Asuka

Overview

What do you get when you combine a traditional Japanese machiya with an injection of New York loft-style interior design? The answer is Asuka, a home with elegance and personality in equal measure. This unique, double-story, six-person-capacity home is situated just a short walk from Kyoto’s lively Gojo area, offering easy access to the city’s busy entertainment districts and key landmarks. It’s also close to the UNESCO World Heritage temple Kiyomizu-dera. 

Completely renovated to both showcase its original beauty and invigorate the home with new, modern energy, this home is a wonderful combination of the traditional and the modern. 

With its large windows, floods of natural sunlight, and open-plan living, dining and kitchen space, Asuka boasts a free-flowing feel and a sense of lightness not often found in too many Kyomachiya (traditional Kyoto homes). Upstairs are the generous and elegantly simple bedrooms, designed to maximize space and privacy.

Asuka has the potential to be more than just a holiday home. Its effortless livability and thoughtful design that prioritizes comfort make it a great longer-term rental option. Guests love turning Asuka into their own little home away from home, and you can too! Shiki offers discount plans for monthly and long-term rentals.

Location

Asuka is positioned right in the heart of Kyoto, just to the south of many of the city’s major landmarks. From Asuka, guests can reach Kiyomizu-dera, one of Kyoto’s most famous temples, in about 15 minutes by foot. Visiting Kiyomizu-dera by foot is the best way to explore this historic corner of the city and check out the quaint souvenir and snack shops that line the streets running up to the temple’s main entrance. 

A six-minute walk south from the house is the iconic Kyoto National Museum. This museum is one of the city’s most important; it’s home to an impressive selection of Japanese sculptures, paintings, calligraphy, and metalwork, as well as a cafe.

For those looking to make the most of the city, it’s easy to access many of Kyoto’s other popular and iconic destinations like Heian Shrine and Nanzen-ji Temple either by rental bicycle. The journey will take about 15-20 minutes – or by walking, which will take about 40 minutes but offers plenty of attractions to enjoy along the way.

Description

With three single beds, a double bed and a double sofa-bed, this six-person-capacity house is flexible enough to suit a variety of traveling groups. The home could be great for groups of friends who want to travel together but also want their own beds. Alternatively, mid-sized families, parents with children, or multi-generational families – grandparents and children – could easily turn Asuka into their own little Kyoto sanctuary.

One of Asuka’s most brilliant features is that the bottom floor, the home’s living space is entirely open-plan, but each element of the house, from kitchen and dining space to living area, has its own clear place. Nothing feels overcrowded, giving it a sense of zen tranquility and the freedom to live as you please.  

The entrance leads into the dining space, which could also easily be adopted as an impromptu work desk for those who need to get a few things done. The large dining table is situated right by a large textured window offering complete privacy while still allowing the light to flood in. The fully stocked kitchen is located along the far opposing wall, offering easy access to the dining area. It’s also well positioned, so it’s easy for guests to fix a snack while enjoying the large TV.  

The lounge area is slightly separated from the dining room by a divider that cuts through half of the room, giving the lounge a more intimate feel. If guests want to snuggle up during a movie night, they can pull out the sofa and transform it into a daybed, with extra pillows and bedding provided. At the back of the home, you will find the bath and shower room and a separate toilet. We provide amenity sets and soft fluffy towels for your comfort.

The two bedrooms and an additional toilet occupy the entire top floor. There’s one more communal room with three single beds and a second, more secluded option, which features a double bed and a small desk for those who might need to get a little extra work done in peace and quiet.