Even at first glance, you'd know Gion Minami Banka Machiya has plenty of history. Situated in the historic neighborhood of Gion, the machiya's architecture is reminiscent of the district's iconic teahouses where samurai and geiko spend time together. The story of the home is already buried by the sands of time, but its incredible woodwork endures to this day. Experience a glimpse to Kyoto's past during your stay here at Gion Minami Banka Machiya, as you soak in the traditional ambiance while enjoying the comforts and convenience of modern technology.

Design and Architecture

Stylish and trendy similar to a hotel suite, but with a distinct traditional Japanese appeal. That statement suitably describes the design and decor of Gion Minami Banka Machiya. Unlike the elongated architecture and structure machiya are known for, Gion Minami Banka is shaped like a box, similar to a modern Japanese ikkodate house. Despite this, the machiya provides a complete stay experience with the quintessential aspects of a traditional Japanese home.

The ground floor is set up much like a modern apartment, featuring Western aesthetics for its living room and dining area. The bathroom is of typical Japanese convention, meaning the wash area and soaking tub are separate. Despite the size of the land area, the home still allocated enough space for a lovely tsuboniwa garden. Up on the second floor is where guests will find the bedrooms. The hallway is decorated with stylish shoji screens depicting two dragons facing off. There's a bit of poetry in this design choice as opening these screens leads to a Western-style bedroom and a Japanese tatami bedroom opposite of each other.

The kitchenette of Gion Minami Banka Machiya is designed as an alcove, featuring a compact array of useful appliances and space for washing and preparing food. It does come equipped with handy cookware and cooking implements. The recommended place to buy groceries is Nishiki Market, Kyoto's historic shopping neighborhood. It's also a great place to hunt for snacks and delicacies. You can also check out the local establishments such as the izakaya and shokudou restaurants.

Cultural Experiences

From its name alone, we can tell Gion Minami Banka Machiya is situated in the historic neighborhood of Gion. This area is famed for its geiko and maiko, many of whom often attracted powerful samurai and wealthy merchants who would vie for their companionship. Next to Gion is the equally significant district of Higashiyama, with neighborhoods such as Sannenzaka filled with traditional shops operating in a machiya. Next to Sannenzaka is Kiyomizu-dera, one of Kyoto's most important Buddhist temples and part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto, a UNESCO World Heritage. If you instead head north from Gion, you can visit Yasaka Jinja, the Shinto shrine that is home to the world-famous Gion Matsuri. Held every year in July since the year 869, the festival was originally meant to appease the gods and prevent plagues, but has since become a celebration filled with merriment and good cheer.

Other Celebrations

For those among you planning to celebrate your birthday or anniversary during your visit to Kyoto, it's only proper to at least let the host know about your purpose. They may agree to a peaceful and low-key affair if you promise not to make a lot of noise. If not, they may be able to instead recommend a nearby establishment that can provide some personalized services.