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≪5 min to subway!≫ Simoza-an Traditional house in the heart of Kyoto 1F

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2 bedrooms, desk, iron/ironing board, travel crib
2 bedrooms, desk, iron/ironing board, travel crib
Point of interest
Property grounds
Pool

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

2 bedrooms1 bathroom

Popular amenities

  • Hot Tub
  • Washer
  • Outdoor Space
  • Air conditioning
  • Kitchen
  • Dryer

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

≪5 min to subway!≫ Simoza-an Traditional house in the heart of Kyoto 1F

*This Shimoza-An is the lower unit of a two-storied Machiya townhouse. There is another unit on the second floor and will be used by other guests however you don't share anything including entrance!

Hello, everyone. We are Miyabi team and all staffs are Japanese.
We love to support our guests' travel.
If you want to know local information, please feel free to ask us!
We can also recommend local information and restaurants for you!

What we did as our hospitality for our guests.
・Meeting up with our guests at the house
・Send a information of events
・Making reservations of restaurants
・Making reservations of tickets of Geisha shows, Miyako Odori
・Applying tickets of SAIHOJI ( Kokedera : Moss temple )
・Helping our guests' travel plan before they arrive
・Taking our guests to the doctors
・Sending information of Typhoon and disaster information in advance
・Providing baby items ( Baby items are free： high chair, baby plates, baby potty and baby bath. )
※Please contact us in advance if you need them.
・Sending stuffs our guests left
・Sending airmail with pictures
・Sending snacks which our guests asked us to send. ( Ex, One of our guests enjoyed Kyoto snacks and they sent us a e-mail that they want to eat the same snacks again for kid's birthday. )

We would like to be the best host for you!


Shimoza-An is the lower level of almost 100 years old Kyoto machiya, traditional Kyoto townhouse.
Our New York architect based in Kyoto Geoffrey P. Moussas renovated it to make this old house a special place where to stay with your family and friends during your vacation in this beautiful historical city of Japan.

You can experience the old days Japanese life style while having modern amenities.
There are one tatami mats rooms where to sleep with futons, one bedroom with 2 single beds and a western style living room with table, chairs, sofa, modern kitchen, antique furniture, tub bath and shower, high-tech toilet, air conditioner, floor heating.
It is located on quiet Kamanza street that in few meters ends in Sanjo street, one of the oldest and main streets in Kyoto crossing the city from East to West. This street has been very important in the Kyoto history for many events happened here, and today you can enjoy the craft shops, the old houses, its museums and numerous art galleries, local temples and shrines or cafes, restaurants and the very exciting Shopping District, one of the oldest in Kyoto with also the most modern goods and latest fashion, and elegant department stores.
Nearby, in the other side of Horikawa street there is a calm and 60's-70' s atmosphere Sanjo shopping arcade. There are many kinds of shops and you can see local culture.
Shimoza-An is the perfect place in the mid of cultural, traditional, innovative Kyoto heart!

RATES ARE IN JAPANESE YEN.
US$ rates for reference only.
※ When you check in, please pay accommodation tax of Kyoto government.
This accommodation tax is not included in rental cost of the house.
Please pay by cash. The tax fee is depends on how much you payed for your rental cost.
If your rental cost is under 20000 JPY per person per night, the tax is 200 JPY per person per night.
(EX) If you are 3 people and you stay 3 nights, the accommodation tax will be
200 JPY × 3 people × 3 nights = 1800 JPY
If your rental cost is 20000 JPY to 49,999 JPY per person per night, the tax is 500 JPY per person per night.
(EX) If you are 2 people and you stay 2 nights, the accommodation tax will be
500 JPY × 2 people × 2 nights = 2000 JPY

※ Check in time is 4 PM - 8 PM
Leaving luggage before check in time (after 11:30 am) is available, please feel free to ask us if you need it.

If you arrive later than 8 pm, please let us know.

※A minimum of 2 nights stay is required

※Please let us know the number of people correctly.
If you come to the house more than the number of people you booked, we will charge you extra fee.
Person not registered for accommodation must refrain from staying overnight in the room.

You can have a look at other properties in Kiyomizu area: Shofu-an #438156 Bairin-an #438160.
In Aneyakoji area other 2 listings: Kaede VRBO#1077968 & Satsuki VRBO#1077956.
upper floor of shimoza-an is Kamiza-an: #514588

Property manager

Toshimitsu Negishi

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Property amenities

Pool/Spa

  • Hot tub

Internet

  • Available in the house: WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Car not required

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Electric kettle
  • Ice maker
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Stovetop

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 2 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 1 bathroom
  • Hair dryer
  • Shampoo
  • Shower/bathtub combination
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Living room
  • Separate dining area

Entertainment

  • TV

Outdoor areas

  • Garden

Laundry

  • Washing machine

Work spaces

  • Desk

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board
  • Phone

Location highlights

  • In the city center
  • Near a hospital

Things to do

  • Cycling nearby

Safety features

  • No carbon monoxide detector or gas appliances (host has indicated there are no carbon monoxide detectors or gas appliances on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • Garden

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  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
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Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Long-term renters welcome
Host has indicated there are no carbon monoxide detectors or gas appliances on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadbolt lock
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

We should mention

The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare requires all international visitors to submit their passport number and nationality when registering at any lodging facility (inns, hotels, motels, etc. ); additionally, lodging proprietors are required to photocopy passports for all registering guests and keep the photocopy on file
A car is not required for transportation to and from this property
Please note that some properties do not permit guests with tattoos to use the onsite public bathing facilities

Property is also known as

Easy to Access Traditional House in the Heart of Kyoto

About the neighborhood

Map
Kyoto, Kyoto (prefecture)

What's nearby

  • Shijo Street - 9 min walk - 0.8 km
  • Nijō Castle - 12 min walk - 1.0 km
  • Nishiki Market - 13 min walk - 1.1 km
  • Kawaramachi Street - 16 min walk - 1.4 km
  • Kyoto Imperial Palace - 5 min drive - 3.3 km

Getting around

  • Karasuma Oike Station - 6 min walk
  • Karasuma Station - 11 min walk
  • Itami Airport (ITM) - 61 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪煌力 - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪手毬寿司と日本茶宗田 - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪here COFFEE and CANELE - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪RISTRANTE ORTO - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪チンクエ イカリヤ - ‬3 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is ≪5 min to subway!≫ Simoza-an Traditional house in the heart of Kyoto 1F pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at ≪5 min to subway!≫ Simoza-an Traditional house in the heart of Kyoto 1F?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at ≪5 min to subway!≫ Simoza-an Traditional house in the heart of Kyoto 1F?

Check-out is at 11:00 AM.

Where is ≪5 min to subway!≫ Simoza-an Traditional house in the heart of Kyoto 1F located?

Located in Downtown Kyoto, this vacation home is within a 10-minute walk of Sanjo Street and Shijo Street. Nijō Castle and Nishiki Market are also within 15 minutes. Karasuma Oike Station is 6 minutes by foot and Nijojo-mae Station is 8 minutes.

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≪5 min to subway!≫ Simoza-an Traditional house in the heart of Kyoto 1F Reviews

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 25 out of 28 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 28 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 28 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 28 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 28 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Trent H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Perfect Japanese place for 3 of us.
After long days of walking and train rides, it was very relaxing to come back to this house. It was quiet, clean, safe, and very much felt Japanese to us. We would stay here again.
Stayed 5 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Mi n.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Cute place in a great spot in Kyoto
This was a great place to stay in Kyoto, although I’m a little too tall :). It’s in a great location and quiet. There was everything needed for a great stay! The host was very helpful and kind. Thank you!
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Karen B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Fabulous accommodations
We very much enjoyed our stay in this lovely, traditional home in Kyoto. We had plenty of space and every amenity we could want including a washing machine and a beautiful meditation garden The location was perfect too with so many shops and restaurants close by and everything else including the train lines, a short walk away. We would definitely come back!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Laura K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Amazing place!
This is a traditional Japanese home with modern amenities. The garden was so peaceful, and the shower/tub are phenomenal with an outdoors feel. The location is wonderful and communication with the host is fast and easy. Will stay here again if we make it back to Kyoto!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Sheri Z.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Perfect for our needs
Home is exactly as described and worked great for three adults. Modern bathroom and relaxing tub. A/C in all three rooms kept us cool and comfortable in July heat. Convenient for walking to restaurants and subways. Management is very helpful and responsive with an extensive guide to Kyoto, too. Would stay there again!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Olga S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Simply amazing!
This house has everything you might ever want. A great traditional feel, with advanced tech to meet your vacation needs. It’s spotlessly clean, comfortably located on a quiet street close to several attractions and grocery stores. The hosts are super nice and responded very quickly to any questions or requests we had. We are very thankful we chose this house for our week in Kyoto.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2019
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Joanie M., SAN DIEGO

Magic in Kyoto
Kyoto is wonderful city and this Machiya made it even more so. We spent five nights and enjoyed every moment. This is a lovely traditional house with great charm, yet modern amenities. It's in a perfect location. Very quiet, but near all the sights, shopping and transportation. The house was very clean and the shower is probably the best we have ever encountered. The futons were extremely comfortable. If we get a chance to return to Kyoto, this will be our place to stay.
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Michiko W.

Lovely home, wonderful stay!
We had the great fortune of being able to book Shimoza-an during cherry blossom season, and had a wonderful stay here! I cannot say enough good things about this place. I spent six weeks traveling through Asia with my family, and this was, without a doubt, our favorite place that we stayed at. The house is beautiful, the beds are comfortable, and I still dream about the bathroom... I don't know if it was just because the weather was a bit chilly during our stay, but the shower at the end of the day, followed by a nice soak in the deep tub... It was something to look forward to! We found food, transportation, and attractions easily accessible from here. I have zero complaints, and already know where I want to stay next time I am lucky enough to find myself back in Kyoto.

10/10 Excellent

Nick G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great place for a family
My family and I loved staying in this home. Old traditional house in the middle of Kyoto. Clean and lovely with plenty of space for us. Great place to stay with a family, a group of friends, or two couples traveling together. I wish there were clearer public transportation information. The address didn't register in google maps so we took a cab from Kyoto station. Within 15 minutes of checking in a very friendly person came to show us how to use all the appliances and showed us where everything was. He also collected a 3000 yen tax that we needed to pay to the city. Not sure why that wasnt included in the overall vrbo price but be aware and add that to your costs when figuring your budget. I believe it was a variable cost based on number of people and duration of stay so it will likely be different. 3000 paid for 5 people for three days. There was a terrific little cocktail bar a few blocks away called Tsukumo that made incredible in season only fresh fruit daquiris. Not usually my choice of drink but after tasting my wife's, it's all I ordered. This house was our favorite place we've stayed in Kyoto. It's now our go to when we go back.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Kelly K.

An unforgettable experience
Making reservation and payment was very straight forward. There was a hitch when we made our payment but the team was extremely helpful with it. Nothing was too much of a hassle even reservation of restaurants and taxi. Upon arriving, everything was already ready for us. The accommodation had everything we need. The air conditioner is definitely a massive plus given the very hot and humid autumn. Washing machine is also a dryer which is fantastic. Close to a subway exit and it is at the intersection of two lines. There is a pharmacy and 2 convenience stores close by. Overall it was a very comfortable stay for us all.
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Andrew W.

Perfect Vacation Home in Kyoto
This is our first family trip to Japan. With two young children, this property was perfect for our needs. It is in a very quiet and safe neighborhood with no busy tourism stuff going on. Yet it is very convenient by being close to subway stations and major streets. There is also a small market just several minutes of walking from the rental property, which has milk, bread, eggs etc in case we need anything. The house has the traditional charms and modern amenities. We enjoyed the shower particularly. The washer/dryer was definitely helpful when you have young kids traveling. It was very comfortable for the four of us with floor heating and air conditioning during a November stay. Mariko is very responsive, friendly and helpful. She speaks fluent English which is a great help for our stay. Prior to our arrival, she gave us tips on how to travel to Kyoto etc. During our stay, she recommended restaurants and even helped to make reservations for us. We have already recommended this property to several friends for their future consideration. We wish we had a longer stay to fully explore Kyoto and enjoy Shimoza-an.
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Carl W V.

Superb house in prime location with superb host.
Our first visit to Japan and to the beautiful city of Kyoto has given my wife and me enormous pleasure and its was an experience of a lifetime. A great part of the success of this incredible vacation was due to the quality and the location of the vacation house Shimoza-an and even more to our lovely host Mariko. First things first: Mariko's presence was a joy on its own, she is to us the personification of 'das Land des Lächelns', Japan as 'the country of smiles'. Her omnipresent assistance, the abundant fountain of information, her accompanying us on an introductory walk in the neighbourhood, Mariko as help desk at the phone when we needed her during our Kyoto walks, her tips for interesting addresses and people (on our request she even took us to a carpenter in Arashiyama for a talk about wood carving and Japanese chisels and whetting stones), her visiting the vacation house to check if we needed something: Mariko has been our ever smiling personal guide, private shopping assistant and interpreter. Arigatissimo, Mariko. You are a jewel in Kyoto's crown! We were lucky to stay in Shimoza-an for two weeks. And even after a brief Ryokan experience at the more than superb Shiraume Ryokan, we were glad to return to Shimoza-an, a large and comfortable renovated machiya close to Sanjo-dori. This is smack in the cosiest part of Kyoto city center and yet in an extremely quiet location in Kamanza-dori. No loud taxis during the night like in Gion, no drunk tourists, no unrealistic touristic surroundings like Gion, no crowds of school children shopping in souvenir and snack shops. This neighbourhood is real, with real Kyoto people, buying fruit at a local fruit stand, riding a bicycle to work or having a coffee at nearby Starbuck's. But also, the big shopping district is just a short walk away. Do not hesitate: Shimoza-an is the ideal place for a vacation in this miraculous, fantastic, beautiful, easy going city of Kyoto.

8/10 Good

William L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Very Nice
We enjoyed our stay, house was great and it is in a wonderful neighborhood
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

jose v., Orlando, USA

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Over all, very good.
Overall a very good experience.staff was very helpful and very attentive. The only drawback was The lack of sufficient towels for our stay. Two towels for two people for a few Days was not working for me. We had to clean them every day. But over all, a good experience and I’d recommend the apartment to any traveler.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2019

10/10 Excellent

Jessica R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
A lovely neighborhood
My sister stayed here a few years ago and I stayed here with my husband this weekend and loved it. A nice quiet "real" neighborhood with great small restaurants around the corner. The owners give you a great binder of info and make the planning adventures easy. The apartment is lovely- a nice oasis after a day of exploring.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2019

10/10 Excellent

Tomoe A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
大変満足しています
場所は地下鉄やバス停にも近く、様々な観光地巡りにも便利です。建物は伝統的な日本家屋で、海外からのお客様だけでなく、日本人にも古き良き家を堪能できます。（反面、2階の宿泊者の足音や音は少し気になる時もありますが） また、滞在中、ガラスを割るというアクシデントがありましたが、オーナーおよびスタッフの方には、逆に怪我がないか等気遣っていただきました。細やかな心遣いと配慮に恐縮しております。到着の際も、時間よりも早めにチェックインさせていただきました。おかげで大変気持ちよく、京都を満喫することができました。ありがとうございました。
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2019

8/10 Good

Ivo G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location
Lage im Netz
Bitte überprüfen Sie die Adresse in Google Maps bzw IOS

10/10 Excellent

Kylie T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Terrific Central Location
With easy and quick access to stations, restaurants and areas of importance.

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
We were are family of 5 adults and 1 toddler and there was enough space for us. The location and cleanliness of the accommodation was 10/10. There is a convenient store and starbucks just around the corner. The walk to the nearest train station is about 5 minutes. The host/staff was very friendly and helpful. Overall we enjoyed our stay very much.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2018
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

ALEXANDER B., Ocean Springs

Alex B.
We recently spent 5 nights at this wonderful traditional machiya which is close to the subway, restaurants, and grocery. We had five adults and one infant. Futons were set up in the tatami room for the younger adults and baby. Grandparents had the raised futons in the back room. The place was spotless and a real pleasure to stay in. It has been recently renovated to combine traditional elements with modern amenities. We appreciated the kitchen table, chairs, and sofa. The check-in and check-out procedures were efficient. There is not a lot of privacy between rooms which did not bother us. The bath and toilet are in the back and most easily accessible by going through the back bedroom (although it is possible to get to the bath from the kitchen by going through the laundry room, this is not real practical). This home is ideal for a couple or small family. We would stay here again.
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Arnaud L.

Very pleasant machiya
We enjoy our stay in this machiya, well located in the West part of Kyoto. The property is really convenient for 4 people. Lovely garden and comfortable bathroom. Warm and reliable welcoming by Mariko. Could have been excellent if the accommodation would have been less noisy (thin wooden doors, very noisy neighbours upstairs). But it´s nothing compared with the pleasure we had to visit Kyoto from there !
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Junchih(Tom) H.

Wonderful trip
Thank you so much for your wonderful accommodation. Our family was really enjoy our time in Kyoto.
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Anita L.

Idyllic home in Kyoto
My family recently spent a unforgettable fortnight at Shimoza-An and loved every minute of our stay. The property was conveniently located in a quiet, friendly neighbourhood with great restaurants and little cafes and bars yet it was only a short walk to the busy main streets and the subway/train station which made it so easy to get around. The house itself was a delight, so clean, comfortable and equipped with everything you could want, from the efficient, well stocked, modern kitchen to the luxurious bathtub looking out onto the tranquil garden. The decor was a pleasing mix of old and new, tatami mats, beautiful old chests and carved cabinet doors and then modern appliances, air conditioning, an impressive hi-tech toilet and a great Wi-Fi connection. I loved the sliding wooden doors and screens that allowed cooling breeze and dappled sunlight into the house. The bedrooms were comfy and restful and had plenty of storage space and I loved the little welcoming touches of arranged flowers, ice in the freezer and a jug of green tea cooling in the refrigerator. Our charming hostess Mariko greeted us warmly on arrival and explained the features of the house and how to use all the appliances. She also provided interesting brochures on local sights, events etc, maps where she pointed out handy shops like supermarkets and convenience stores, and contact details should we need any help or advice. Her warm assurances that she was happy to deal with any query was very comforting to the travel weary and she kindly and unobtrusively checked in with us later in our stay, to ensure we were enjoying our holiday and had everything we needed. We would highly recommend staying at Shimoza-An as it was not only a wonderfully relaxing house but it was lovely to feel part of the neighbourhood. Getting to know people in the local shops and exchanging greetings with the neighbours gave us a more personal experience of Kyoto and it's lovely people that will be treasured memories.
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Miya D.

A perfect stay in Kyoto!
We stayed in Shimoza-an for 4 days, and it was absolutely lovely! Mariko was extremely helpful, providing us with great directions, maps, and suggestions for local restaurants. This property is incredibly charming, clean, convenient, and well-maintained. It's in a great location - near to many small boutique eateries, grocery stores, and convenience stores; surrounded by plenty of public transportation options; and within walking distance of a number of bike rental shops (I would highly recommend renting bikes! Our favorite times were riding through this very bike-friendly city, on the banks of the Kamo River or amongst the many other cyclist, pedestrians, and drivers on the way to the many gorgeous, but crowded, temples and shrines). I would recommend this machiya to anyone and everyone -we definitely want to come back and stay at Shimoza-an again! Staying in this townhouse is the perfect way to enjoy and feel a part of this magical city.
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

laddawan a.

a nice charming machiya in kyoto worth checking out if you're in town
i feel very lucky that i made a decision to stay at shimoza-an. i fell in love with shimoza-an since i saw the blueprint shown on the website. it is a great idea to fix up a beautiful old machiya and fitted it with modern amenities. the place is very comfortable and convenient to live while maintaining an old charm of a warm and cosy machiya. besides, mariko san, our host, took care of us very well even when i traveled to another city. i can't praise enough for her hospitality. if you are looking for a nice place to stay in kyoto, this place is totally recommended.