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≪10 min to Kiyomizu temple≫ "Shofu-an" Historical Kyo Machiya

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Second-floor Western-style bedroom. Beds available for up to 2 guests.
Floor plan
Exterior
First-floor living room
First-floor living room and kitchen

Reviews

10 out of 10, Loved by Guests
Top 10% of guest reviews in this area
2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 5

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Air-conditioning
  • Outdoor space

Explore the area

View map
Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto-fu
  • Place, Kiyomizu Temple
    ‪6 min walk‬
  • Place, Gion Corner
    ‪8 min walk‬
  • Place, Yasaka Shrine
    ‪9 min walk‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 5)

Japanese tatami bedroom

3 Single Futons

Western Bedroom

2 Single Beds

1 bathroom

Bathroom

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub · Toilet · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Spaces

Kitchenette
Separate dining area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

≪10 min to Kiyomizu temple≫ "Shofu-an" Historical Kyo Machiya

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!

Kyoto is famous for having been the ancient capital of Japan, dating back over 1200 years. The sheer beauty of the temples, shrines, gardens and culture imbued within its boundaries makes Kyoto one of the most revered places in the world.

The property is 2 storied town house.
1 bedroom and 1 Tatami room are on the 2nd floor.
Bathroom, washroom, washing machine(wash/dry),small kitchen is on the ground floor.
Hair dryer and towels shampoo and body soap are provided.

Shofu-an (means Pine Breeze) is one unit of Kyo Machiya Miyabi in Kiyomizu area, a big Kyoto traditional house, and was designed and renowed Kyoto based architect Geoffrey P. Moussas. Shofu-an is being meticulously preserved with the traditional techniques that have been handed down for centuries. While sticking to tradition is important for the architect, updating the facilities, such as modern bath-shower room, high-tech toilet, kitchen, heating floor, are just as important to meet the present day needs of our guests. The delicate balance between 'old and new' is what sets this apart.
Shofu-an is at the foot of Kiyomizu Temple, which is been designated a World Culture Heritage, and is very convenient for visiting by walking distance many others famous temples, shrines, downtown, and Gion, the most famous Geisha district!

Enjoy Kyoto and the distinctive features of local townhomes by staying in a real Machiya, feeling the natural way of living and the change of seasons which distinguishes Kyoto' s culture and its people.

City buses or rental bikes can take you to most famous sites in Kyoto within 30 minutes.

Please see our other listings in the In Sanjo-Kamanza area: Shimoza-an VRBO#514790 & Kamiza-an VRBO#514588.
In Aneyakoji area other 2 listings: Kaede VRBO#1077968 & Satsuki VRBO#1077956
Kaede and Satsuki are rented for a whole house as well #1275901
In kiyomizu area other 2 properties: Bairin-an #3438160
Whole house Kiyomizu bettei #1266495

Kyoto, the cultural heart of Japan is waiting for you!

RATES:
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

⇒ [Accommodation Tax Change Notice]
Accommodation tax will change for stays after March 1, 2026
Accommodation Rates (per person per night): Less than 6,000 yen: 200 yen
Accommodation Rates (per person per night): 6,000 yen or more but less than 20,000 yen: 400 yen
Accommodation Rates (per person per night): 20,000 yen or more but less than 50,000 yen: 1,000 yen

※Check in time is 4 PM to 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.

※Please let us know the number of people correctly.
If the number of people is different from the number you actually book with, the extra fee will be charged.
Person not registered for accommodation must refrain from staying overnight in the room.

Please feel free to ask us for any questions.

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Check-out instructions

The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks and take out the rubbish
Turn off the lights, lock the doors and return the keys
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.

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
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Long-term renters welcome
Host has indicated that there are no carbon monoxide detectors or gas appliances on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher

About the area

Kyoto

Located in Kyoto, this holiday home is in the city centre. Yasaka Shrine and Nishiki Market are notable landmarks, and travellers looking to shop may want to visit Kawaramachi Street and Shijo Street. Kyoto Municipal Zoo and Kyoto Gyoen National Garden are also worth visiting. Make sure you don't miss outdoor adventures like cycling and ecotours.
View more Holiday homes in KyotoOpens in a new window
Map
Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto-fu

What's nearby

  • Hokanji Temple - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Kiyomizu Temple - 6 min walk - 0.5 km
  • Gion Corner - 8 min walk - 0.7 km
  • Yasaka Shrine - 9 min walk - 0.8 km
  • Kawaramachi Street - 14 min walk - 1.2 km

Getting around

  • Kiyomizu-gojo Station - 13 min walk
  • Higashiyama Station - 20 min walk
  • Osaka (ITM-Itami) - 64 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪油そば ねこまた - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Loose Kyoto - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Local Sake and Beer Stand 336 - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪ICHiMARU5 - ‬1 min walk
  • ‪京都勝牛清水五条坂店 - ‬4 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is ≪10 min to Kiyomizu temple≫ "Shofu-an" Historical Kyo Machiya pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at ≪10 min to Kiyomizu temple≫ "Shofu-an" Historical Kyo Machiya?

As of 4 May 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at ≪10 min to Kiyomizu temple≫ "Shofu-an" Historical Kyo Machiya on 7 June 2026 start from NZ$634, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking at ≪10 min to Kiyomizu temple≫ "Shofu-an" Historical Kyo Machiya?

This property doesn't offer parking.

What time is check-in at ≪10 min to Kiyomizu temple≫ "Shofu-an" Historical Kyo Machiya?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at ≪10 min to Kiyomizu temple≫ "Shofu-an" Historical Kyo Machiya?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is ≪10 min to Kiyomizu temple≫ "Shofu-an" Historical Kyo Machiya located?

Located in Higashiyama Ward, this holiday home is within a 10-minute walk of Three-Year Slope, Kiyomizu Temple and Yasaka Shrine. Kawaramachi Street and Shijo Street are also within 1 mile (2 km). Higashiyama Station is 20 minutes by foot and Sanjo Keihan Station is 21 minutes.

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 55 out of 59 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 59 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 59 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 59 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 59 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Mindy J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Absolutely wonderful location with very welcoming hosts! We were looking for a traditional stay in Kyoto and this location was perfect. The shower was absolutely amazing! There were plenty of Nespresso pods for coffee if you’d like coffee in the morning. Your host will greet you at the location and review everything with you to make sure that you know how everything works and where everything is located. While you are about a 15 to 20 minute walk from the rail stations, you are very close to a lot of attractions. I would highly recommend this location!
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Emily P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
It was within walking distance of everything we needed. Property manager went above and beyond to make the New Years experience magical! 10/10 RECOMMEND
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Scott R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent host and location!

Overall very pleased with the property for a family of five.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

William W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely historic feeling place

Really enjoyed the amenities and the feel of the traditional Japanese house. Hosts were always helpful and checked in with us daily.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Paul R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Recommended

Clean, quiet, and everything we needed.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jane R.

Beautiful comfortable warm house & great location

Our second wonderful stay in one of these excellent holiday apartments in a beautifully renovated machiya - warm & comfortable even on the coldest night & kind helpful hosts.
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2018
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Sam S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great place in great location

Everything was as advertised and the property management team was great. They helped with activity suggestions and were prompt with check-in. Overall, the place fit our family of 5 comfortable and provided the local experience we were hoping for. The location was great for visiting certain temples and getting meals. I would stay again.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2023
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Leo C.

Lovely Kyoto apartment

We had a great time at Shofu-an. Roxana was incredibly welcoming and extremely helpful. The location couldn't be better--close to all the amazing sites on the east side of town. We loved it, and we miss it already! Looking forward to coming back in the future!
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Ben I.

Wow. Like stepping back in time.

Great location. Fantastic house. Amazing service and friendliness. Could not recommend more highly.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Christine A.

The apartment is in a fabulous part of Kyoto. Great restaurants, shops & shrines are close by.

The apartment was very historical but with all modern amenities. Communication was excellent and any questions we had were answered right away. The location is the best. We could walk to so many great restaurants and shops, yet where the apartment is located is a quiet residential street.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2018
Verified

10/10 Excellent

dominic y.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A magical Kyoto experience

Absolutely stunning and gracious hosts. Everything was beautifully prepared and expertly explained. We absolutely loved our stay and experience — and not only that — the location was pretty much as good as it gets, walking distance from Gion and Kiyomizu. Thanks so much guys! xo
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024
Archival

10/10 Excellent

aileen d.

Wonderful Rxperience

We have been in Kyota for two weeks and stayed at Shofu-an for only 4 days . It was the best experience - the apartment was perfect, it was situated in a great area , close to wonderful eating places, shrines all tucked away everywhere and temples. Our favourite place in Kyota. Roxana, our host, was delightful. She was super helpful during our stay and added to our whole wonderful experience.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Emily X.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Good location

Great location and nice host. The house is very comfortable during winter with the floor heating. The only issue is about sound proofing - the two bedrooms upstairs basically have minimum sound proofing so not great if someone in the family snores. This is kind of expected for a traditional house though.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Patricia C.

Great location and atmospher!

Yumi and Mariko, My husband and I were so pleased with our stay at our Saiho-ji Garden Machiya. It's always kind of scary booking something out of the country and so far in advance, but we couldn't have been more pleased. I used to live in Osaka and have visited Kyoto many times, but I have never been to the Kiyomizu neighborhood. What a great place to stay! It was so nice to come home to a real house at the end of a busy day. I gave the brochure of your five properties to friends visiting Kyoto next fall and insisted they book one of your places instead of a hotel.
Verified

8/10 Good

Bonnie K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location in Higashiyama

This is one of 3 units in a traditional Japanese tea house (machiya). We stayed at another unit 4 years ago and chose to return to a slightly bigger unit. This unit has good amenities such as washer/dryer, full bathroom with ofuro bathtub, and kitchen with Nespresso machine. Only thing to note is that this tea house has single-pane windows and little insulation... took a little while to warm up. Location is super convenient as we could walk to all top attractions in Higashiyama, Gion and even the shopping area. We had a short but good stay this time!
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2022
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Sara A.

Perfect spot in Gion District, Kyoto

Everything went smoothly, payment, check in, orientation. The Manager, R, was top notch, friendly, informed, helpful with perfect recommendations for food and attractions. The unit was huge by Japanese standards, private, but handy. Totally spotless and offered each guest privacy. The deck/ garden was a bonus. The shower/ tub/ bathroom was perfect, even a washer. Did I mention a latte, expresso machine? The beds comfy, two on tutami mats, two on raised bed frames. Perfect!
Archival

10/10 Excellent

quiet respite in a traditional japanese home

what a lovely traditional home in a charming neighborhood near yasaka shrine and kiyomizu-dera. the home is cozy, well-equipped, and comfortable. the lovely garden is peaceful. the futon sleeping accommodations were very comfortable as were the western-style beds. the bathroom is updated and modern with a wonderful shower/bath room. it is in a perfect location for walking to many sights or to catch a cab or bus within the timeless city of kyoto. roxana was very helpful in providing details about the neighborhood, the home and kyoto, in general. shofu-an was a perfect place to stay to enjoy the beauty and simplicity of kyoto.
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Margaret S.

Shofu-an (Pine Breeze), Kyoto

This was our first trip to Japan and we were a little apprehensive about traveling on our own because of the language barrier. We selected to stay at Pine Breeze because we wanted to experience Japan not as tourists. We were impressed with reviews which said how helpful Roxanne is as manager of the property. There are many other similar places but I doubt any have such a delightful and helpful contact person as Roxanne. Since she is Italian but has lived in Kyoto for over 20 years, she gave us so much insight into the Japanese culture, probably more so than someone born in Japan because she knew what were the cultural differences in lifestyle. WIthout her, we would never had been able to figure out how to operate so many things in the house. The place itself is somewhat awkward without comfortable furniture but it is how the Japanese live and we grew to love the beauty of the place and spent a great deal of time just relaxing and enjoying the design. We felt we got to know Japan on a deeper level because we lived life and didn't just visit tourist sites. We added on four extra days at Shofu-an and skipped going to Nara and other places. Highly recommend the home with Roxanne as contact person.
Verified

6/10 Okay

larisa b.

No living area to hang out

Great location, easy check in and check out, mistly clean, really AUTHENTIC old Japanese traditional house. Nice size bedrooms, sufficient bathroom and shower facilities. The only problem for us was a complete absence of a living space to hang out in at night. There is a very small tatami area in between the kitchen table and the staircase to the bedrooms which is in front of the very small TV, but the area is too small to gather in. Additionally , it would be nice to have some other than just Japanese channels on TV. My husband was concerned with fire safety as we could see wiring near the ceiling. As expected there is practically no sound insulation so be prepared to hear everything that is going on outside and next door . A strange smell in the small area in between the front door and the door to the house where you take your shoes off. Walls and chairs in the kitchen need some freshening up as they appear somewhat worn, stained and scratched. We tried the authentic experience, but I don't think it was for us, unfortunately, which is not to say that it won't be a good fit for you.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2018
Verified

10/10 Excellent

John H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fantastic experience of living in a traditional Kyoto house (but with heating!)

We loved it. We've been to Kyoto many, many times, but never stayed in a house before. It was fascinating to see how the house was intertwined with its neighbors. The location is perfect - walking distance from Kiyomizu-dera and Gion, and a short bus ride from central Kyoto. The house itself was in perfect condition, everything worked perfectly (especially the heating, thank goodness - it was cold outside).
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kellye M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent location

Lovely, cozy property in a great location.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Janet S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fantastic Kyoto experience

We had an exceptional experience on our first trip to Japan! The owners responded immediately to questions before and during our stay! They were most helpful and made our stay pleasant. Highly recommend staying! Many thanks to all your staff!
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jillisa M.

Perfect in every way!

A friend and I stayed here for four nights while traveling around Japan. Communication before we arrived was timely and excellent, and Jackie was extremely helpful and nice when we checked in. She made sure we understood everything we needed to know about the property, the area, and things we might want to do and see. The location was very convenient for lots of restaurants, sights, transportation, and shopping. We loved the quirky layout of the property and the traditional touches like sliding doors and tatami floors in some rooms. The kitchen is small but suitable for everything we needed, and there's a grocery store nearby (less than 10-minute walk). Despite very cold outdoor temperatures (we were there in February), we were always toasty warm at the home between the great heaters and heated floors. We greatly appreciated that they provided everything we needed to do laundry and took advantage of it to do a load. The shower and bath were absolutely divine. We were able to arrange luggage delivery from our ryokan in Tokyo as long as we scheduled it to arrive when we were present at the property in Kyoto. When we were done with our stay in Kyoto, we were able to send out luggage on to Hiroshima while we visited Koyosan for two nights. There is a luggage drop off place less than a 5-minute walk from the property (Gion Shijo station, Global Yamamoto). Overall, everything was prefect and we were delighted with our stay. I would definitely recommend it to others, and I would be happy to stay there again. Arigatou gozaimasu!!!!
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2018
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Pamela B.

Quick cozy visit to Kyoto

Shofu-an provided a perfect launching point for our very brief visit to Kyoto. Our group of 3 adults and 2 children fit perfectly in the Shofu-an. We were warmly welcomed upon our arrival and enjoyed the experience of sleeping in a real Japanese home complete with tatami mats, heated floors and futon bedding. The location is perfect for launching out for sight seeing during the day and exploring dining options at night. I hope to stay here again next time I get to visit Kyoto.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2017
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Kelly P.

Great accommodations.

Surrounded by many great things to do and see. We were also picked up and dropped off from Kyoto station which helped a great deal. Many suggestions helped us pick great things to do and see.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2017

About the host

Hosted by Toshimitsu Negishi

Host profile image
Hello, everyone!
The team manages the townhouse.
We are 2 woman and 2 male who live in Kyoto and Osaka!
We will do our best to support you during your stay.
Your trip to Kyoto will surely be a special trip.
Please feel free to contact us anytime!

Why they chose this property

In this Kyoto typical house we could see a glitter of traditional atmosphere on the roof, wooden pillars, sliding doors or small garden inside the house.
The Kyoto townhouse is called Machiya and this house strongly stimulated us to restore for living. Machiya used to be townhouses or shops for the merchants in the 17th century.
Not only temples and shrines, but machiya stay is an attractive experience for all who want to know more about Kyoto' life style and its culture.

What makes this property unique

A 15 minutes walk will take you to the riverside of the Kamogawa. You can take a pleasent stroll along the river, or do shopping in the nearby Kawaramachi area, convenient during rainy days as the shopping streets are covered, like Nishiki food market street.
A night life spot is Pontocho, a narrow lane with no cars, full of elegant restaurants, bars, and where you can have a glimpse of a Geisha or Maiko on the way or from an appointment. In the next street west side of Pontocho there is Kiyamachi, a very lively night zone where you can find many kinds of restaurants, bars, pubs and more...
Enjoy Kyoto just walking from Shofu-an!

Languages:

English, Japanese

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