Machiya Guideline
町家ご利用案内
Machiya Life: Essential Guest Guidelines
Staying in a Machiya is a journey into Kyoto’s living history. Because these traditional wooden structures are nestled within quiet residential communities, we ask our guests to observe the following rules to ensure a harmonious stay for both travelers and neighbors.
Zen Hours & Neighborhood Respect
Silence is Golden: Between 22:00 and 08:00, please keep noise to a minimum. Traditional machiya are wooden; voices and footsteps can carry easily to neighboring homes.
Outdoor Courtesy: Please refrain from talking loudly or making phone calls on the street directly outside the Machiya, especially at night.
- No Parties or Events: This Machiya is a private retreat. Parties, gatherings, or events of any kind are strictly prohibited to ensure the tranquility of the neighborhood.
Windows & Doors: Keep windows closed at night to prevent sound from echoing in the narrow alleys.
Traditional Interior Care
No Shoes Indoors: Please remove your shoes at the entrance (genkan). Slippers are provided for use on wooden floors, but please enter tatami rooms in socks or bare feet only.
Tatami Etiquette: To preserve the delicate straw mats, eating and drinking on tatami is strictly prohibited.
Fragile Surfaces: Do not drag heavy suitcases across tatami mats. Be gentle with shoji (paper screens) and fusuma (sliding doors), as guests are responsible for any damage to these traditional elements.
- Switching Off: To ensure the safety and preservation of the Machiya, please turn off all lights and switch off any electrical devices, including air conditioners, whenever you leave the property and at the time of your check-out.
Fire Safety & Smoking
Strictly Non-Smoking: Smoking, including electronic cigarettes and vapes, is prohibited in the entire building, including the garden and the street outside.
Smoking Areas: If you need to smoke, please locate the nearest designated public area (often found at nearby convenience stores/Kombini). You can find a Kyoto smoking map here: Kyoto City Smoking Areas.
No Open Flames: Use of candles, incense, or portable cooking stoves is strictly forbidden due to the high fire risk inherent to wooden Machiya.
Waste Management & Cleaning
Garbage Separation: In Japan, waste is separated into specific categories. Please use the four designated containers provided in the Machiya:
Burnable Waste: This includes food scraps, paper waste, tissues, and textile items. Please ensure food waste is drained of liquid before disposal.
Cans: Aluminum and steel beverage or food cans.
PET Bottles: Plastic soft drink or water bottles.
Glass: Glass bottles and jars (please remove lids).
No Outdoor Disposal: Do not place trash bags on the street or in neighboring bins.
- Cleaning: To ensure your privacy, we do not clean the room during stays of less than seven days. If your stay is longer than seven days, please let us know if you require a cleaning of the Machiya.
Guest Registration & Liabilities
Registered Guests Only: To ensure a safe and private stay, only guests included in the original reservation are permitted inside the Machiya.
Valuables: Please note that during your stay at our Machiya, all of your belongings and valuables are your personal responsibility.
Digital Access: For your security, please ensure the digital door lock is properly engaged whenever you leave the property. Please do not share your access code with anyone outside of your registered party.