Indigo House Gion — Hotel in Kyoto

Indigo House (Upper Level) was the perfect refuge after a long, busy day in Kyoto. Removed from the hustle and bustle of Gion, this elegantly restored machiya leaves no detail unattended to. From the beautiful Japanese bud vases with live flowers in the kitchen area and the main bedroom, to all the amazingly intricate, exquisite wood work, the luxurious shower, the sleek and seamlessly installed kitchen with Scandinavian-style furniture (which matches the machiya perfectly), the open “tsubo-niwa” or open-air courtyard it shares with the first floor (check out the photos to see what I mean), the spare, sublime tatami rooms and extremely comfortable bed and futon.

It’s an aesthetic space that is heaven for lovers of Japanese interior design and surely a breath of fresh air to those new to it. You’re able to really just unwind and take in the ambiance of an old machiya that’s updated with modern comforts without at all taking away from its priceless old world charm.To top it off, Curtis and Junko were incredibly warm, friendly, and accommodating, and even helped me make reservations for Saihoji (the “moss temple”) two months in advance. Indigo House was one of the highlights of our trip, something my friend and I both looked forward to greatly, and it did not disappoint. I’d highly recommend it over a similarly priced hotel for a much more integrated experience in traditional Japanese culture. You...

We had an awesome stay at Indigo House Gion. I was really excited to stay in a machiya-style house and this did not disappoint. They thought of everything and the instructions for arrival were easy to follow. I also really appreciated that the office was right around the corner if we needed anything - since some restaurants only speak Japanese or only take reservations by phone, we found this a little difficult and the office was able to help us find a place to eat on our last night. The location was perfect - we loved being in the heart of Gion and everything was so close and convenient. I could have stayed a month! Lastly, I want to say how ideal this location is for a family or a small group. We were 3 generations on this trip and we booked the whole Indigo House - it was perfect for a family group like ours. Thank you to Curtis and the team for making us feel right at home...

Great location, beautiful home, luxurious bathroom.

Why I didn’t give this 5 stars —

We booked this because it had two bedrooms, which me and my travel partner wanted. When we arrived, there was only 1 bedroom and a tatami room. Confused, I looked around and found a futon but couldn’t find any bedsheets. After emailing the staff, 1 of them came over and brought the sheets. But they did not exactly know how to put the sheets on so I helped them.

Was dismayed that the bedroom looks out into a cemetery - not exactly the vibe we were going for, and it isn’t obvious from reviews or the website - so do note this.

Staying in old houses also comes with noise pollution problems - which I’ve learnt through experience that I do not deal well with. Things to note when booking this or any other...