BenTen Residences

$746 per night

Studio6 guests3bd2ba

Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan

In order to save a Meiji-period machiya in Kyoto's Higashiyama District, four friends pooled together their resources and had the two-level townhouse renovated and transformed into Shimaya Stays—two beautifully simple apartments that are now available for rent.

Modern home with Living Room, Chair, Light Hardwood Floor, Coffee Tables, Recessed Lighting, and Rug Floor. Traditionally home to merchants and craftspeople, a machiya is a type of Japanese wooden townhouse that originated in the Heian period and developed through the Edo and Meiji periods. Photo of BenTen Residences

Traditionally home to merchants and craftspeople, a machiya is a type of Japanese wooden townhouse that originated in the Heian period and developed through the Edo and Meiji periods.

Modern home with Exterior, Tile Roof Material, Glass Siding Material, Flat RoofLine, and House Building Type. The city of Kyoto was once filled with such vernacular buildings, but today, close to two percent of its machiyas are being demolished every year. Photo 2 of BenTen Residences

The city of Kyoto was once filled with such vernacular buildings, but today, close to two percent of its machiyas are being demolished every year.

Modern home with Exterior, House Building Type, Tile Roof Material, Flat RoofLine, and Glass Siding Material. The BenTen Residences by Shimaya Stays is a 1,650-square-foot machiya that's been restored and split into two apartments that measure around 800 square feet each. Photo 3 of BenTen Residences

The BenTen Residences by Shimaya Stays is a 1,650-square-foot machiya that's been restored and split into two apartments that measure around 800 square feet each.

Modern home with Dining Room, Table, Pendant Lighting, Recessed Lighting, Light Hardwood Floor, Chair, and Stools. Photo 4 of BenTen Residences

Modern home with Living Room, Chair, Sofa, Coffee Tables, and Light Hardwood Floor. After Lee Yong Chye, Gian Yi-Hsen, and Richard Tan (from Singapore) and Benjamin Lim (from Malaysia) brought together their resources to save the structure, Kyoto-based firm Asami Architects and Associates stepped in. They worked with builders Tsuji Workshop on the restoration and interiors. Photo 5 of BenTen Residences

After Lee Yong Chye, Gian Yi-Hsen, and Richard Tan (from Singapore) and Benjamin Lim (from Malaysia) brought together their resources to save the structure, Kyoto-based firm Asami Architects and Associates stepped in. They worked with builders Tsuji Workshop on the restoration and interiors.

Modern home with Hallway, Light Hardwood Floor, and Rug Floor. The original wooden latticework on the front doors, along with the insect cage-style windows (known as mushiko-mado), timber floors, clay partitions, and baked-tile roofs were retained, while the interiors were updated with modern furnishings and fittings, including minimalist beds and tables made by local artisans. Photo 6 of BenTen Residences

The original wooden latticework on the front doors, along with the insect cage-style windows (known as mushiko-mado), timber floors, clay partitions, and baked-tile roofs were retained, while the interiors were updated with modern furnishings and fittings, including minimalist beds and tables made by local artisans.

Modern home with Living Room, Sofa, Coffee Tables, Chair, Table, Stools, Light Hardwood Floor, and Recessed Lighting. The influence of ancient Japan can be felt throughout the apartments, thanks to the wood-beamed ceilings, bamboo details, tatami-floored rooms, fusuma sliding doors, and small landscaped courtyards. Photo 7 of BenTen Residences

The influence of ancient Japan can be felt throughout the apartments, thanks to the wood-beamed ceilings, bamboo details, tatami-floored rooms, fusuma sliding doors, and small landscaped courtyards.

Modern home with Hallway and Light Hardwood Floor. A narrow street-level corridor leads to an open-plan dining, kitchen, and living area that looks out to a small Zen courtyard garden at the back of the townhouse. Photo 8 of BenTen Residences

A narrow street-level corridor leads to an open-plan dining, kitchen, and living area that looks out to a small Zen courtyard garden at the back of the townhouse.

Modern home with Outdoor, Small Patio, Porch, Deck, Side Yard, Trees, Wood Patio, Porch, Deck, and Hardscapes. In the ground level bathroom, guests can soak in a deep bathtub while looking out to views of the courtyard. Photo 9 of BenTen Residences

In the ground level bathroom, guests can soak in a deep bathtub while looking out to views of the courtyard.

Modern home with Bath Room, Drop In Tub, Open Shower, and Wall Lighting. On the street-facing side of the apartments are Japanese-style sitting rooms that are ideal for light meals or meditation. In this sitting room, screens can be slid open to views of the street, or closed for privacy. Photo 10 of BenTen Residences

On the street-facing side of the apartments are Japanese-style sitting rooms that are ideal for light meals or meditation. In this sitting room, screens can be slid open to views of the street, or closed for privacy.

Modern home with Hallway, Light Hardwood Floor, and Rug Floor. On the upper level is a bathroom, a bedroom with western-style beds and a dressing area, and a second bedroom with tatami floors and Japanese-style futon beds. Photo 11 of BenTen Residences

On the upper level is a bathroom, a bedroom with western-style beds and a dressing area, and a second bedroom with tatami floors and Japanese-style futon beds.

Modern home with Light Hardwood Floor and Wall Lighting. The fusuma sliding doors allow for changes in internal spatial configuration, where rooms can be closed off for a more cloistered, private setup, or opened to connect to other functional zones or to let more light in. Photo 12 of BenTen Residences

The fusuma sliding doors allow for changes in internal spatial configuration, where rooms can be closed off for a more cloistered, private setup, or opened to connect to other functional zones or to let more light in.