The 100-year-old Kaguraya House in Kyoto
Guest Review By Caroline Guilleminot
After an 11 hour plane ride followed by an hour by tube, three hours by high-speed train and a bus Caroline finally – FINALLY! – arrived in Kyoto feeling dazed (jetlagged) and over-excited (too much coffee) only to find that her booking had been lost due to an i-phone/computer booking synch problem… (Agggh!) Fortunately their host John proved himself to be an excellent fellow and after a reviving bowl of udon noodles accommodation materialised and they were able to settle in and soak up the atmosphere in the century old house in the charming neighbourhood around Yoshidayama Hill. (Don’t worry folks: John has since mastered his I-phone!)
The owners: John, a college professor and musician who has been living in Kyoto for 25 years and his wife, Acco, a fashion designer with a passion for kimonos.
The neighbourhood: Kaguyara House is perched on top of the Yoshidayama Hill. The trip to get there is a journey in itself: follow John and Acco’s exacting photographic itinerary – a real paper chase – and you will be fine. Located in a quiet neighbourhood, the house is a haven, away from any urban hi-jinx, with the Mount Daimonji watching over you. Half way from Ginkakuji (The Silver Pavilion), the Philosopher’s Path (Tetsugaku-no-Michi) and the Yoshida sanctuary.
A quiet street, rooms, sleeping futons, internal garden, and nearby canal in spring bloom and autumn colours
The House: A century-old house of the ilk you can still find in Kyoto, that marries traditional lodging with Japanese Zen.
The room: We landed a light and rather spacious room (rare in Japan), with tokunoma (alcove), tatami, futon and the whole shebang overlooking a lovely garden. Don’t look for the bedding in daytime: everything is folded away in the sliding cupboards…
large double room with balcony
