Shimaya Stays - BenTen Residences

Takase was the best host! Helping us getting around the neighborhood and explaining how everything works! The townhouse was beautiful and very spacious. The 2 bathrooms were very convenient, everything was super clean and tidy. The neighborhood was very quiet 2 steps away from the historic district. This is a no brainer, book it and you won't regret it!

We absolutely loved our stay in this adorable traditional two story home. The location was perfect in a very quiet location with a bus stop and shrines very close by. There is also a Lawsons, 711, Family Mart and a 24/7 supermarket . The host was extremely welcoming and kind. They went above and beyond to help us with any query. We can’t wait to come back and stay here again. One of the highlights of our trip for sure.

Stunning traditional Japanese home in the centre of everything you need to see in Kyoto, seconds away from convenience stores and tourist attractions. Beautifully decorated with traditional Japanese style interior with wooden walls over 100 years old. Comfortable with air con in every room and a dehumidifier. Everything you need to cook if you want to, although it's so cheap to get food in from the convenience stores. Highly recommend. Welcomed at the door by staff and shown around. Fully secured with an alarmed door entrance.

Gorgeous location! The heated floors and the deep bathtub were a plus. Our host was kind and responded very quickly to messages. Perfect for a stay in Kyoto.

The host of this accomodation was extremely wonderful and kind which elevated our experience of being in Kyoto. Beds were very comfortable, it was a spacious place that fostered a traditional Japanese house. Thank you so much for the wonderful stay and we hope to be back one day! This place was also in a good location, very close to the shops in the Gion district and Yakasa Shrine.

Outstanding location! Super-clean, nicely designed, great neighbourhood and quiet at night. An authentic Japanese house, entirely wood-based with all required modern amenities. Sliding doors & off course, full-option Japanese toilets. Even the view out of the window is nice. Perfect for a family of 4. Highly recommended.

We were absolutely blown away by this place. With two young kids in tow, it’s been extremely difficult to get around Kyoto and this place was our place of solace! The finishings were impeccable, it was so cosy and we had an amazing rest and the children loved it. One thing to note, as with Japanese culture, they are very prompt. Check out time is 11am without deviation and the only thing I would change about this place is to have black out shades in the sleeping rooms. (Or wear an eye patch to sleep) the sun was up very early and the Japanese paper windows let it in, waking all of us pretty early or earlier than we would have liked. The location is incredible, you’d be able to walk everywhere in Gion if that’s where you are going.

Thank you SO MUCH for an *amazing* stay, the most *impeccable* service we ever received, and the most high-quality and truly elegantly designed house we have seen in the area, over years of experience. We spent a truly great time in such a relaxing place. One of us (my father) is actually an architect, and truly admired the every detail in the design of the house, which visibly was made with a deep knowledge of the local tradition and culture, and interpreted through a thoughtful fit with modern needs and all functions available for the traveler, both for professionals or families. Every detail breathes like relaxed Japanese philosophy, much in the spirit of a Kitaro Nishida – local philosopher who once lived not far away. I very seldom write reviews, but just had to write one for this stay. We have been using AirBnB places for many years now, and I must say we are being quite picky at this point. But the service we experienced here was beyond any kind of comparison: we felt so welcome, safe, and kindly taken care of, just as if we were close friends or some kind of important people. The staff really went the extra mile to even make sure we got to the place safely, being very supportive through every step of us getting to Japan during the special procedures during COVID-19 times, and we were offered the greatest and most thoughtful care, thorough cleaning, towel and linen change service, better than we ever experience before. I now cannot imagine booking anywhere else than with Shimaya Stays. Let me be honest, at this point I’m even afraid to give too good of a review, so that we wouldn’t be able to stay there anymore if it becomes too popular, once everyone finds out how good they are compared to any kind of competition in the area. Perhaps this can’t be helped anyway, as such a perl is bound to be discovered and loved by many. I must sound like a fake review at this point, being so superlative about this review, but the whole team, from design to every service, really all deserve it! See you again soon!