Staying in a machiya: how-to and etiquette
Shoes, tatami, futons and baths, and the few rules of this house.
Staying in a machiya, or any guesthouse with tatami rooms, comes with a few customs that are easy once you know them. Most are simply how Japanese homes work. The house rules at the end are Cadent House's own; the full list is on the house page.
Do I take my shoes off in a machiya?
Yes. As in any Japanese home, the entrance counts as outside, and shoes come off where the floor steps up into the house. Leave them on the stone below, ideally turned to face the door.
Can I wear slippers on tatami?
No. Slippers are fine on wooden floors and corridors, but everything comes off before you step onto tatami, slippers included.
What are the slippers in the toilet for?
Where a house keeps a separate pair in the toilet, they are for the toilet only. Change into them at the door and leave them there when you come out.
How do futons work?
A futon is laid directly on the tatami at night and folded away in the morning, which is what lets a tatami room be a sitting room by day. At Cadent House, the Machiya Room has a double futon, with a single on request; the Garden Twin has Western beds.
How do I use a Japanese bath?
Wash and rinse yourself before you get into the tub: the tub is for soaking, not washing. Keep towels out of the water, and where a tub is shared, do not drain it when you finish.
Are there quiet hours?
Yes. At Cadent House, quiet hours are 22:00 to 08:00: these are residential streets and the walls are thin.
What about rubbish?
Kyoto City sorts household rubbish strictly and collects it in designated bags, so sort as the house asks and ask if it is not clear. Rubbish put in the wrong bag is not collected.
Can I smoke?
No. No smoking anywhere in the building, including the garden.
When can I arrive and leave?
Arrival is between 16:00 and 21:00, and departure by 11:00. We will hold bags before check-in and after check-out if you ask in advance.
Is there breakfast?
No breakfast service. The kitchen is yours, and there is a market two streets over.
Choosing between futons and beds? The Machiya Room sleeps on tatami; the Garden Twin has two single beds.
Book a stay
Choose your dates. The next page shows the live price for your stay, and you book it there at once, directly with the house.