Staying in Old Machiya Houses

In January 2004, a group of associates and I founded Iori, a company with a new concept for Kyoto:  We acquire old houses (machiya), restore them, and offer them to visitors as places to stay and experience Kyoto traditional living.  In this way we are able to preserve old houses that might have been destroyed or irrevocably altered; and in the process give visitors a chance to experience Kyoto in a way they otherwise never could.  We call them "Weekly Machiya" to indicate that these are houses one comes to stay in as one might the home of a friend.

Decorated with folding screens with calligraphy and ink painting, andon floor lamps, tansu chests, hanging scrolls, Chinese and Japanese rugs, and ceramics, the machiya provide a unique insight into the cultural life of the old city.

At present we have six machiya under management, although we hope that Iori will grow more in time, not only in Kyoto but in other regions as well. In March 2005, the City of Kyoto's Mekiki Committee granted us special recognition as a Kyoto City recommended company.

For details please see the following links:
Iori (Japanese site):  http://www.kyoto-machiya.com/../index.html
Iori (English site): http://www.kyoto-machiya.com/.....

Rokkaku machiya

Sujiyacho entrance

Sujiyacho atrium

Oshikoji machiya