After nearly 20 hours of traveling, including a long, late night shuttle ride from the Osaka airport, we were utterly spent, hungry, thirsty and a teeny bit cranky. Our family of four included me, my husband, and 2 teenage boys. The Amber House was a welcoming oasis, complete with chilled water, orange juice, milk, and a big bag of granola. This small consideration by host Curtis meant the world to us as we arrived exhausted for our first night in Kyoto. We stayed for one week, and found every convenience in this beautiful 2 bedroom machiya home - a washer/dryer combo, compact yet fully equipped kitchen, super comfortable futons for bedtime, and tatami mat flooring that comforted our tired feet every day, after hours of sightseeing & exploring gorgeous Kyoto. Other thoughtful conveniences included umbrellas, shampoo, coffee, dish & laundry detergent, and best of all - an iPhone already programmed with all of the essential info you need to get around and then get back home w/out using our personal phones (google maps, taxi company, a fantastic translator app that recognizes & reads Japanese characters - a life saver with restaurant menus!) Several times, we called the taxi service, which Curtis had programmed into the phone. They always had an agent that spoke some English, and they already had the Amber House address in their system, eliminating the need to explain where we were. Curtis happened to be in Kyoto at the time - he and his assistant Junko were available to make dinner reservations, assist with translations, help us figure out train routes and where to find the local grocery store. We were there in hot, muggy July, so our most favorite amenities of all were the air conditioning units throughout the house. The cool air helped us to recover from our wilted state after our daily adventures.
About the immediate area: tiny little alleys packed with traditionally detailed residences, charming neighborhood restaurants, and just a few block further out, busier commercial areas where we shopped, ate, and enjoyed observing the locals going about their business. The train stations are nearby, allowing for travel to other major cities. I have already recommended the Amber House to several friends in the San Francisco area, and would absolutely stay here again in the future!!!!