What a cool experience to stay in a preserved but beautifully updated traditional machiya! The house was in excellent condition with tasteful details, and the hosts were very generous in supplying refreshments and snacks for us to enjoy during our stay. We had all the amenities we needed, which all worked perfectly for a comfortable and convenient stay. The stairs were narrow and felt a bit precarious, but we mindfully ascended and descended with care and got more accustomed to them by the end of our stay. We chose not to bring our luggage upstairs to the bedrooms, but the luggage all stored perfectly well on the ground floor, so that worked out fine. The only thing my American family complained about after long, hot days of sightseeing and walking many thousands of steps, is we wished we had more comfortable furniture to lounge in than the one arm chair in the main room. We took turns sitting in it or laying in the beds upstairs to rest in the afternoon. The neighborhood is beautiful and quiet and within short walking distance of exquisite local restaurants and the oh-so-handy Family Mart. I would recommend this stay to any and everyone asking.