GION KAWASEMI

It’s not often that my kids (11 and 14) talk about a place we stayed long after a trip, but this house in Kyoto is one we all keep coming back to in conversation. Traveling with two pre-teens, space and comfort matter, and this property gave us both in a way I didn’t expect. The location is fantastic—right in the middle of history, just across the river from Nishiki Market and shopping streets. Even when we stayed in to rest, it still felt like part of the experience, because the house itself is steeped in history. The courtyards with bamboo, lanterns, and stone features were peaceful, and the hinoki cedar soaking tub was exactly what I needed after long days of walking in the heat. Check-in was smooth. We got our door code ahead of time, let ourselves in, and later met with a representative who explained the technology and answered questions. Their English was excellent, and we had a chat link to reach them if we needed anything. One of the AC units stopped working, so I sent a message in the morning. By the time we got back that evening it had already been reset and was working again—super easy. The beds were some of the most comfortable I’ve ever slept on, and the amount of space was a lifesaver for our family. After busy, crowded festival days, everyone could spread out and unwind. That’s rare in Kyoto, and it made a big difference for our boys. There were also thoughtful touches throughout, like local beer and wine stocked in the kitchen. Those extras, combined with the comfort and space, made it feel like more than just a place to sleep. It’s the kind of stay that becomes part of the trip itself, not just a base for exploring.

There is nothing to not like here.

Felt authentic and cosy

Couldn’t open the bedroom windows for fresh air

Beautiful property. It’s in a great location and the size of the house was very generous by Japanese standards! Excellent amenities in the kitchen and there are complimentary drinks and small sweets for green tea. Really lovely. There are pajamas/loungewear to use while you stay and it’s super comfortable. The smell of the tatami mats are fabulous. I would stay here again.

There are no mirrors on the second floor and no full length mirror in the house. I think clearer instructions for the washing machine would have been helpful.

Gion Kawasemi gave us a unique opportunity to stay in a beautiful, traditional style accomodation with plenty of room and a variety of nice amenities. Our fridge was stocked with complimentary drinks (Sparkling water, ginger ale, sake, etc), Nespresso for coffee and several very large bottles of water. We utilized the laundry and the AC and appreciated both. The location was convenient to buses, the train and walking to restaurants/stores. Soon after we entered the property, Yan arrived to welcome us and give us a personal overview of the rental. She went the extra mile and walked me through arranging luggage transport to Kansai airport at the end of our stay. Every time I had a question and reached out, their office was quick to respond. Everything went perfectly!

It would have been nice to have a Smart TV, so we could sign into our streaming accounts to watch shows at night but we were also happy to turn in early each night after a long day of sightseeing.

Beautiful, modern and very clean. Really great amenities like the shower and tub along with the hair dryer and toiletries. Additionally appreciated the included beers, wine, coffee, etc. Clear instructions. Location great - close to many popular areas.

Could hear all the street activity from the rooms and it’s a busy area with rude tourists yelling at 2 AM. Beds and pillows not the most comfortable (but this seems normal for Japan - just not used to their style of sleeping). Relative to other places, the beds and pillows were comfortable. No mirrors outside of the bathroom made it tough to get ready with 4 adults. Would be nice to have a mirror in the bedrooms or other bathrooms even.

Location was excellent. Very nice amenities, just the right amount of creature comforts. Love having the Nespresso and the local beers in the fridge were a nice touch.

Beds were a bit hard (not unreasonably so), pillows too thin. Some of the appliances and remotes required using a translator on the phone to figure out.

Our stay at Gion Kawasemi was absolutely wonderful. The staff was super friendly and helpful. The place was immaculately clean and we loved all the amenities.