Annie Le’s Kyoto guest house collection is named A Day in Khaki, inspired, she says, for the beguilingly tranquil colors of the city. Her focus is on giving visitors a chance to immerse in the history of Kyoto by staying in century-plus-old structures. The first “Khaki” location is in a restored machiya, an antique wooden townhouse near Nijo Castle: we recently spotlighted it in our Design Travel Tour of Artful Hotels in Tokyo and Kyoto.
Today, we’re dropping in on Annie’s new location, A Day in Khaki Muromachi,, within walking distance of Kyoto’s Imperial Palace. Set in a storied old silk factory with courtyards and the original owner’s dwelling in front, the compound was given a thoughtful remodel by Takato Yochida and his team at Ikken architecture. His mandate was to celebrate the original setting while making it a wonderful year-round place to hang your hat. Let’s take a look.
Photography by Kevin Ho, courtesy of A Day in Khaki, unless noted.
![to find a day in khaki muromachi, look for the pine tree rising from the front 17](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/a-day-in-khaki-ext-via-website.jpg)
![the front and back buildings are divided by a courtyard brought back to life by 18](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/adayinkhaki-muromachi-courtyard-ikken-photo.jpg)
Front Building: Formerly a Family Home
![one of the three bedrooms in the restored dwelling opens to the front courtyard 19](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/adayinkhaki-muromachi-front-2.jpg)
![the dining area overlooks the central courtyard. reed shades help keep the room 20](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/adayinkhaki-muromachi-front-5a.jpg)
![the compact kitchen. 21](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/adayinkhaki-muromachi-front-kitchen-ikken-photo.jpg)
![there are two more bedrooms upstairs—all three rooms in this half of the 22](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/adayinkhaki-muromachi-front-ikken-photo.jpg)
![the shady terrace overlooks the central courtyard. 23](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/adayinkhaki-muromachi-front-4.jpg)
Back Building: A Converted Textile Factory
![the factory in the rear of the property made nishijin ori, the woven patterned 24](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/adayinkhaki-muromachi-rear-ikken-photo-1a.jpg)
Most of the furnishings came from designer Katsuyoshi Kameda’s company Django, which sells a mix of new and vintage pieces, and his own artful mashups. The glass pendant lights throughout are from Aruse, which also makes new designs from old parts. Photograph by Tsujii Shotaro, courtesy of Ikken.
![the factory building\2\17;s small kitchen is neatly tucked under and alo 25](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/adayinkhaki-muromachi-rear-3.jpg)
![a django table: \2\20;katsuyoshi kameda collects scrap materials and imm 26](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/adayinkhaki-muromachi-rear-django-3a.jpg)
![the existing stairs had such narrow treads and high risers that they were diffi 27](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/adayinkhaki-muromachi-rear-6.jpg)
![the two bedrooms upstairs in the factory are japanese style, with tatami mats, 28](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/adayinkhaki-muromachi-washi-paper-wallpaper-by-wataru-hatano-rear-7a-ikken-photo.jpg)
“Washi paper is known to be extremely durable; it can last for centuries without decaying,” says Annie. “Like Nishijin-ori, it’s an increasingly rare art form; at A Day in Khaki, we think it’s important to carry on these traditional crafts into the future.” Photograph by Tsujii Shotaro, courtesy of Ikken.
![each half of the compound has its own soaking tub. 29](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/adayinkhaki-muromachi-bath-rear-ikken-photo-jpg.jpg)
![the upstairs hall ends with a courtyard view and a light from aruse. 30](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/adayinkhaki-muromachi-rear-ikken-photo-8.jpg)
The compound rents for approximately $450 to $650 a night—rates fluctuate depending on the season and number of people. See more at A Day in Khaki.
Two more Japanese guest houses in historic settings—to visit or admire from afar:
- ‘The Dedication to Making Things Well’ at Shiguchi Guest Houses in Hokkaido
- A Traditional Japanese Home in the Countryside an Hour from Tokyo
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