The Machiya Kamiumeya

First, I have to state that I DID NOT stay at Machiya Kamiumeya but at the Ebisuya. So my rating is for Machiya Ebisuya. Not only did I not know that there is NO staff even during the day at the Kamiuneya, but what's worse, the guest is not even initially taken there by their staff to familiarise her with what's where. In an emergency a solo traveller is supposed to try and call the staff from an empty machiya? And how long does the staff take to get there? Nowhere in booking.com is it explicitly said that the guest would have to fend entirely for herself, even though one of the reviews did say there was a fire at night and the guests had to put it out themselves. This is a serious lapse on the part of the machiya. So when I expressed my displeasure during checkin, the Machiya Inns office arranged for me to stay at the aesthetically furnished and wonderfully maintained Ebisuya. It was a pleasure staying there. They even arranged for me to have the same room (very large, for four) on the second leg of my stay which made coming back seem like coming home! A minor misunderstanding was gracefully sorted with an apology by the manager. They also have complementary laundry facilities for guests. Much appreciated! The staff was most friendly and ready to help with insider tips. It made my stay most enjoyable!

Incredible customer service, truly above and beyond (Special mention to Ko who made us feel like VIPs) Seamless check in/out experience with top notch luggage courier service which made our whole experience super smooth. We were travelling on our honeymoon and were touched to find a box of chocolates waiting for us upon arrival in our Machiya. The Suite was even better than pictured and we only wish we could've stayed even longer to really indulge. Really lovely quiet residential location! Staff also went to lengths to help us when we had to make a complaint about a particularly disruptive guest in the room above us.

We stayed in the Japanese suit, which was a nice room. The location was nice, and the facilities great! it was walkable for most parts of the city.

The traditional room was very nice and had all the modern amenities needed. Futon was quite comfortable and we really appreciated the toilet bags and proper filter coffee. Also very handy to be able to drop the bags at the check in desk by the train station and have them bring it to the room so we could explore.

It had such a calm feel to it. We arrived to Kyoto early afternoon and explored close to the hotel. From the moment you entered you felt the stress of the streets fall away. We arrived by train and the process to check in at their check in office was completely problem free. The rooms are small but that is to be expected and note the expectation is that you will be quiet and considerate to other guests. To the staff member that mentioned the temple opened early that was so helpful, thank you. We woke up and wandered the tourist areas at 6:30am and had an amazing time before the crowds.