The house is located close to Tofukuji, a temple prized both as one of Japan’s best spots for viewing autumn foliage, and also offers good access to the Gion historical district, and Fushimi Inari, the world heritage site with 10,000 red gates. The house is just a 10 minute ride by taxi from Kyoto station, or one stop on the train (Tofukuji JR station) with a 10 minute walk. Both Gion and Fushimi Inari can be reached by a 10 minute bus ride. The house is part of a local community, nestled along a very quiet small street, and situated in front of a small bamboo forest.
Description of the house
Tofukuji House is ideal for two people, with a large living room on Japanese cedar flooring, and opening onto a small Japanese moss and rock garden. The aroma of cedar and cypress fill the house, the living and dining area is lit during the day by roof lights and the large glass sliding doors opening onto the enclosed garden. Travelers can sleep on comfortable futons, which can be stored away during the day. The house also offers a large well-furnished kitchen, and a bathroom with shower and modern Japanese wash toilet. There is an attractive private alley leading to the house with traditional gravel and stepping stone path.
Tofukuji House is a traditional wooden house built around a century ago, painstakingly restored in 2022. Its name comes from Tofukuji temple, located a leisurely 10 minute walk from the house. Tofukuji temple is famous for fall maple foliage, and its picturesque rock and moss gardens designed by Mirei Shigemori, the master of contemporary Japanese gardens.
The neighborhood
The neighborhood is a residential area, quiet and close to public transportation (Tofukuji station is a 10 minutes walk, or the bus stop a 5 minute walk). Those with an appreciation of nature will enjoy the small bamboo forest behind, and the mix of pines, camellias, maples and other blossoming trees opposite the entrance pathway, that bring a sense of the seasons to the area. The house is also just a couple of hundred metres from an entry point to the Kyoto trail that offers hiking around the mountains that surround the city, as well as a host of small picturesque temples surrounded by nature, for those who wish to experience Japan’s history in serenity rather than along with the masses. Two convenience stores and two supermarkets are within 5-6 minutes from the house.
