One of the best experiences of our whole trip to Japan!

Leisure Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

06 Apr 2023

Kimberly Lanae

This is an excellent property at a great value! The owner was very welcoming. The house is beautiful and in a great location.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

08 Mar 2023

Nicholas

Best honeymoon ever!

Our hostess was incredibly sweet and helpful. The house was more than enough space and in a perfect location. It was a godsend after staying in a tiny room in Tokyo! We would absolutely stay there again. 10/10.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

07 Jul 2019

Excellent quiet location. Breakfast option was great. Perfect for our family of 4

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

05 Jun 2019

Nicole M.

Wonderful stay

We loved the house!! It was such a fun experience staying here and we appreciated all the thoughtfulness and flexibility of our phenomenal hosts. My one piece of feedback is I would've liked to have received check-in information a couple of days before our trip. I had to reach out to figure out what we were supposed to do once we arrived in Kyoto. But we got in contact with them and everything afterwards was perfect. Thanks so much for having us!

10/10

Exceptional

22 Feb 2019

Elle

Amazing experience in this wonderful old building full of history

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

31 Jan 2019

Iris

Wonderful old house!

It was an impressive traditional Japanese town house, the owner kept it very well. Bathroom facilities are modern. It is spacious, 2 stories, decorated with various owner’s collections and fresh flowers in every room. We had a wonderful time during our stay.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

05 Nov 2018

Verified traveler

A beautiful machiya in the Gion district. What's not to love?

10/10

Exceptional

19 Oct 2018

Verified traveler

Beautiful house, excellent location. Very spacious.

10/10

Exceptional

10 Aug 2018

Lazar

One word: excellent!
A part of Japanese heaven!
No doubt to choice this place...

10/10

Exceptional

14 Apr 2018

Roy

Unique Japanese Townhouse

Wonderful and unique property. Really enjoyed our stay.

8/10

Excellent

13 Apr 2018

Siu Har

Nice host and convenient!

Family

10/10

Exceptional

22 Feb 2018

Verified traveler

This is a very traditional Japanese house (200 years house) and I am impressed by how the owner maintained its origins.

10/10

Exceptional

25 Dec 2017

Jeffrey

Amazing and authentic Kyoto experience

This is a very authentic machiya experience: tatami floors, futons rolled out on the floor, a deep soaking wooden tub, a historic building (it used to be a sake brewery). The machiya is in outstanding shape--cleanliness, modern amenities (wifi, AC, Japanese bidet).

(Note that part of the authenticity means no western beds, a steep traditional staircase up to the second floor, and the primary seating is also on tatami mats, so for those with mobility disabilities, it might not be the best choice.)

It is located in Gion, about 5 minutes to the Shijo Dori shopping street, and steps away from some of Kyoto's best restaurants. A convenience store is also less than 100m away. Maps and brochures about Kyoto are also available and free to take.

The staff (who appear to be a mother and daughter team, and who live nearby) speak good English and are extremely friendly and also eager to help. They provide daily cleaning and trash removal, which is nice. They also leave lovely little treats for guests each evening. Breakfast is optional ($$), but we didn't do it this trip, so all I can say is that it is available.

We've stayed in Kyoto machiyas four times now, in a different machiya each time, and we've been delighted with all of them. But this one stands out for its exquisite historical beauty and modern conveniences, helpful on-site staff, and excellent location.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

09 Dec 2017

Hon Sum Sam

What an amazing GEM in Kyoto, you are actually staying in a living museum but with extraordianry home feel services including sake bath, the house owner is the 10th generation of the family who was a sake brewery before, you still can see some of the equipment back in centuries ago! It's a huge duplex,and the owner provides two bicycles for the residence to use, you can feel free cycling around and explore Kyoto! There is a small kitchen for you to do some cooking as well. Surely will give you an Unforgettable experience in Kyoto.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

01 Sep 2017

John

Unique property with great traditional appeal

Loved this place! It was an amazing experience living in such a historic space. While we didn't have all of the creature comforts of a 4-star hotel, it was exactly what we wanted for a traditional Japanese living experience. Totally amazing!

10/10

Exceptional

21 May 2017

Pricy but worth every penny

Full of traditional vibe without compromising convenience of a modern life. My two friends and I spent a truly memorable night with endless chats and snacks

Family

6/10

Pleasant

01 May 2017

Verified traveler

It's a bit dark, wish it could be brighter. Windows were completely shut and boarded.

10/10

Exceptional

04 Feb 2017

Daniel

A traditional experience

We spent three nights and loved every minute of our stay.
The owners were very kind and even spoke a little bit of English. They provided us with maps and brochures of the area and answered questions about local attractions.
As a gift they had stocked the refrigerator with bottles of delicious Sake and beer. The lady of the house also provided us with warabi mochi and hand-whisked green tea upon checking in.
Contrary to what was stated on the Expedia listing, free WiFi was provided.
Highly recommended.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

24 Nov 2016

Fernando

Amazing place! What a pleasure to stay here!

From the moment we arrived we truly felt at home. The owners were so nice and welcoming. They did everything in their power to make us feel special. They helped with instructions around the area, best places to visit, restaurants etc... They took the time and explained to our 5 and 8 year old the history of their home and all 10 generations that had lived there. The history behind it was truly amazing.

The actual house is beautiful! The photos do not do justice. Extremely clean and they really put a lot of attention to detail. You truly get to experience a traditional Japanese home. They do set up the beds on the floor but they are very, very comfortable!

I have to words to describe what a beautiful place and experience this was! Highly recommend!

10/10

Exceptional

04 Sep 2016

Amanda

The best experience! The owners were so kind and helpful with recommendations, even bringing us fresh cut fruit as a surprise. The townhouse is beautifully kept and it felt like we had the keys to a museum in a way. The location is excellent for exploring Gion and also close to a subway. 5 stars.

10/10

Exceptional

22 Aug 2016

Verified traveler

Beautiful

A beautiful house from another time, full of history, all for you, with beautiful furniture, all comfort, renovated with care, and excellent location. very much recommended

10/10

Exceptional

28 Jul 2016

Truly historic

Amazing stay in a traditional townhouse in the Gion. Friendly and helpful owners. Very private stay in a quiet location. Easy to tour the main regions of Kyoto from this stay. Traditional bath made it feel a little like a spa.

10/10

Exceptional

17 Apr 2016

Brenda

Beautiful place. Photos don't do it justice.

Welcoming hosts. Very helpful with lots of information, maps and lonely planet guides. Organised luggage delivery for us.

Beautiful place with 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Very spacious. Great location. We walked everywhere. Train station 5 minutes away.

10/10

Exceptional

08 Feb 2016

Verified traveler

Amazing experience, a must do.
The place is gorgeous and well located.
We had a Japanese person with us, that helped with the communication but It didn't seemed that that would be a problem anyway.

10/10

Exceptional

21 Jan 2016

Verified traveler

loved this house. the owners were so gracious .

Had the best time in Kyoto staying here. Most gracious hosts. Townhouse was beautiful and so comfortable. In great location. We loved the feel of having an experience like this. Definitely would recommend.

8/10

Excellent

13 Nov 2015

Hilary

Traditional Japanese Experience

This is a traditional Japanese town house-genuinely 200 years old. The owner speaks reasonably English and is quite helpful. I loved it but sleeping on a futon on the floor did not go down so well for my husband.
Just one word of warning-we were told that the contents of the fridge were complementary but were then charged for tow small bottles of Saki...this might have simply have been a misunderstanding.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

18 Oct 2015

Russell

Loved it!

Gion-Kinpyo is a renovated townhouse that we had to ourselves, like a condominium. The accommodation is charming and spacious, and the soaking tub is a great way to relax after a day of sightseeing. Our hosts were friendly and helpful, and while they don't have a full command of English, we had no problem communicating. All in all, it's a great alternative to a ryokan.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

14 Jul 2015

Verified traveler

Awesome traditional japanese house in kyoto.

Great place. Centrally located in kyoto. Easy walking distance to many temples and restaurants by the river.

10/10

Exceptional

07 Jul 2015

Verified traveler

Amazing Gem!

Incredible find! It is an amazingly updated but clearly historic structure. Fantastic change of pace after staying a luxury high rise in Tokyo but just as much as fun. Layout is a little funky but we loved it. We went with small children and the only thing to note is the steepness of the staircase (though there is a door that can close off the stairs). Hosts are so lovely-- went out of their way to be extremely available, bent over backwards to make sure they accommodated our needs. Would stay here again in a second!

Family