Kishoan

Overview

Kishoan is the embodiment of Kyoto style; it’s a beautiful large machiya (traditional Japanese house) reimagined for the modern age. This generous two-bedroom home embraces its historical side, with exposed aged wooden finishes, deep inky indigo blues, and tatami mat flooring dotted throughout. Just because Kishoan has proudly clung on to its heritage doesn’t mean it’s forgotten the contemporary flourishes you’ve come to expect from a luxury villa, with a sleek stainless steel kitchen and state of the art wash closets. 

Kishoan is situated in the center of the city, and its style embraces Kyoto’s purposeful flow. Every inch of the space is carefully considered to allow guests to live the most comfortable life while also embracing the abode’s ancient atmosphere. Kishoan’s centerpiece is the meticulously crafted Japanese garden, which houses a deep outdoor bath. Perfect for soaking the evening away under the dark starry skies of Kyoto, it’s the ultimate combination of luxury and zen.

Location

Kishoan is located in the Nakagyo district of Kyoto, right in the center of the action and just a short walk from many of the city’s most fashionable and exciting bars and restaurants, like the intimate French eateries Le Bouchon and Nouvelle vague Kyoto. If you’re looking for more alfresco style options, it’s just a five-minute stroll to the Kamo River, Kyoto’s lively river, along which you’ll find plenty of options for riverside dining and picnicking. 

For more tourist-centric attractions, Nishiki Market is a scenic 13-minute walk south. This bustling market is Kyoto’s kitchen and one of the best places to pick up delicious fresh produce to cook back in Kishoan’s generously sized kitchen.  

You’ll find the Imperial Palace surrounded by the lush, scenic Kyoto Gyoen National Garden to the north of the house. An easy and scenic 20-minute stroll west sits the historic UNESCO-recognized Nijo Castle, and in the same distance to the east is Heian Shrine. 

Other attractions nearby include the nearby Teramachi, Shinkyogoku, and Kawaramachi shopping streets, neighborhoods lined with wonderful stores selling a range of products, including plenty of souvenirs. Kyoto International Manga Museum and Kyoto University are also nearby. Rent a bicycle, and you’ll be able to visit many of the city’s other landmarks, like Kinkakuji and Fushimi Inari Shrine with ease.

History

Kishoan is a home with a rich, 100-plus-year history, making it one of the ideal locations for guests to immerse themselves in Kyoto’s authentic machiya lifestyle. In a previous life, Kishoan was a store. The front of the house, which faces out onto the street, was the storefront, while the middle of the house contained the kitchen.

Description

Kishoan is an authentic machiya (traditional Japanese house), which has been renovated to modern living standards. With two main rooms and a potential third room, Kishoan is ideal for all types of traveling groups, from families with children to couples, or small groups. Its convenient location in the heart of the city is great for those who want to make the most of Kyoto’s attractions, exploring the city by foot, bicycle, or public transport. Its artful interior design is great for those looking for an undeniably ‘classic Kyoto’ experience.

This two-story home with mezzanine features has two main bedrooms, a reading room, kitchen and dining space, garden, two showers, two toilets, an outdoor bath, tatami mat living space which can double as a third bedroom, and laundry.

As soon as guests enter the home, they’re greeted by the large sleek stainless steel kitchen and is the perfect place for cooking a home-style meal in these cozy surroundings. The reading area and small library space which leads in from the entrance is not your typical library. With large sleek grey tiles, this space doubles as a genkan (entrance where shoes are allowed) and living area. By combining both spaces the area creatively blurs the lines between the interior of the home and the outside world, and connecting to the tatami mat living space it’s the perfect harmony of soft and strong elements. 

From the tatami living space, guests can enter the Japanese style garden and relax on the verandah as they look out onto the manicured garden, or even better, do so while soaking in the generously sized outdoor tub. The second floor is accessed by the stairs behind the reading space and plays host to the western-style master bedroom, which comes complete with western-style king-size bed and garden views. The adjacent tatami mat room is ideal for those who want a more ‘authentically Japanese’ experience, with soft sunlight, shoji (Japanese paper) windows, and a quiet nook for calligraphy and meditation.