KOU西陣

It's all yours. KOU Nishijin is a converted Kyoto machiya (townhouse) that we rent to one group at a time. Your group has all three units, the hallway, the inner courtyard and the foot spa for the whole stay. No other guests stay or come in, and the host doesn't drop by. Our cleaning staff may be at the house before your check-in and after your check-out.

There are three units in one building. Each unit has its own kitchen, bathroom (shower and tub) and toilet. In total there are 3 bathrooms and 4 toilets. Unit 1 (up to 4 guests): two floors, with the bedrooms upstairs. 1 king bed and 2 single beds. Unit 2 (up to 4 guests): same layout as Unit 1. Unit 3 (up to 2 guests): all on the ground floor, with two connecting rooms and a single futon in each. Altogether there are 2 king beds, 4 single beds and 2 single futons, for up to 10 guests. In each unit the two bedrooms connect, and they aren't soundproofed from each other. You can use all the rooms however you like. Babies and children are welcome. If you have a toddler, we suggest Unit 3, which is all on the ground floor, because the upstairs bedrooms have few barriers. The house is not wheelchair accessible: most bedrooms are upstairs and the rooms are carpeted.

Use the 'Change reservation' button in your booking app and enter the correct number of guests. Please book for the largest number of people staying on any night, because the app can't set a different number for each night. Only guests listed in the guest register may stay at or enter the house.

Yes. Japanese law requires us to register every guest before check-in. Please register everyone in your group with the short online form. We send the link in the booking chat after you book. - Living outside Japan: upload a photo of your passport photo page. - Living in Japan: no passport needed, just enter your address in Japan. You can register some guests now and add the others later with the same link.

If you booked on Airbnb, the Kyoto accommodation tax is already included in your booking, so there's nothing to pay on arrival. The only charges we may add are the ones in our house rules (smoking, extra trash, leaving a suitcase behind, a lost key).

Check-in is from 16:00. Around 14:00 on your arrival day, we send the key instructions in the booking chat. Check-in is self-service and works any time after 16:00, so you don't need an exact arrival time. It still helps if you tell us roughly when you'll arrive.

Check-in is from 16:00, and we can't offer early check-in. When the house is ready early, we'll message you in the booking chat whether you asked or not, so keep an eye out for it.

Luggage storage at the house is decided case by case, because it depends on our cleaning staff. Please ask us in the booking chat first, and only leave bags at the house once we've confirmed. Coin lockers at Kyoto Station are another option. If the house is ready early, we'll message you in the booking chat.

Kyoto Station lockers (live availability)

Yes, it's self check-in. Around 14:00 on your arrival day, we send the full key instructions in the booking chat. They explain how to open the main entrance, where the keys for each unit are, and how to use the Wi-Fi and the foot spa. Please read that message before you arrive and follow only those instructions. If you're stuck at the door, message us in the booking chat or call reception on 075-468-1000.

KOU Nishijin is in a quiet, local area away from train stations, so buses and taxis are the easiest way to get here. From Kyoto Station: take the JR line to Nijo Station. Then take bus 6, 46 or 206 to Senbon Kamidachiuri (千本上立売), which takes about 10 minutes, and walk about 5 minutes. Large suitcases aren't allowed on buses from Kyoto Station, but buses from Nijo Station are usually fine. By taxi: about 10 minutes from Nijo Station, or about 25 minutes (around JPY 3,000) from Kyoto Station. For a group with luggage, a large taxi from Nijo Station costs about the same as the bus. Other lines: on the Hankyu line, get off at Omiya Station and continue by bus or taxi. Imadegawa subway station is about a 25-minute walk, and buses run from there. From Kansai Airport: take the JR Haruka train or the airport bus to Kyoto Station (about 90 minutes).

Search for 'KOU西陣' in Google Maps or use the map link below. Typed addresses are sometimes auto-translated and can show the wrong spot. Address: 792 Ubagakitamachi, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto 602-8487 In Japanese: 〒602-8487 京都市上京区姥ヶ北町792 KOU西陣 For taxi drivers: the house is one short block west of the Jofukuji-Teranouchi (浄福寺寺之内) intersection.

KOU Nishijin on Google Maps

Yes. Self check-in works at any hour after 16:00. The street is very quiet in the evening, so please carry your suitcases rather than rolling them, and keep your voices low outside. Quiet hours are 21:00–08:00. If you arrive late by car, quietly drop your bags at the door before you go to park.

There's no parking at the house. Please never park in front of or on neighbours' houses, driveways or parking spaces. There are several coin parking lots 1–2 minutes' walk away, and you don't need to book through us: 千本上立売東 (nearest): JPY 200 per 40 minutes, max JPY 700 per 24 hours 千本寺之内東: JPY 200 per 40 minutes, max JPY 550 per 24 hours くるっとパーク千本寺之内東: JPY 700–1,100 per day The daily maximums apply each time you park.

千本上立売東 parking千本寺之内東 parkingくるっとパーク千本寺之内東

Yes, you can have luggage or parcels delivered to the house during your stay. Someone needs to be there to receive them, or you can arrange a redelivery. If something needs to arrive before you do, message us first and we'll arrange it. If a courier asks for a local phone number, you can give our reception number, 075-468-1000. To ship luggage onwards, the Yamato Transport Imadegawa centre is about a 5-minute walk away. Convenience stores also ship luggage, but Yamato usually has the latest same-day cut-off (around 18:30).

Yamato Transport Imadegawa centre

The private foot spa is in the inner courtyard, and the guide below has step-by-step instructions. In short: 1. Open the door behind the reception counter in the hallway. 2. On the control panel, press 運転 (power), then ふろ自動 (auto bath). 3. Water starts flowing after 1–2 minutes. You can change the temperature on the same panel, but you'll need to refill the foot spa afterwards. To drain it, pull the plug at the bottom. Lights: the switches for the courtyard, foot spa and lanterns are at the inner end of the reception counter, behind the curtain next to the router. A switch is on when its dimpled side is pressed down. Please keep your voices low in the courtyard at all times.

Foot spa instructions

Bathroom: bath towels (under the bathroom sink, use as many as you need), body soap, shampoo and one toothbrush per person. Kitchen: each unit has a kitchen with an electric kettle, a microwave, a rice cooker and cookware. There's no coffee machine. Around the house: umbrellas in the hallway between Units 1 and 2, and mosquito coils on the black shelf next to the reception desk. We can bring an iron if you ask. Every room has air conditioning, and the tap water is safe to drink. If you need more towels or blankets, message us.

Each unit has bins with spare bags at the bottom. When a bag is full, tie it tightly and put it in the metal bin near the entrance. Keep cans, plastic bottles and glass bottles separate from the other trash. On your last day, just leave your trash in the bins. Excessive trash beyond reasonable use may be charged at JPY 1,000 per bag. A suitcase left behind is charged JPY 3,000 for disposal; if you plan to leave one, please contact us before you check out, and we'll arrange the payment with you.

1. Smoking is not allowed anywhere in the building, including balconies. If smoking is found, we will charge JPY 25,000 for deodorizing and cleaning, plus the room rate for each night the room cannot be sold while this work is done. 2. Quiet hours are 21:00–08:00. Please keep noise down so as not to disturb the neighbours. 3. Please keep quiet in the courtyard and in front of the building at all times. 4. Do not park in front of, or on, neighbours' houses, driveways or parking spaces. 5. Do not step onto neighbours' property. 6. Excessive trash beyond reasonable use may be charged at JPY 1,000 per bag. A suitcase left behind is charged JPY 3,000 for disposal; if you plan to leave one, please let us know as soon as possible. 7. A lost key will be charged JPY 5,000. 8. Only guests registered in the guest register may stay or enter. 9. Parties and events are not allowed. 10. Pets are not allowed.

Yes. Each unit has its own washing machine (3 in total). There's also an electric dryer in the hallway by the main entrance that your whole group can use. It dries slowly, so allow plenty of time. Detergent is above the sink in the washroom. There's extra in a basket on the bottom left of the shelf behind the reception counter.

Yes, there's free Wi-Fi throughout the house. The network names and passwords for each unit are in the key instructions message we send in the booking chat on your arrival day.

Check-out is at 10:00. The cleaners arrive at 10:00, so please be on time. Before you leave: - Wash any kitchenware you used. - Turn off the lights and air conditioners. You can leave the fridge on. - Put used towels in the washing machine. - Leave your trash in the bins. - Put back any furniture or appliances you moved. - Return all keys to where you got them, then close and lock the main entrance. If a key ends up in the wrong place, just tell us in the chat.

Late check-out is decided case by case and usually isn't possible. If you need it, ask in the booking chat as early as you can.

Luggage storage at the house after check-out is decided case by case, because it depends on our cleaning staff. Please ask us in the booking chat before your check-out day, and only leave bags once we've confirmed. Coin lockers at Kyoto Station are another option. Please keep your valuables with you.

Kyoto Station lockers (live availability)

Possibly, if the house is available. Please tell us in the chat by 22:00 the night before your check-out. We'll confirm the price and send a change request in your booking app.

Message us in the booking chat, with a photo if you can. For anything urgent, call reception on 075-468-1000. Quick checks: - No hot water: the water heater control panel in your unit's kitchen must stay switched on. - Courtyard or foot spa lights: the switches are at the inner end of the reception counter, behind the curtain. A switch is on when its dimpled side is pressed down. - Foot spa not filling: press 運転 (power) first, then ふろ自動 (auto bath), and wait 1–2 minutes.

First, check the key instructions message in the booking chat. If you still can't get in, message us or call 075-468-1000. The main door only locks when it's fully closed. If you misplace a key, tell us straight away. A lost key will be charged JPY 5,000.

Call 110 for the police, or 119 for fire or an ambulance. Then let us know in the booking chat or on 075-468-1000. Information about the nearest hospital is posted in the hallway of the house.

Our neighbourhood guide maps what's within walking distance of the house, such as convenience stores, supermarkets, stations and bus stops, with walking times and directions. We can't make restaurant reservations for guests, but many restaurants take bookings online.

Neighbourhood guide

KOU Nishijin is in Nishijin, a quiet and traditional part of Kyoto with few tourists. Places nearby: - Kitano Tenmangu shrine - Kamishichiken, one of Kyoto's oldest geisha districts - Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) - Kyoto Imperial Palace - Funaokayama Park - Shimogamo Shrine - Nishijin Textile Center (hands-on experiences, booking required) - Funaoka Onsen, a local public bath Rough travel times by public transport: - Kyoto Station: 30–40 minutes - Gion: 30–45 minutes - Kiyomizu-dera: 35–50 minutes (usually two buses), or about 20 minutes by taxi - Arashiyama: 35–50 minutes - Fushimi Inari: 45–60 minutes - Osaka Namba: 60–90 minutes Google Maps gives the best routes. Bicycles: three bicycles come with the house. They have a built-in wheel lock. Park them only at designated bicycle parking (never on neighbours' property), or they may be taken away. There are also bike rental shops and LUUP stations nearby.

Kitano Tenmangu shrineKinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)Kyoto Imperial PalaceFunaokayama ParkShimogamo ShrineNishijin Textile Center experiencesFunaoka Onsen