Nene

Overview

A stylish fusion of modern design and Japanese motifs, Nene is a recently renovated Kyoto house located in a peaceful neighborhood to the west of the Kyoto Imperial Palace. The renovation was performed by a celebrated local architectural and design firm who have turned this house into the perfect destination for anyone looking to both embrace Japanese culture and relax in ultimate comfort. 

This wonderful 68-square-meter, five-person-capacity home is modeled on the classic Kyo-machiya (traditional Kyoto home) style. With warm wooden flooring, plush western-style bedding, shoji-style sliding doors, white walls and soft light throughout, Nene is imbued with a sense of lightness and flow.

Nene is positioned in an excellent corner of the city, making it accessible and adaptable, and ideal for anyone looking to create the perfect home away from home when exploring Kyoto. To uncover something new and exciting, guests just need to pack their walking shoes and a sense of adventure. Head out in any direction from Nene and chances are you’ll find a side of Kyoto just waiting to be enjoyed.

Location

Nene is a 15-minute walk from the historic and UNESCO-recognized Nijo Castle as well as the Imperial Palace, and the stunning Kyoto Gyoen National Garden that surrounds it. The picturesque Kitano Tenmangu Shrine is just a 10-minute walk away, as is Kamishichiken, the second biggest geisha district in Kyoto and home to the legendary Kamishichiken Kabukai, a theatre that hosts popular performances of kabuki, a traditional type of Japanese theatre. For those wanting to get a little more cultural, the Kyoto International Manga Museum is within 20 minutes on foot.

Although Nene’s kitchen is fully equipped and perfect for the casual chef, we recommend giving the kitchen a rest for at least a night in favor of exploring Kyoto’s culinary streets, plenty of which are within walking distance from Nene. Yakiniku Ebata (焼肉 江畑), a highly regarded, locally loved yakiniku (grilled meat) restaurant is located just a three-minute walk from the house, offering excellent food and a wonderful opportunity to enjoy authentic Japanese cuisine and nightlife. 

Nene is well-positioned in the center of the city, making it a wonderful home base while exploring Kyoto by rental bicycle. From the house to Kinkakuji, one of the city’s most important landmarks, it takes around 15 minutes by bike. A little further north sits Imamiya Shrine, a shrine that’s both incredibly stunning but also a well-kept local secret. Looking toward the other side of the city, Kiyomizu-dera is reachable in about 45 minutes by bicycle, but the journey cuts through the center of the city, offering ample opportunities to stop and take a break and admire the views of central Kyoto.

Description

Nene is a double-story house with the living quarters located on the first floor and the sleeping quarters on the second. As guests enter the home, they’re greeted by the spacious combination dining and living space, which also features the open-plan kitchen. Completely renovated, this kitchen is fully stocked with all the amenities you need to whip up a delicious meal after a long, rewarding day exploring the city. 

With two generously sized bedrooms and a spacious living room that can be turned into an impromptu bedroom, Nene is a flexible home for a variety of traveling groups. The house has two western-style single beds and one double bed; guests can always push the single beds together and turn them into a king size bed. Small groups of friends and small families will really appreciate this home, as will traveling couples.

With an open-plan dining-living space, Nene makes great use of the house’s design to ensure a free feeling of communal living. Wooden floors, dark wooden beams, and white and cool grey-blue walls make up this space’s style, blending cool modern design within the silhouette of a classic Japanese home. The sofa can also become a sofa-bed making it the ideal little nook for getting cozy on a night in. 

On the second floor are the bedrooms, which with their wooden flooring, cool grey feature wall, and shoji-inspired sliding door separating them, are nearly identical. The rooms are cozy but minimalist, giving guests the opportunity to inhabit the space and make it their own. With soft-lit boxy lights in the ceiling, the rooms retain a feeling of traditionalism. The plush, modern western-style beds also ensure a wonderful night’s sleep. Stylish, simple and adaptable, Nene has everything you need for an excellent Kyoto adventure.