[1 Night] Traditional Kyoto Machiya Stay – Soak Up Traditional Culture and Craft in a Nationally Listed Cultural Property

Nishijin Fujita: A Kyoto Machiya Brimming with Nishijin Charm

An integral part of the elegant streetscape of Kyoto’s Nishijin neighborhood, Nishijin Fujita is a machiya residence roughly a century old, imbued with the traditional culture and aesthetics of Kyoto. Silk weaving took root here as an industry in the 5th Century, and the neighborhood has ever since continued to nurture it as a traditional craft, serving as an important hub of kimono culture.

Nishijin Fujita’s timelessly charming Kyoto machiya frontage

The Fujita residence sits in the center of Nishijin, and was once a flourishing textile manufacturing house. Its architecture was overseen in detail by the then-head of the household, who was particular about its construction and filled it with subtle flourishes paying homage to textile craft. Constructed of top grade timber, the house uses weaving shuttles instead of more typical door pulls on its sliding doors, with artisanal fittings and furnishings custom made for each room. Thanks to this rigorous attention to aesthetic detail, the house is today nationally listed as a tangible cultural property, considered one of Kyoto’s most iconic surviving machiya residences.

Unique nods to the Nishijin textile heritage appear in subtle details like the use of weaving shuttles for door pulls

The premises are divided into a 160-year-old east wing and a 90-year-old west wing, and it is the former that was reborn in 2019 as the present-day Nishijin Fujita luxury private lodging facility. Its guest rooms have been renovated to provide modern comfort while retaining its historic Kyoto machiya charms, and it is filled with a variety of historic implements such as everyday utensils, textile manufacturing tools, and books connected to Kyoto’s history. It’s a sure way to immerse yourself in the culture and history of the Nishijin neighborhood during your stay.

A Stay Brimming with Kyoto Luxury

Nishijin Fujita’s owner Megumi Hashiramoto greets guests at the entrance upon arrival. Hashiramoto is an internationally active professional soprano singer, and the former head priest of the Jodo Shinshu Honganji Buddhist temple known as Togenzan Myokakuji. With her thorough knowledge of Kyoto and its traditional culture, she is on hand to tend to guest needs throughout each experience plan, and her stories about the city are sure to be a highlight of your stay.

Hashiramoto is deeply knowledgeable about Kyoto and its traditional culture

The east wing of the facility, which serves as the lodging, is a Kyoto machiya residence built in the 1860s. Its lattice windows still hearken back to those days, and the tearoom courtyard is serene and atmospheric. Its living-dining room is warm with rich wood, natural light, and open space. Modern basics like a refrigerator and microwave ensure a stay with all the comforts of home. Relax in unique machiya tranquility without missing a thing.

The accommodation building retains traditional charms despite modern renovations

This Wabunka original plan includes special cultural experience options to truly immerse yourself in the local culture, such as Kimono dressing, tea ceremony, traditional parlor games with geisha and maiko, and a guided tour of the full facility with commentary, including to areas not usually opened to the public. Steep yourself in true Kyoto in this historic machiya.

Living Craftsmanship and Beauty in a Tour of Nishijin Fujita’s West Wing

Enjoy a special tour of Nishijin Fujita’s normally off-limits west wing with the owner, who knows all there is to know about the building’s history, as well as an artisan directly involved in the traditional architecture and craft work behind it. The west wing and its high outer wall were built over the span of two years starting in 1933, with high quality construction materials carefully selected to match the status of the space. Feel the aesthetics, craftsmanship, and history of the period living in the structure right down to the texture, sheen, and growth rings of the wood.

An expert explains the refined architectural details and traditional techniques used in the west wing’s construction

An Art Deco Western-style room features a wickerwork ceiling, tiled fireplace, and period 
furniture. Other highlights of the wing include formal sukiya and shoin style tatami-floored rooms, as well as a bold atrium space. The vision and commitment of the owner shine through in every detail.

The Western-style sitting room, filled with precious furniture, decor, and fittings (accessible in the facility tour only)

An inner atrium wall of polished juraku clay stretching to the third floor is another highlight, along with shoji sliding doors that are swapped for reed doors in summer, along with rattan tatami mats that showcase the craftsmanship of the artisans that made them. The space is a carefully preserved work of cultural heritage that combines architectural beauty with ingenuity for daily life.

・For 2-day, 1-night stays, this tour is only available on the first day between noon and 3 PM
・For 3-day, 2-night stays, the tour is only available on the first day between noon and 3 PM, or on the second day from morning until close

Discover the beauty and ingenuity of traditional Japanese architecture (summer season only)

The Serenity of Tea Ceremony in Tearoom Yoshin

This plan also offers the opportunity to experience an authentic full-scale tea ceremony with a master of Urasenke, one of Japan’s foremost styles of tea ceremony. This tea ceremony instructor is one who does not usually accept beginners, offering attentive instruction in the basic etiquette of the art, such as posture and bearing during tea preparation, the handling of the utensils, and the etiquette of serving tea. Discover a rich depth of meaning behind each, experiencing Japan’s unique spiritual and aesthetic sensibilities in an unforgettable experience.

Experience tea ceremony in an authentic tea room with a nijiriguchi entrance

The silence of the tea ceremony offers a chance to sit with yourself in a healing comfort that can be scarce in the everyday. Immerse yourself in uniquely Japanese wabi-sabi spirit and hospitality. The tea ceremony experience is recommended in combination with the kimono dressing plan, introduced below.

・For 2-day, 1-night stays, this experience is only available on the first day between noon and 3 PM
・For 3-day, 2-night stays, the experience is only available on the first day between noon and 3 PM, or on the second day from morning until close

*Reservations must be made at least a month in advance.

A rare up-close look at a tea master’s sophisticated technique

The Chance to Dress in the Traditional Finery of Japan

The plan also offers the opportunity to be professionally dressed in an authentic kimono of real pure silk. The soft creamy texture and elegant luster of this unique fabric are so captivating you might never want to take it off.
An elegant solid color or traditionally-patterned homongi (semi-formal kimono) can be prepared for women, and a haori overcoat with pleated hakama pants for men. Please include your color preference and height when making your reservation. 

A magnificent metamorphosis through professional kimono dressing

A degree of trained skill is necessary to dress properly in a kimono, which is why this experience is handled by a qualified professional to put even those wearing a kimono for the first time at ease. Feel free to go out into the city for a walk or a meal dressed beautifully without worrying about your outfit falling apart, and return your kimono directly at Nishijin Fujita when you are finished. Experience authentic Japanese culture in all its depth by dressing in it.

・Dressing takes about 30 minutes per person
・For 2-day, 1-night stays, dressing is only available on the first day between noon and 3 PM
・For 3-day, 2-night stays, dressing is only available on the first day between noon and 3 PM, or on the second day from morning until close

The beauty of real pure silk

The Essence of Kyoto Leisure in Ozashiki-asobi Traditional Parlor Games

Kyoto has historically been known for its formal teahouses, where elegant leisure time was spent with traditional entertainers such as geisha, maiko, and musicians like jikata shamisen players and singers. However, most of these teahouses adhere to a custom of not allowing first time visitors without an introduction, which makes it next to impossible for tourists to casually visit them. In this plan, you can choose to visit a teahouse or to experience authentic teahouse style ozashiki-asobi parlor game entertainment with real maiko and geisha in the comfort of your own lodgings at Nishijin Fujita.

The lively fun of traditional ozashiki-asobi parlor games with maiko and geisha

Not only can you watch the entertainers perform up close, but you can also enjoy the lively interactions and humorous festivities of teahouse culture through easy-to-learn games with names like “Tora-tora” or “Konpira Fune-fune.” Dinner is also available with an additional application (served between 5 PM and 8 PM; drinks not included). Luxuriate in unique Kyoto leisure and entertainment culture in a relaxed and intimate atmosphere.

*Due to the entertainers’ scheduling constraints, guests wishing to select this option are asked to make reservations at least 90 days in advance
*Unavailable during the year-end and New Year holidays (December 25th to January 8th, 2026)

A Brush with the Real Kyoto at Nishijin Fujita

Nishijin Fujita is a paragon of Kyoto machiya craftsmanship and aesthetics, where the richness of life as it was a century ago lives on. History permeates the house, with each meticulous detail of its construction imbued with memories of the neighborhood. This powerful atmosphere is palpable in a stay at the residence.

Relax in a building rich with traditional history

This experience offers the chance to immerse yourself in that atmosphere, plumbing the depths of Japan’s traditional culture through an architectural design tour, kimono dressing, tea ceremony, or ozashiki-asobi parlor games. Says the owner Megumi Hashimoto: “I want guests to enjoy themselves, savoring an atmosphere that only exists here.” The building’s timeless exterior, its rich wafting of august culture, and the spirit of hospitality weaved through it in perfect harmony all beckon: come and experience for yourself the charm of the real Kyoto.