Matsubaya Inn (Matsubaya Ryokan) stands at the gate of Higashi Honganji, a short walk north of Kyoto Station. It opened in 1884 to host temple visitors from around Japan, was rebuilt in October 2008 with timber from the old building used throughout, and now says most of its guests come from abroad. Before you book, three things matter: there is no dinner; it is not an onsen, and the only bath outside your room is a small private bath you reserve; and the front door closes at 23:00, though your room key opens a side door at any hour.
Matsubaya Inn at a glance
| Item | Official information |
|---|---|
| Address | Kamijuzuyamachi-dori Higashinotoin Nishi-iru, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto 600-8150 |
| Founded | 1884; rebuilt October 2008 |
| Rooms | 12 room types, mostly Japanese tatami rooms, plus one Western room |
| Check-in / out | 15:00 / 10:00 |
| Front door | Closes 23:00; room keys open another door any time |
| Meals | No dinner; breakfast in the lounge (extra charge) |
| Bath | Private bath for 1–2 people, 880 yen per hour, by reservation |
| Payment | Cash, PayPay, au PAY, Alipay, credit cards, at check-in |
| Membership | Japanese Inn Group |
From the official site, read October 16, 2026.
Where is Matsubaya Inn in Kyoto, and how do I get there?
How far is it from Kyoto Station?
The access page gives about 10 minutes on foot from the Central Gate (Shomen-guchi) of JR Kyoto Station and about 15 minutes from the Shinkansen side. From Gojo Station on the city subway it is about 5 minutes. The bus stops Karasuma Rokujo, Karasuma Shichijo and Kawaramachi Shomen are each about 5 minutes away. By car, it is about 20 minutes from the Kyoto-Higashi or Kyoto-Minami interchange.
What is nearby?
Higashi Honganji and its garden, Shosei-en, are each about 3 minutes on foot. The inn’s access page also lists Fushimi Inari at about 10 minutes and Arashiyama at about 20 minutes by train from Kyoto Station. The official pages do not mention a pickup service.
Is there parking?
There is a small amount of paid parking that must be booked in advance, and the inn says it will guide you to another lot nearby if its own is full. The official pages differ on the details, so ask the inn about space and fees before you drive.
Rooms at Matsubaya Inn
The rooms page lists 12 room types, from a 3-mat single to 6-, 7.5-, 8- and 10-mat Japanese rooms, two garden-facing rooms on the 1st floor, a Japanese-Western suite, a room with a kitchen, and one Western room. Most types have their own bath and toilet, either as a unit bath or with separate bath and toilet. The 3-mat single (E-TYPE) has a toilet only; its guests use a bath right in front of the room, locked for private use. The inn calls tatami, futon and yukata its “three sacred treasures.”
Every room lists air conditioning, a kettle with Japanese tea, a fridge, phone, TV, hair dryer and safe, plus shampoo, soap, towels, yukata and a toothbrush. All rooms are non-smoking, with a smoking corner on each floor. There is Wi-Fi throughout, a coin laundry, and two shared computers on the 1st and 2nd floors.
The bath at Matsubaya Inn: not an onsen
How does the private bath work?
The 1st floor has a private bath for one or two people. It costs 880 yen per hour and is by reservation; ask the staff. The inn offers two bath salts: a rock-salt bath with natural black salt, which it says feels like soaking in a hot spring, and a yuzu-scented bath. The official pages do not give the bath’s hours. Our private bath fees guide compares how other hotels charge.
Can I bathe with a tattoo?
The official pages do not mention tattoos. The bath is used privately, but if it matters to you, ask the inn.
Breakfast at Matsubaya Inn (no dinner)
What are the breakfast options?
There is no dinner, and breakfast is not included in the room price. Breakfast is served in the lounge every day from 7:30 to 9:30. A Western breakfast is about 500 to 900 yen. The Japanese breakfast is 1,100 yen per person and must be booked by 20:00 the day before.
Can the inn handle allergies?
The official pages do not mention allergies or special diets. Ask the inn before you book the Japanese breakfast.
Children, cancellation, payment and tax at Matsubaya Inn
What do children cost?
Children aged 4 to 10 pay 70 percent of the adult rate. Children up to 3 share an adult’s futon; a baby futon can be provided for 2,200 yen per night.
What is the cancellation policy?
Cancellation is free until 3 days before your stay. From 2 days before, or if you do not show up, the charge is one night. See our hotel cancellation guide for how these rules compare.
How do I pay?
You pay at check-in in cash, PayPay, au PAY, Alipay or by credit card; the Japanese FAQ lists Visa, Mastercard, American Express and JCB.
What is the Kyoto accommodation tax?
Kyoto City charges an accommodation tax per guest per night, based on the room charge (without meals or consumption tax). The rates were revised on March 1, 2026. The inn’s site does not mention the tax, and its prices are not on the official pages, so check your rate on the booking page.
| Room charge per person per night | Tax |
|---|---|
| Under 6,000 yen | 200 yen |
| 6,000 to under 20,000 yen | 400 yen |
| 20,000 to under 50,000 yen | 1,000 yen |
| 50,000 to under 100,000 yen | 4,000 yen |
| 100,000 yen and over | 10,000 yen |
From the City of Kyoto accommodation tax page, read October 16, 2026.
What foreign guests should know before staying at Matsubaya Inn
- Eat dinner out: the inn has no dinner. Book the Japanese breakfast by 20:00 the night before.
- Reserve the private bath with the staff when you arrive; there is no large shared bath.
- Keep your room key with you after 23:00, when the front door closes. Our late arrival guide covers arriving at night.
- The inn stores luggage at any time and can send it to your next hotel for a fee.
- Room prices are not on the official pages; check the booking page on the inn’s site.
Frequently asked questions
Does Matsubaya Inn have an onsen?
Does Matsubaya Inn serve dinner?
Is there a curfew at Matsubaya Inn?
What is the cancellation policy at Matsubaya Inn?
How far is Matsubaya Inn from Kyoto Station?
Bottom line (2026): Matsubaya Inn is a tatami-room ryokan from 1884, rebuilt in 2008, at the gate of Higashi Honganji and 10 minutes on foot from Kyoto Station. There is no dinner and no onsen, but there is a small private bath to reserve and breakfast in the lounge. Check prices and dates on the inn’s own website.
Sources
Every fact on this page is from Matsubaya Inn’s official pages: home (Japanese), rooms, room details, access, FAQ and English home, and the City of Kyoto accommodation tax page. All were read on October 16, 2026. Prices and rules change; check the official site before you book.
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