Kurodani - wonderful Kyoto machiya in a great district

Kurodani house was built in 1928 on the slope of Yoshida hill at the heart of a tranquil Kyoto residential area. These picturesque streets have been used as a setting by various film companies. The full renovation, completed in 2022, has preserved the house's traditional character while adapting it to give more light and space than typical Kyoto houses.

Description of the house

On the ground floor there is the entrance, a tatami bedroom with two futons, a skylit corridor leading to the tsubo-niwa (Japanese interior garden) and a western bedroom with an en-suite bathroom and view of the garden. At the other end of the corridor is the bathroom, changing room and another bathroom. The bathroom is a wet cabin with shower and Japanese bath.

Upstairs is a large open-plan area with exposed beams, modern kitchen, dining room and living room. This area, like the western bedroom and corridors downstairs has cypress-wood flooring. Glass doors open onto a spacious covered balcony. The kitchen is fully equipped with a fridge/freezer, electric hob, oven toaster and microwave, extensive work surface, and cutlery, tableware and glassware for four people.

The house also has parking space for a small car in front.

Only houses certified as traditional machiya can offer holiday rentals in this area, and Kurodani is one of the few that are licensed to do this. As part of the renovation, its foundations were also reinforced against earthquakes, and modern fire equipment were installed.

Please note: owing to its wood construction, we are obliged to make this a strictly non-smoking house, both inside and on the balcony.

The area

The house is just a few metres from Yoshidayama Park and the captivating shrines nestled among its trees. Among them is the petit Takenaka Inari shrine, famous among Kyotoites for its cherry blossoms. A short stroll will take you along quiet lanes to Kurodani and Shinnyodo temples. Further on, Ginkakuji and the Philosopher's Path are a 20-minute walk away. Take another direction and you are soon among the bustling streets around Kyoto University with restaurants, izakayas and the monthly craft fair held at Chion-ji temple. The Heian Shrine is a 15-minute walk to the south.

The post office and a public bath (sento) are close by. The nearest supermarket is a 10-minute walk. The last 50 metres of the approach to the house are up a steep hill, making it unsuitable for children's buggies or those with mobility problems.