I stayed in Kingyoya Guesthouse while visiting Kyoto for 4 nights and it was the best choice I made during my 2-week vacation in Japan! I first downloaded the map from the website and found no difficulties in searching this guesthouse when I arrived at night. I took the bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto using my JR pass and... More

When the people from the ‘West’ arrived in Japan for the first time, they were shocked by the simplicity of the local rooms compared to their own. Because traditional Japanese-style rooms were built with natural materials only, such as wood, paper, stones, soil, straw, and fabric, their appeal was not only its coziness, but also being able to sense outdoor... More

My husband and I spent 2 weeks in Kyoto, and during our stay we have tried 3 different traditional "Machiya" stays, all highly receommended to us from Japanese locals. Of course each guest house has its own charm and appeal, but Kingyoya is our favorite, even though it's bit far away from city center (30 minutes by bus). This wooden... More

In Kyoto, one typically visits to get a feel for the authentic, old Japanese experience. At Guesthouse Kingyo-ya, there is no doubt you will be immersed in what it was like to live in a real machiya, which is what this building is. Upon arriving at Kyoto Station from Oji (Nara Prefecture), we took the Kyoto Bus System (get the... More

Back in May, we had a family trip to Kyoto. It was hubby’s first time in Japan. My six year old son has been there a few times, but we had to find a family-friendly place, as he tends to stomp around and could get really loud. I was looking for a ryokan (traditional inns) in Kami-gyo-ku (upper / northern... More