East or West? Choosing your machiya.
Both houses stand on the same lane, and both are taken by one party at a time. The choice comes down to how many of you there are, and which garden you would rather wake up to.
Shared character, two distinct personalities.
The two houses share the same traditional machiya character and a broadly similar two-storey layout, while each has its own distinct personality. Here is how guests usually choose.
For couples — BenTen West
The quieter and more intimate of the two, with a quiet, private back garden and the bath & shower looking straight onto it. About 750 sqft for up to five guests, which for two people means a whole storey each. In the evening the lane outside falls silent, and the walk home from Gion takes four minutes.
See BenTen West →For families — BenTen East
The larger and brighter house — 80 m² (about 860 sqft), sleeping up to six around a small courtyard with a Japanese maple and a stone basin. Three bedrooms mean nobody shares, and one bedroom sits on the lower storey with the kitchen, a toilet and the bath, so a grandparent who would rather skip the steep machiya stairs has everything on one level. Tell us when you book and we will make up the lower-storey bedroom in advance.
See BenTen East →For groups of up to eleven — take both
The houses stand two front doors apart on the same lane. A group taking both gets separate kitchens, four toilets and two gardens, and still ends up around one dinner table. Few hotels in Higashiyama can offer a party of eleven that combination of privacy and closeness.
Check dates for both →For longer stays — either house
The lower-storey room works well as a study, the bath waits at the end of the day, and the Kyoto evening lines up with the working morning in Europe and America. Write to us about weekly rates in the shoulder seasons — the quiet months are when the houses are at their best.
Enquire about a long stay →
Our Two Machiya at a Glance
| BenTen East 東 | BenTen West 西 | |
|---|---|---|
| Sleeps | Up to 6 guests | Up to 5 guests |
| Bedrooms | 3 — two on the upper storey, one on the lower storey | 3 — two on the upper storey, one on the lower storey |
| Beds | The upper storey features a Western-style master bedroom with two semi-double beds (196 cm L × 120 cm W) as well as a Japanese-style bedroom that can accommodate two futons. On the lower storey, a second Japanese-style room can also accommodate two futons. | The upper storey features a Western-style master bedroom with two semi-double beds (196 cm L × 120 cm W) as well as a Japanese-style bedroom that can accommodate two futons. On the lower storey, a second Japanese-style room can also accommodate one futon. |
| Bathrooms | The lower storey has a separate toilet and a bathroom with a bathtub and shower, while the upper storey has an additional toilet and shower room. With facilities on both floors, the house offers a generous bathroom-to-guest ratio, providing added convenience and privacy for families and groups travelling together. | The lower storey has a separate toilet and a bathroom with a bathtub and shower, while the upper storey has an additional toilet and shower room. With facilities on both floors, the house offers a generous bathroom-to-guest ratio, providing added convenience and privacy for families and groups travelling together. |
| Kitchen | A fitted kitchen with refrigerator, induction stovetop, microwave, electric kettle, rice cooker, cookware and tableware. | A fitted kitchen with refrigerator, induction stovetop, microwave, electric kettle, rice cooker, cookware and tableware. |
| Included | Fast Wi-Fi and Netflix. The whole house is yours: one party at a time, with the kitchen, the bath, the garden and the front door to yourselves. | Fast Wi-Fi and Netflix. The whole house is yours: one party at a time, with the kitchen, the bath, the garden and the front door to yourselves. |
| Size | Two storeys, 80 m² (about 860 sqft) | Two storeys, 70 m² (about 750 sqft) |
| Garden | Tsubo-niwa courtyard, framed by a maple and a stone basin | An intimate rear garden can be enjoyed from both the living room and the bathroom |
| Character | The larger and brighter of the two | Smaller, quieter, more intimate |
| Ideal for | Families and groups of up to six | Couples and smaller groups who prefer a quieter, more intimate house. |
| See the East House → | See the West House → |
Everything worth asking before you book.
How many bedrooms are there, and on which floor?
Each house has three separate bedrooms: two on the upper storey and one on the lower storey. One room has two semi-double beds (196cm L × 120cm W) and two are futon rooms. BenTen East sleeps up to six, BenTen West up to five.
How many bathrooms and toilets?
The lower storey has a separate toilet and a bathroom with a bathtub and shower, while the upper storey has an additional toilet and shower room. The lower-storey bath faces the garden. With facilities on both floors, the house offers a generous bathroom-to-guest ratio, providing added convenience and privacy for families and groups travelling together.
Are the stairs steep? Can we stay without using them?
These are century-old machiya, so the stair is narrower and steeper than a modern one, and there is a raised step at the traditional doma entrance. Because one bedroom, a shower and WC, the bath, the kitchen and the living room are all on the lower storey, a stay that avoids the stairs altogether is possible. Tell us when you book and we will set the lower-storey room for you.
How does check-in work?
Check-in is from 15:00 and check-out by 11:00. A personal welcome is arranged for arrivals within a reasonable, pre-agreed window: a host welcomes you at the house and introduces the property. Alternative check-in arrangements are available for late or significantly delayed arrivals, and departure assistance can be coordinated around your plans. Leave a phone number when you book. A private keypad code means you can come and go on your own hours.
How often is the house cleaned, and what about towels?
Complimentary housekeeping is provided every other day: bathrooms and living areas refreshed, used towels replaced and amenities replenished. At check-in, enough fresh towels are prepared for daily use until the next service, so you have what you need without a daily interruption. Between visits, nobody comes through the door.
Is the whole house ours?
Yes. Only one party stays in each house at a time, so the kitchen, the bath, the garden and the front door are yours alone.
Can we take both houses?
Yes. East and West stand side by side on the same lane and can be reserved together for up to 11 guests — the usual arrangement for extended families and groups of friends.
Is there a minimum stay, and how does cancellation work?
One night minimum, and longer stays are welcome. Free cancellation up to 30 days before arrival when you book direct on this site. Reservations open eighteen months ahead.
What is in the kitchen?
The kitchen is fully equipped for preparing meals. For hygiene reasons, we do not stock shared condiments or opened food items, but supermarkets and convenience stores nearby make it easy to pick up anything you may need.
Are children welcome?
Yes, and a baby cot can be provided on request — just let us know when you book. Worth knowing before you choose: both houses keep their original machiya stair, which is narrower and steeper than a modern one, and the genkan has a raised step at the entrance. In BenTen East the stair is also open to the upper floor rather than enclosed, so families with very young children usually prefer BenTen West. In either house, the lower-storey bedroom puts everything on one level, which suits small children and older guests alike.
How do we get there?
Gion-Shijo Station (Keihan Main Line) is a 12-minute walk from the house, and Kyoto-Kawaramachi (Hankyu) about 15. From Kyoto Station, allow 10–15 minutes by taxi, or take City Bus 206 to the Higashiyama-Yasui stop, two minutes from the front door. Private transfers from Kansai or Itami airports can be arranged by our concierge in advance of your arrival.
Anything we should know about house etiquette?
A machiya is a traditional timber home, shaped by generations of careful use. A few simple habits help preserve its character and keep the house comfortable for you, our neighbours and future guests. Nothing we ask is unusual in a Japanese home.
- No smoking — BenTen East and West are entirely non-smoking, both inside the houses and in the gardens.
- Shoes off at the entrance — Please remove your shoes at the doma, the traditional earth-floored entrance, before stepping up into the house.
- Keep evenings peaceful — Quiet hours are from 21:00 to 08:00. As BenTen is part of a quiet residential neighbourhood, we kindly ask guests to be considerate of our neighbours during these hours.
- Take care of the tatami — Please carry suitcases across tatami rather than wheeling them, as the matting can mark easily.
- Keep food and waste contained — Please use the bins provided and avoid leaving food, wrappers or scraps on the floors.
- Handle the sliding doors gently — Some of the sliding doors are original features of the house. Please guide them carefully along their runners rather than pushing or forcing them.
- Close windows and outer doors after dark — Interior lighting can attract insects, and open windows or doors may occasionally allow small creatures inside.
- Use the mesh screens during the day — Whenever a window is open, please keep the insect screen closed.
- Check pockets before using the washing machine — Tissues, coins and other small items can damage the machine or leave residue on your laundry.
A little care helps us preserve the character of these machiya while keeping them welcoming for everyone who stays after you.
Choose your house.
Check dates for BenTen East or BenTen West, or write to the concierge about taking both houses, longer stays or special arrangements.
431-3 & 431-4 Kamibenten-cho
Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto 605-0822
京都市東山区
+81 75-771-0898
hello@benten-residences.com
Check-in from 15:00 / Check-out by 11:00
Reservations open eighteen months ahead.