Machiyas or traditional Japanese townhouses date back to the Heian Period (794-1185). Their distinct architectural style offers an authentic stay. Although the Japanese Building Standards Act of 1950 prohibited their construction, you can still find pre-1950 machiyas in different parts of Japan. Companies such as Machiya Residence Inn, founded in 2010, renovate these old properties and transform them into guest houses. The company has been restoring and managing machiyas in Kyoto, Kanazawa, and Takayama City, and Choya Chawanzaka Machiya House is one of them. While its exact establishment date remains unknown, its original features offer a glimpse into the past.

Design and Architecture

Choya Chawanzaka Machiya House's traditional architecture creates a nostalgic vibe. You can find authentic details right at the entrance, with its quintessential lattice woodwork and tiled roof. There are two Japanese-style rooms with tatami mats on the floor, earthen walls, and wooden ceilings that will virtually transport you to the Taishō era. The Western-style bedroom has washi paper covering the earthen walls. Shoji (paper) screens bring in natural light through the doors and windows. The bathroom features fragrant hinoki wood and views of the garden. You can also admire the garden from the engawa veranda, which marks the transition from the indoor to the outdoor area.

Like most guest houses, Choya Chawanzaka Machiya House does not offer an on-site restaurant. Instead, it comes with a kitchen equipped with modern appliances, including a rice cooker, a microwave, a refrigerator, and an induction stove top. You'll find the necessary cookware and cutlery as well. For your caffeine needs, the machiya is stocked with black tea, green tea, and original pour-over Machiya Coffee provided by Machiya Residence Inn.

If you wish to dine out, contact the staff at Machiya Residence Inn between 10 am and 7 pm to reserve a table for you. There are plenty of restaurants nearby, including a soba noodle restaurant, Kiyoshi, and a dessert restaurant, Bazu, both within a couple of minutes' walk from the machiya.

Cultural and Outdoor Experiences

Choya Chawanzaka Machiya House is ideally located for history and culture buffs to explore the best of Kyoto. It's nestled in the Higashiyama district, which will give you a glimpse of feudal-era Japan. Only a six-minute walk away, you can explore Japanese arts and crafts at Kiyomizu Sannenzaka Museum. A little further away, the Ryozen Museum is ideal for those interested in learning about the Bakumatsu period and the Meiji Restoration. Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka, two historic stone pathways, are also only seven minutes away on foot.

If you want to explore green spaces nearby, visit Rokuhara Park, which is only a six-minute walk away, or spend some time at the dog-friendly Kodaiji Park, which is 11 minutes away on foot.