The Gion House — Hotel in Kyoto

We had a wonderful stay at The Gion House (upper level) in late May this year. From the moment we reached out online to inquire about availability to the day we checked out, Curtis and Junko were professional, responsive, and friendly. We also really appreciated the binder full of house information and restaurant recommendations they provided.

The machiya is beautifully renovated, with amazing attention to detail in every corner. We loved the little library of books about Japan in the living room. The checkered blue and white glass in the window is gorgeous, and shoutout here to what may be the most comfortable couch I’ve ever sat on in my life.

The beds are comfortable, the bath is amazing (the shower had terrific water pressure), and amenities are generous. It was great to be able to make our own breakfast in the mornings and do laundry in the middle of our Japan trip.

Checkout was simple, and Junko was kind and helpful in letting us store our luggage at their office down the street while we went out for the day.

All in all, we had a terrific stay, and we highly recommend The Gion House as a home base to explore Kyoto...

Photolator’s Kyoto Journey – Capturing the Spirit of The Gion House

Photolator continues to inspire travelers and photographers alike, and their upcoming Kyoto photography guide promises to be nothing short of extraordinary. One of the highlights is The Gion House, an enchanting traditional machiya nestled in Kyoto’s historic geisha district.

With their trademark eye for detail, the two Photolator photographers have captured the essence of this beautiful home — from its tatami rooms and sliding shoji doors to its serene inner garden and subtle architectural details. The Gion House is more than a place to stay; it’s an immersion into the elegance and cultural richness of old Kyoto.

Readers can expect not only breathtaking images but also insider tips on photographing this unique location, understanding its history, and experiencing the surrounding streets of Gion, especially at golden hour.

This upcoming book is set to be an indispensable resource for anyone visiting Kyoto with a camera in hand — and The Gion House will surely be one of its...

I cannot say enough good things about The Gion House (lower). We booked this as the last stay in our two week trip in Japan and it was an incredible place to end a wonderful trip. The location was fantastic - wonderfully quiet, 3 minute walk from Kennin-ji and very close to a lot of tourist needs (7-11, Family Mart, Gion-Shijo Subway Stop, great restaurants). The house was a great retreat after walking around all day. The rainfall shower head was the best! Curtis and Junko also made the stay excellent - they were both very responsive and helpful. Junko even helped us ship our luggage into Tokyo. We had high expectations given the great reviews and pictures from Airbnb and our expectations were exceeded....