Kyoto Senraku where you can experience Kyoto Charm - 2 Stops from Kyoto Station! - Kyoto

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Amenities
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Location
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Exceptional

1 bedroomSleeps 439.9 sq m

Popular amenities

Dryer
Kitchen
Washer
Air conditioning

Explore the area

Kyoto

Shijo Street
‪3 min walk‬
Nishiki Market
‪10 min walk‬
Nijō Castle
‪15 min walk‬
Osaka (ITM-Itami)
‪53 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

1 bedroom (sleeps 4)

Bathroom 1

Shower only

Spaces

Kitchen

Dining area

About this property

Kyoto Senraku where you can experience Kyoto Charm - 2 Stops from Kyoto Station!

Welcome to Kyoto Senraku! – A Comfortable Stay in the Heart of Kyoto

Kyoto Senraku is located in the center of Kyoto, just a 10-minute walk from both Subway Shijo Station and Hankyu Karasuma Station. These stations are only two stops from Kyoto Station, so getting here and exploring the city is quick and easy.

Our vacation rental was originally built about 100 years ago. While you may notice some traditional features—such as lower ceilings or steeper staircases—we believe these are part of its unique charm. The building has been thoughtfully renovated to provide modern comfort while preserving the character of old Kyoto.

Inside, you’ll find a kitchen, washer and dryer, and other essentials that make longer stays more convenient.

Many of Kyoto’s famous spots are nearby and easy to visit:

Nijo Castle – about 15 minute walk, a beautiful World Heritage Site

Nishiki Market – about 10 minute walk, a lively food market known as “Kyoto’s Kitchen”

Rokkakudo Temple – about 5 minute walk, the birthplace of ikebana (Japanese flower arrangement)

Shijo Street Shopping Area – about 10 minutes walk, with department stores, boutiques, cafés, and traditional shops

You can also reach Kyoto’s most iconic sightseeing spots easily:

Arashiyama Bamboo Grove – about 40 minutes by train, a peaceful area with scenic bamboo paths and river views

Kiyomizu Temple – about 30 minutes by bus, a famous hilltop temple with panoramic city views

Fushimi Inari Shrine – about 30 minutes by train, known for its thousands of red torii gates

Planning to explore beyond Kyoto? Our location makes day trips easy:

Nara – about 60 minutes by train, with ancient temples and friendly deer

Ohara – about 70 minutes by bus, a quiet village with nature, hot springs, and historic temples

Osaka – about 50 minutes by train, a lively city known for great food and entertainment

Kobe – about 70 minutes by train, a stylish port city with scenic views and a mix of cultures

Whether you are visiting Kyoto for its history, culture, nature, or shopping, Kyoto Senraku offers a warm, welcoming place that feels like home—with a touch of traditional charm.

We look forward to hosting you!

Property manager

Rieko N.

Premier Host

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Amenities

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Air conditioning

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Living/dining area

Hot tub
Washer
Air conditioning
Microwave

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 20

Check out before 10:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

There is a small park a few minutes walk away.

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy

Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges

Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed

On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited

Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip

Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property

Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher

We should mention

The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare requires all international visitors to submit their passport number and nationality when registering at any lodging facility (inns, hotels, motels, etc. ); additionally, lodging proprietors are required to photocopy passports for all registering guests and keep the photocopy on file

About the area

Kyoto

Downtown Kyoto, a neighbourhood in Kyoto, is home to this holiday home. Nishiki Market and Nijō Castle are notable landmarks, and travellers looking to shop may want to visit Shijo Street and Kawaramachi Street. Kyoto Aquarium and Kyoto Railway Museum are also worth visiting. Take the opportunity to explore the area for outdoor excitement like cycling.

Kyoto

What's nearby

Shijo Street - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
Nishiki Market - 10 min walk - 0.9 km
Nijō Castle - 15 min walk - 1.3 km
Kawaramachi Street - 17 min walk - 1.5 km
Kyoto Tower - 3 min drive - 2.5 km

Getting around

Karasuma Station - 8 min walk
Karasuma Oike Station - 11 min walk
Osaka (ITM-Itami) - 59 min drive

Restaurants

‪立呑雪洞 - ‬1 min walk
‪Pizzeria Osteria e.o.e - ‬1 min walk
‪AWOMB - ‬2 min walk
‪うめぞのCafe&Gallery - ‬2 min walk
‪そば処みやこ - ‬1 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Kyoto Senraku where you can experience Kyoto Charm - 2 Stops from Kyoto Station! pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Kyoto Senraku where you can experience Kyoto Charm - 2 Stops from Kyoto Station!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Kyoto Senraku where you can experience Kyoto Charm - 2 Stops from Kyoto Station!?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Kyoto Senraku where you can experience Kyoto Charm - 2 Stops from Kyoto Station! located?

Located in Downtown Kyoto, this holiday home is within a 10-minute walk of Shijo Street and Nishiki Market. Nijō Castle and Kawaramachi Street are also within 1 mile (2 km). Karasuma Station is 8 minutes by foot and Omiya Station is 9 minutes.

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.

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10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

Charchris J.

7 Jan 2025

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location

A nice house with a traditional Japanese vibe!

Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Collin S.

25 June 2018

Senraku is the perfect place to stay in Kyoto.

Stayed 10 nights in May 2018

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Mark M., Minneapolis MN USA

30 Mar 2013

Mark

Wonderful...Great location and the washing machine with dryer was a plus. Very very clean. We would stay here again

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Janina V.

19 Oct 2017

Amazing!

We have stayed at many vacation rentals and by far this one is at the top of our list. From its ambience to its location. Great neighborhood with the best bakery in Kyoto just right across the street and two wonderful restaurants just next door. Our hosts go above and beyond to accommodate and made our stay a truly beautiful experience, we are very grateful.

10/10 Excellent

Mary T.

12 Oct 2018

Superb!

Beautifully appointed, very well located, charming and helpful owner. You couldn't ask for more! The stairs to second story are steep, so be apprised of that, but we didn't find them hard to navigate and we are both 70! Lovely touches, lovely neighborhood, a great place to stay while in Kyoto. And very quiet too! We'll definitely stay here next time we go to Kyoto.

Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2018

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Kristen S.

13 Apr 2014

Spotless, fully featured and great location

We loved the location as it is just a few blocks down from the center, but the street itself is quiet and atmospheric. The house itself felt like it was brand new, everything was spotless and well maintained. There were helpful annotated maps and guides and the owner dropped by to check if we needed anything. If you want a modern Japanese-style apartment at a great location in Kyoto, this will be hard to beat. We stayed for a week and did some cooking, washed our clothes with the giant washer/dryer that works very well and generally had no problems at all. Professional and pleasant. When we come back to Japan, I would come back here without a second thought.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Jan H., Manchester, UK

10 Apr 2012

A charming and characterful place to stay in Kyoto

Senraku House is close to Shijo Dori and very convenient for exploring Kyoto. There are lots of attractions within walking distance as well as the underground and a JR station. The house is beautiful - Thomas and Rieko have done an excellent job of renovating it. We really felt as though we were living in a Japanese home. The facilities are also very good, with a living room, fully equipped kitchen including a washing machine (which came in very handy!), comfortable bedroom and a spacious bathroom. It was great to be able to come back at the end of a busy day's sight-seeing, cook our own food and watch tv or use the laptop to keep in touch with friends and family. Rieko's communication from the booking through to keeping in touch while we were in Kyoto was really good, and the directions that she provided for finding the house were perfect. Thomas and Rieko left a welcoming letter with local maps and a very handy bus route guide, and some tips on places to visit that were holding special events, like the late night openings at Nijo Castle. The guest book in the living room was also a fun read and a good source of hints from previous guests on places to eat and drink. The one thing we missed from previous self-catering stays in Kyoto was an electric rice cooker - we aren't experienced enough to make sticky rice in a pan and didn't want to damage the cooking equipment! The house is easily big enough to accommodate up to four people. If you are tall, though, be warned - it is really easy to bump your head on the low doorways! We would recommend it for anyone who wants to experience a traditional Japanese house with modern amenities.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Scott J., Bellevue, WA. USA

23 Apr 2014

Great choice for your Kyoto stay

My wife and I stayed at Senraku House for 6 nights and were extremely happy with our choice of this property amongst the many possibilities. We'd recommend this property to friends and family and would definitely stay again on future Kyoto visits. Why would we give this property 5 stars? 1. Location is extremely convenient and very close to public transportation: subway, bus, and trains. 2. The property is well maintained and extremely clean. It's also tastefully decorated as the pictures on HomeAway accurately show. 3. Rieko and Thomas are extremely responsive throughout the process of renting the house, and provide accurate information on how to navigate to the house so arriving there without getting lost is easy. They also thoughtfully provided us with information on what was going on in Kyoto during our stay. For example, they let us know that the Imperial Palace would be open to the public during our stay without going through the normal application process. 4. We appreciated the detailed instructions in English on how the appliances and heating/cooling worked. 5. The bathroom was first rate with a wonderful shower. 6. We really appreciated the washer/dryer, which worked great. It allowed us to pack light for the trip, and wash a couple loads of clothes during our stay. Rieko thoughtfully provided the soap for the washer and excellent instructions on how to operate the equipment. 6. The house was quiet at night, which was a welcome surprise considering its central city location. We slept great on the futon bedding. 7. Wifi is fine, and Rieko provides the access information you'll need to connect. For those going to Arashiyama to visit Tenryu-ji, the bamboo grove, and our personal favorites: Okochi Sanso and Gio-ji temple, it's very easy from Senraku House. Walk west on Shijo-dori and go to the Randen Shijo-Omiya station. Jump on the train and go to the last stop. Cost is ~200 yen. The walk from Senraku House isn't far, less than 1000 meters. I'd caution families with young children that the stairs are quite steep leading to the second floor, so you'd want to take precautions. Older folks with hip or knee issues might have difficulty navigating the stairs too. Guests taller than 5'10" will need to mind the low door heights and duck. This is a traditional house true to its roots, and that's just how they were built back in the day. All in all, 5 stars.

10/10 Excellent

Max H., Madison, WI

23 July 2019

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful place in central Kyoto!

Fantastic place for a couple or small family to explore Kyoto! Rieko is a fantastic host.

Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2019

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Paul V.

9 Oct 2017

We picked a winner!

This property is in a great location. has great facilities and is very clean. Access to the property was easy. Our host Rieko is lovely and very helpful, thoughtful and kind. She went above and beyond to ensure our stay was pleasant. 4th time visiting Kyoto. Best accommodation yet.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Monica G.

4 Oct 2017

Amazing House

It was very good, the house so clean, the location and above all the hostess, Excellent!! very friendly and helpful, I highly recommend it.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Monica G.

3 Oct 2017

Amazing

It was very good, the house so clean, the location and above all the hostess, very friendly and helpful, I highly recommend it.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Molly M., San Jose, California, USA

22 May 2017

Beautiful home in great location

We loved our stay at Senraku house. The home consists of a good-sized tatami room, modern kitchen and nice bathroom downstairs and a large bedroom, study and closet upstairs. The home is beautifully appointed and meticulously clean. We loved the opportunity to wash and dry our clothes. Rieko was a super help to us in navigating Kyoto. Her maps and tips made all the difference. Heartily recommend her lovely home.

Stayed 4 nights in May 2017

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Barry B., Calgary, Canada

20 May 2016

A Great House In Kyoto!

Just returned from 4 great days at Senraku House in Kyoto. The house was perfect for our stay and is a classical Japanese beauty with all the modern amenities. Everything was perfect, including the great shower and the washer/dryer. It is close to many attractions, many great restaurants, the Nishiki Market and public transit. Rieko and Thomas were very helpful throughout the booking and arrival process and gave us many local tips including directing us to a local festival on the day we arrived. Don't hesitate to book this centrally located house, you will not be disappointed! Highly recommended!

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

16 May 2015

Perfect place to call home in Kyoto

We were very lucky to be able to call Senraku House our home for 3 weeks in Kyoto. It is an amazing and beautiful hidden gem. Last year, we stayed in Rieko and Thomas' wonderful, larger Gion Kyuraku machiya with our adult children but this time, it was just the 2 of us, with my brother coming to visit us for a short time, and Senraku House was perfect. It was very special to live in this traditional and sparkling clean machiya house, with its tamami floors, low eating table, comfortable futon sleeping mats, and tasteful decor, and yet, have every modern convenience - washer and dryer, large bathroom and shower, WiFi, fully equipped kitchen, air conditioner, and big screen TV. Everything is labeled in English so there is never a doubt as to how to operate anything. Senraku House is conveniently located in central Kyoto and it is easy to walk, take a bus or the subway, or catch a taxi to anywhere that we wanted to go. Rieko and Thomas are another reason to stay at Senraku House. This time, we had primary contact with Rieko and she is just amazing: so warm and friendly, helpful, full of great suggestions (she told us about the best place to see cherry blossoms, the best craft fair, and a small local restaurant for really good soba), and always just an email away if we had any questions. I know she must be as kind to everyone who stays at Senraku House but she certainly made us feel as though we were her special guests. We love Kyoto and Rieko and Thomas with their comfortable, beautiful properties make us feel as though Kyoto is our second home. We can't wait to go back. Thank you!

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Joyce M.

13 May 2015

Perfect place to call home in Kyoto

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Deborah F., Oakland, California

18 June 2014

Great Traditional Stay

There are a number of positives about this small house. First, it's location is great - just a few blocks from great restaurants and shopping and just a few blocks from easy train and bus options. Next is Rieko who helped us so much with advice and suggestions for restaurants, etc. We also appreciated the huge washer/dryer which we used a lot given how hot it was that week and arriving after a week in Tokyo. The house is immaculately clean and the futons were comfortable. The stairs are steep to the bedroom so it was a bit of a lug to get our heavy suitcases up there but otherwise my tall husband was able to adapt to the short headroom with no problem. The bathroom is large and has a nice big shower. We did appreciate the small sofa upstairs and desk chair as our aging backs did get tired using just the floor seats (its the up and down that we're not used to). All in all, we recommend this property!

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Kristen S.

11 Apr 2014

Perfect

The property is well located, well appointed, comfortable and neat as a pin. We could not have asked for more in seeking a tatami mat accommodation. We will seek to stay there again when we return to Kyoto.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

7 June 2013

Senraku House - excellent accomodation

Senraku house was the perfect location for us. It is close to a 24-hr grocery store, ATM and within walking distance of public transportation, the Nishiki market and the Daimaru department store. We really appreciated the map of Kyoto and the welcome letter that awaited us upon our arrival at the house. The kitchen was well-equipped and the washer/dryer was definitely an added bonus. It was like our home away from home. We could not have been more pleased with this accommodation.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Keith H., San Diego, CA

12 May 2013

Convenient and relaxing

This place was the perfect relaxing place to stay in Kyoto after the hustle and bustle of Tokyo. It is very convenient to almost everything Kyoto has to offer. There is a full super-market just down the street and small wonderful restaurants just outside the door on the main street. We loved that it is off a secluded private alleyway, yet you can catch a taxi if need be by just walking about 20 steps to the main street. It has all the modern conveniences, yet gives the feeling of living in a very old Japanese style home. Our hosts thoughtfully provided all instructions in English on cards placed throughout the house and gave us a map in English with various points of interest already marked. It was exactly what we needed. We walked to most of the shrines and parks we visited, although the subway is very close by and taxis are plentiful. We didn't get our fill of Kyoto and will need to go back. This was a great place to stay while in Kyoto. We loved it and I highly recommend it.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

18 Jan 2013

luxurious

Our family of 4 stayed 5 nights at Senraku house. This beautifully renovated traditional machiya house was the highlight accommodation of our 3 week Asia trip. It was such a treat for us to the stay there. It felt very luxurious. We were travelling with a 15 year old and a 6 year old, and none of us had difficulties with the steep staircase, you just have to keep your head low near the top of the stairs! The apartment was even more spacious then the pictures lead you to believe, and the 4 single futons side by side actually ended up creating way more sleeping space than other places we stayed at, plus they were very comfy. The house is 5 minutes from the metro, so very convenient for getting around anywhere. The 24 hour fresco market on the corner was a regular pitstop for us at the end of the day. Amongst the many memorable things we did in Kyoto, we would recommend the Gokoyu public bath house, a local traditional bath house with a whole range of different temperature baths and sauna, (20 minute walk southwards) our kids loved the experience there. We regret that the day we decided to go the Nishiki neighbourhood bathhouse (which i heard is very beautiful and an inspiration for Miyazaki in one of his films), it was closed for the new year period. I hope one day in the not too distant future to come back and stay here again. Thank you for having us Rieko.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Jane Z.

28 Nov 2012

A great home in Kyoto

It is our first time to stay in "home" other than hotel for overseas trip. When we arrived, we located the Senraku house without difficulty with the clear map from Rieko. And the city map and transportation map and the welcome letter in the house brought our trip much convenience and pleasure. The bathroom is spacious and Joe likes the cooking set in the kitchen so much. Jason loves the monkey place recommended by Rieko and we found the most beautiful and colorful tree ever in that place too. We hope we will come back to Kyoto in Spring time in the future. Again many thanks to Thomas and Rieko as Senraku house made our Kyoto trip even more impressive. Jane, Joe and Jason

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

18 Oct 2012

Kyoto Experience

After some initial difficulty finding the townhouse we were pleased upon entering the property. The townhouse was situated in an excellent location close to markets, shopping, transportation,and restaurants. The owners provided detailed information for using the facilities in the home and a map with all the sites circled making planning our days much easier. The staircase to the sleeping area was as steep as the owners had noted...sleepwalkers be warned! We loved the house and the location and the owners were wonderful and very helpful...from initial booking to departure.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Carla P.

23 Aug 2012

Kyoto adventure

We found this house to be ideally located and very quiet. We were able to explore Kyoto in the two full days we had and see as much as possible because of all the great information that was left in the house for us. When we returned at the end of the day, we found a cool oasis and we slept very well. The house was just perfect and we will definately try to stay there again when we return.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Sandeep S.

21 June 2012

Very pleasant stay

We are a family of 4 including two teenage daughters. We enjoyed the stay at Senraku and appreciated all the help and support from Rieko before and during the trip. The house is excellently located close to the Karamasu/Shijo crossing and minimum taxi fare to Kyoto station. It is very close to convenience stores, a bakery and a 24 hour super market. Internet connection is very good. The house is typical japanese style - which was a unique experience for us and the concept of sitting on the floor for meals and sleeping on futons took a bit of a getting used to - but it was very comfortable. I would recommend this house with only word of caution - the steps are quite steep to the upper floor and not suitable for elderly. In summary, a very enjoyable stay. Thank you Rieko - only guidance would be the access to the apartment is through a narrow passageway. Fine by day - but for anybody arriving first time to the house at night there might be a slight problem although the taxi driver was able to find the house with the help of japanese instructions. Sandeep Singapore

About the host

Hosted by Rieko N.

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Kyoto Senraku where you can experience Kyoto Charm - 2 Stops from Kyoto Station!

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Reviews

Popular amenities

Explore the area

Rooms & beds

1 bedroom (sleeps 4)

Bathroom 1

Spaces

About this property

Kyoto Senraku where you can experience Kyoto Charm - 2 Stops from Kyoto Station!

Property manager

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Have a question?

Similar properties

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Peaceful modern traditional house 5mins-walk from station "Uan/Hoshi"

House Rules

Children

Events

Pets

Smoking

Important information

You need to know

We should mention

About the area

Kyoto

What's nearby

Getting around

Restaurants

Frequently asked questions

Reviews

Exceptional

10/10

10/10

10/10

10/10

10/10

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Charchris J.

Great location

Charchris J.

10/10 Excellent

Collin S.

Senraku is the perfect place to stay in Kyoto.

Collin S.

10/10 Excellent

Mark M., Minneapolis MN USA

Mark

Mark M.

10/10 Excellent

Janina V.

Amazing!

Janina V.

10/10 Excellent

Mary T.

Superb!

Mary T.

10/10 Excellent

Kristen S.

Spotless, fully featured and great location

Kristen S.

10/10 Excellent

Jan H., Manchester, UK

A charming and characterful place to stay in Kyoto

Jan H.

10/10 Excellent

Scott J., Bellevue, WA. USA

Great choice for your Kyoto stay

Scott J.

10/10 Excellent

Max H., Madison, WI

Wonderful place in central Kyoto!

Max H.

10/10 Excellent

Paul V.

We picked a winner!

Paul V.