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Iori: Staying in a Kyoto Machiya (Traditional Townhouse)

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  1. peko
    Key Master

    Staying in a Kyoto Machiya

    Staying in a Kyoto Machiya (traditional Kyoto townhouse) when you visit Kyoto is a very attractive option. Alex Kerr, a longtime expat resident of Kyoto and has restored 9 Kyoto machiya and rents them out to visitors to Kyoto. Mr Kerr's company Iori is popular with both Japanese and foreign visitors to Kyoto.

    Iori's rates are quite reasonable, you have your own machiya house all to yourself! Some are small and some are large, sleeping 2 to 14 people. A modern kitchen is included so you can cook at home. This may be desirable for a vegan. These traditional machiya include Western furnishings such as sofas and chairs, so you won't have to content with the stiff legs and joints problem that you might face at a ryokan.

    While it is DIY, this is a very special experience and a reasonably priced way to experience an important aspect of Kyoto's traditional culture.

    Iori Weekly Machiya
    http://www.kyoto-machiya.com/www_english/

    Iori Machiya List
    http://www.kyoto-machiya.com/www_english/weekly/machiya/index.html

    Iori Q & A
    http://www.kyoto-machiya.com/www_english/weekly/faq.html

    tel: 075-352-0211
    fax: 075-352-0213

    Kyoto-Machiya IORI

    Iori Weekly Machiya's Founder Alex Kerr's Personal Website
    http://www.alex-kerr.com/

    Posted 1 year ago #

  2. ChrisLehrer
    Member

    I don't know this company, but my family is in a machiya rented in precisely this way. It's lovely, but... it needs some support, like Kyoto. Some tips based on our experience:

    1. Our kitchen came with 1 bad knife, 1 fridge/freezer, 1 toaster/microwave oven, 1 rice cooker, 1 water-boiler, 1 nonstick skillet, 1 small nonstick saucepan, 1 truly bad plastic cutting board. We had various and sufficient dishes for anything not excessively elaborate, though if you want beautiful dishes buy them here: this is a great place to buy beautiful ceramics. If you need more pots and pans than this, ask in advance or plan to buy el-cheapo ones at Kawabata Nikku or something, which is a pain if you're only staying a few days. I'd ask the rental company if there is something you need, but you'll have to do it in advance.

    2. In summer, find out in advance how much of the house can be air-conditioned. In winter, find out how much can be heated. Radiant floors are excellent and not all that common in machiya. In short, in summer these houses are hot and in winter they're cold, and if you're not prepared for this you may have an unpleasant surprise. You will however experience machiya the traditional way!

    3. Check on bath and laundry facilities in advance. Machiya have very small land-plots, and these things are commonly added to the back as extensions. This means that they may be extremely small, but not necessarily so: check in advance!

    4. If you are vegan or have other important dietary restrictions not usual in Japan, find out in advance where the nearest decent grocery store is. You don't want to waste hours and hours trying to find one when you'd rather be going to temples!

    5. Check on the towel situation in advance. Most machiya and furnished apartments do not come with towels. If you like big fluffy bath towels, BRING them: they are very hard to find here, and expensive.

    6. Remember: do not put any kind of shoes, slippers, or anything like that on tatami mats.

    7. Don't expect to get your deposit back on a longish rental. Machiya are rather delicate, so a rental company can always find things you've damaged and chalk this up against your deposit. A few days' rental should be OK on this score if you're careful.

    Posted 1 year ago #

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