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A quiet residential area on a hill just 6 minutes walk from Higashiyama Station

OUR-TURN

  コンビニ  

From Higashiyama Station on the Tozai Subway Line, the walk east along Sanjo-dori feels like a gentle prelude to arrival. You pass beneath the first torii of Awata Shrine, follow its stone-paved approach, and slip into narrow paths that edge the old stone wall near the second gate. There, tucked quietly on a hillside in a residential quarter, stands Awata-an (OUR TURN)—a machiya townhouse only six minutes from the station, yet a world apart.

The entrance opens with the weight of old wood. Inside, a vintage chest of drawers and a Kannon mask from the Taisho to early Showa era greet you, as if the house itself wishes to introduce its past. The small two-tatami entry hall offers a place to pause, sit, and remove your shoes before stepping deeper within.

On the first floor, two tatami guest rooms sit beside a cypress bath. The bathroom floor is laid with blue Towada stone, cool beneath the feet, and from the tub you can gaze out at a dry landscape garden where rocks and moss compose their quiet scene. A kitchen, washroom, and toilet complete the space, balancing the traditional with the practical.

Upstairs, two more tatami rooms unfold—one of six mats, the other of three. Shoji screens soften the light from windows on all four sides, filling the rooms with a brightness that feels both calm and alive. Beneath the tatami on both floors lies a hidden detail: hemp charcoal plaster, lending freshness to the air and comfort to each step.

Awata-an is not only a house but a vantage point on Kyoto’s seasons. In spring, the weeping cherries of Heian Shrine; in early summer, fireflies along the quiet Shirakawa; in autumn, the Philosopher’s Path and the crimson maples of Eikando; in winter, camellias blooming at Honen-in. Nearby stand the stone aqueduct of Nanzen-ji, the temple halls of Shoren-in, and the broad grounds of Chion-in—each a reminder that the city’s history is never far, even when you return to the stillness of this house on the hill.

A cozy space made with natural materials and craftsmanship

The floorboards under the tatami mats are covered with hemp charcoal plaster to ensure a good night's sleep. In addition, to ensure that even those who are sensitive to chemicals can stay with peace of mind, the interior walls are made of breathable Japanese plaster and natural earthen walls made of American clay, and the main power source is also made of hemp charcoal plaster to reduce the effects of electromagnetic waves.
To ensure that the humidity and temperature inside the room are stable even in the middle of summer and winter, natural insulation material cellulose fiber is blown into the underfloor and ceiling to create a comfortable space. The Ojami cushions in the guest room are special cushions that are shaped like beanbags and are handmade one by one in Gojo, Kyoto. When you sit on them, your back naturally straightens, and they are designed to put less strain on your lower back. For this reason, Awata-an does not provide zaisu chairs. The antique lighting from the early Showa period and the sturdy Japanese chest of drawers (available for use) are also masterpieces that highlight the craftsmanship of the artisans.
In addition, we have paid attention to creating a comfortable space down to the smallest details, such as a magnifying mirror for makeup, which is a delight for women.

A bathroom with a cypress bath and floor made of natural blue stone, "Towada stone"

The oval-shaped bathtub is a cypress bath made from cypress from Mount Fuji.
It is made in a bucket style and no adhesives are used whatsoever.
In addition, the floor is made of Towada stone, a natural blue stone that shows off its beautiful blue color when wet, creating a luxurious bathroom.
Relax and soothe your travel fatigue with a moment of bliss surrounded by the scent of cypress while gazing at the dry landscape rock garden.

Information

Name
Our-turn（東山 粟田庵）
Address
5-6 Awadaguchi Kajicho, Higashiyama Ward,  Kyoto 605-0051　　 
Telephone
050-2018-1700
Capacity
2 - 10 people
Access
Subway "Higashiyama" 5 mins by walk

Facilities

  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Shampoo
  • Conditioner
  • Body Soap
  • Bath towel
  • Face towel
  • Toothbrush
  • Japanese green tea
  • Coffee
  • Black tea
  • IH cooker
  • Fridge
  • Microwave
  • Electric Kettle
  • Tableware
  • Coockware
  • 10 Futon
  • Hair dryer
  • TV
  • Air Conditioner
  • Washing machine (No dryer)
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