We don't quite remember what started our interest in restoring traditional Japanese Kyoto townhouses (Machiyas) and turning them into luxury vacation rentals. Like many we were first drawn to the city's beautifully preserved temples, their elaborate buildings and perfectly manicured gardens. In the center of town, expansive, old merchants houses, some listed as significant cultural assets, also caught our attention. Owners of those ancient exquisite structures, we thought, probably belonged to descendants of glorious men who had served diligently in the imperial court and had been rewarded with the best land and houses! All seemed so out of reach and altogether difficult to afford.

But like everything in Kyoto, a city steeped in culture and tradition where arts and crafts have been pushed to near absolute perfection, with all social classes involved, Machiyas, be it that of a humble artisan house or the residence of a court noble, have always been treasured for their unique elegance.