Murasakino Guesthouse
Exterior of Murasakino Guesthouse.
Entry to the house.
The porch light comes on automatically after sunset. It illuminates the front door to welcome you when you arrive during night.
The sign lit by the porch light.
This simple handmade sign is the sign of Murasakino Guesthouse.
Entry to the house. Please take off your shoes here.
Entry at night.
This small room just after the entry was originally designed as a room to talk to visitors which was a typical style of Japanese residential houses in old days. Murasakino Guesthouse provides many books to introduce Kyoto and Japanese culture.
Antique ornament at the entry.
Two Japanese gardens can be viewed from the living room and dining room. Front garden is a tea-house garden style.
Leaves of aoki and red berries of senryo give colours to the stone lantern. There is a tiny fish in the water to keep it fresh and prevent mosquitos.
This quaint small building seen in the front garden is actually the lavatory.
Back garden is an image of a Japanese forest with various native plants.
Back garden can be viewed from the dining room through the antique patterned glasses. Looking at the scene of the morning sun shining on the maple leaves while having breakfast is just so pleasant.
There is Engawa (end of the house floor, a wooden deck towards the garden) that you can sit down to enjoy the sun, also two bamboo laundry pools, pegs and hangers to dry your clothes just above the Engawa.
Washbasin
Corridor between the living room and the front garden. The wall is made of old shikkui.
Front garden is on the right, living room is on the left. The bowls displayed at the tea cabinet are Kiyomizu ware (one of Kyoto’s traditional crafts).
Stair to upstairs
Above the stair
Overview from the living room towards dining room and kitchen. Many of the original old sliding doors remain in Murasakino Guesthouse.
Dining table and kitchen are in the same room
Front garden can be viewed from the dining area
Dining room has white walls made of Shikkui. Heating carpet is provided under the table during winter.
Antique chest and traditional craftwork. Skill of a furniture upholsterer before mass production starts in Japan.
Rustic handmade pottery matches well with atmosphere of Machiya.
Fully equipped kitchen. Supermarket is 5 minutes on foot.
Two cooking stoves, toaster, kettle and basic seasonings.
Cooking utensils including a rice cooker, lots of pots and pans.
Various kinds of eating utensils as well as mugs, glasses and cups.
Feel free to have some tea / coffee and make yourself at home. Try some Japanese Ryoku-cha (green tea) and Hoji-cha (roasted green tea).
There are many lovely antiques and flower arrangements.
Handmade potteries.
Japanese traditional living room has a style of a low table and sitting down on the tatami floor. Floor chairs and cushions are provided for guests comfort.
Atmosphere of the old Japan still remains. Tokobashira (alcove post) on Juraku walls, Tokonoma (display for flower or art), Yukimi Shoji (paper door with clear glass to look out the garden), Tatami mats… The beauty of Japanese traditional house.
View through the living room to the dining area.
Front garden with stone lantern can be viewed from the living room through the Engawa (end of a house facing outside).
Flower arrangement at this Tokonoma (display area) is often some plants from the guesthouse garden.
Kakejiku (hanging scroll of painting or calligraphy) is typically displayed together with Okidoko (table to put some artwork on)
Soft light in the late afternoon comes through the Shoji paper door from the garden and shine on the art display.
In winter, you can enjoy Kotatsu (a low table with a heater and a futon)
paper lampshade.
Ranma (hand curved wooden decoration board)
This toilet room has been here since the house was built but the toilet itself was replaced with the one which has the bidet function in 2016. There is a small window just at the foot level which used to be used for ventilation in the old days.
Old wooden door and window
Antique lamp shade
Toilet has lots of windows to let the natural light in.
Small ornament in toilet.
Modern bathroom was installed in 2016. Shampoo, hair-conditioner and body-wash are provided.
Garden view from the bathroom
Dressing room. Towels are provided.
Round window to back garden in the dressing room
Seasonal flowers or leaves are arranged all over the house so our guests can feel nature while relaxing at home.
Back garden through the dressing room window.
Japanese style bedroom (11 square metre). Possible to prepare maximum 4 futons.
Sliding paper doors of the storage has a painting of mountains.
Each bed room has a mirror in Murasakino Guesthouse. In this Japanese style room, you are supposed to sit on the tatami mats to use the mirror.
The Japanese style bedroom has Tokonoma (decoration space to display art or flower arrangement).
This antique mirror is made of a maple tree. Very detailed design that displays the skill of the furniture craftsman.
Antique “suibokuga” paintings (Japanese traditional art of ink wash painting) all over the house.
Corridor between two bedrooms. Please let us know in advance how many futons / beds you need in each room.
Western style bedroom (15 square metre). There are 2 single beds that can be arranged to 1 large double bed when requested.
The room has a sofa and an antique wooden desk.
The high ceiling with exposed beams gives the room open and spacious feelings.
The desk is near the window that gives gentle sun light through the antique frosted glass.
2 single beds can be put together to make a king size bed (180cm wide) on request.
Some Japanese traditional clothes to try on and enjoy if you are interested.
Laundry machine. (It takes 40 minutes. Cold water only.) Detergent and a laundry net are provided.
There are two bamboo clothes drying poles with hangers and pegs in the back garden under the roof.
There is an indoor clothes drying stand if needed.
Many kinds of children items are available to help busy parents reduce bags and for safety during stay. Please see the list in the facility page for details.
Tableware for young children.
Low chair to be used with the low table on the tatami mats.
We will try to prepare suitable toys and books for your children (from babies to toddlers) if you let us know their age in advance.
Best way to explore Kyoto is this! There are two foldaway bicycles on premise for free to use and more bicycles can be rented at a bicycle shop near the station which we can book in advance for you. Please ask for more details.
In winter, we provide hantens and they are popular among our guests. (hanten is a Japanese traditional jacket with cotton padding originally worn over a kimono.)
Our guests enjoy experiencing kotatsu (Japanese traditional heater. A low table frame covered by a futon) in winter.
Umbrellas are available.
