[1 Night] Experience True Kyoto Life in a Traditional Machiya Townhouse Stay

One of the Muromachi District’s Many Historic Machiya Townhouses

Central Kyoto city is characterized by its historical grid street layout. Guest House MICaSA is located on Kamanza-dori, a street in this area famed as the home of the Kamanza union, a legacy institution from a longstanding history of artisanal industry here specialized in casting tea pots since the Kamakura period (1185-1333). This history has also left an architectural legacy, with many merchant machiya townhouse residences still standing to this day.

Guesthouse MICaSA is one of many machiya townhouses lining its street, Kamanza-dori

Guesthouse MICaSA is popular for the relaxing and tranquil atmosphere of its interior, where visitors can experience true Kyoto life. This machiya townhouse constructed over a century ago has undergone renovations overseen by its neighboring traditional kimono dye house Marusyo. Despite being only a seven-minute walk from the central Kyoto train station of Karasuma Oike, it is surprisingly light on tourist traffic. The inn itself draws its name from the Spanish “mi casa,” or “my home,” reflecting the proprietress’s desire for guests to feel right at home.

Marusyo, founded in 1949, renovated the machiya townhouse next door to create Guest House MICaSA

A Private Vacation Residence Lovingly Curated by its Proprietress

While maintaining its machiya townhouse elegance and traditional deep narrow layout, the structure of Guest House MICaSA has been reborn as a fully modern space, drawing on a honeyed color palette of interior design and furniture pieces lovingly curated by the proprietress. Just inside the front door, its entryway counter draws the eye: a single piece of zelkova wood set above an earthen floor for a sense of tasteful, naturalistic nostalgia.

A solid zelkova counter fills the entryway space above an earthen floor

The second floor is an equally tranquil space of relaxation. Bed chambers and tatami rooms are bedecked with traditional cypress woodcraft using traditional joinery that forgoes the use of nails. Top quality local fixtures and fittings make up the finer details, such as kumiko shoji screens made by wood joinery designer Shinichi Murayama and bedding crafted by Iwata, a venerable maker in business for almost two centuries. An adjoining tatami-floored space (about 30 square meters)　complete with tokonoma alcove is available for guests who wish to sleep in a traditional futon.

The tranquil bedroom with a cozy tatami chamber adjoining

The Hospitality of a Hostess who Cherishes Travel’s Once-in-a-Lifetime Encounters

Guest House MICaSA is run by Yasuko Kaneko, born to the Marusyo family of dyers. Kaneko originally opened the inn as a place to host business partners and others whose relationships have been integral to the family business. Check-in takes place in the Marusyo shop located next-door to Guest House MICaSA, offering a peek at the traditional kimono dye house’s continuing operations.

The Guest House MICaSA proprietress, Yasuko Kaneko

Kaneko handles check-in, welcomes guests and offers the initial guidance and explanations for the rooms and amenities. “I love to provide a place where guests can feel the same relaxing peace they feel in their own homes,” says Kaneko of what she enjoys the most about running the inn. One short trip is ultimately a blip over the course of a lifetime, but she takes great care to make it a rich, colorful, and memorable experience.

Soft pajamas made of bleached Kyoto cotton gauze weave, one of Kaneko’s thoughtfully curated amenities

Bespoke Local Travel Planning Support from the Proprietress Herself

After check-in, relax for a moment in the earthen-floored first floor of the Marusyo shop before proceeding into Guest House MICaSA next door. Kaneko provides refreshments of her favorite sweets – beautiful confections unique to Kyoto that capture the four seasons – served alongside matcha. Sencha and hojicha are also available upon request in place of matcha.

Delightful seasonal sweets emblematic of Kyoto, served alongside matcha (specific offerings vary)

While enjoying your refreshments, take a moment to chat with Proprietress Kaneko about your trip itinerary in Kyoto. She can provide expert advice to help you make the most of your limited time by suggesting destinations and routes that suit your needs and hopes for the trip, and ensure your time in Kyoto is immersed in the real life of the city.

Relax for a moment with Kaneko’s hospitality to plan your itinerary

If you have in mind any particular destinations or dishes you want to eat, this is a great time to bring them up. (Kaneko provides advice, but does not accompany guests outside of MICaSA.)

A trip itinerary hewing close to authentic Kyoto life from the perspective of a hostess whose life is deeply enmeshed with the city

A Different Take on Kyoto Travel, Experiencing Authentic City Life

From Guest House MICaSA’s living room, you can take in the greenery of the courtyard framed by the warm soothing colors of the interior for a maximally relaxing atmosphere. Leave the daily grind behind for a tranquility that is truly Kyoto.

Just off the earthen-floored room is the bright and airy living room, under a double-height atrium ceiling

This Wabunka exclusive experience is a unique window into authentic Kyoto machiya townhouse living. “There’s nothing quite like getting to know an unfamiliar place up-close, or the unexpected discoveries that travel allows,” says Kaneko. Life is a precious and fleeting thing, and she believes that experiences like this bring us closest to its true joys. Ensconced in your own private machiya residence, lovingly curated and decorated with your hostess’s personal touches, you can enjoy authentic Kyoto to your heart’s content. Delight in top-quality travel and a spiritually enriching, once-in-a-lifetime stay.

A relaxing taste of Kyoto machiya living