Ryotei Rangetsu, Arashiyama (2026): Baths, Kaiseki, Rules

Ryotei Rangetsu Arashiyama · Baths, Kaiseki
Guide·November 8, 2026·12 min read·Sourced & cross-checked

Ryotei Rangetsu calls itself a culinary ryokan: a small inn in Arashiyama, Kyoto, on the Oi River, built around Kyoto kaiseki cooking and baths of heated deep underground water. It marked its 20th anniversary in November 2025. Before you book, three things matter: on dinner plans you must arrive by 18:30; the doors close at midnight; and building work on the lot next door limits in-room open-air bath hours until early April 2027.

Book direct on Ryotei Rangetsu’s official English website →
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Honto check: Every rule and figure below is from Ryotei Rangetsu’s official pages in Japanese and English, its allergy notice, and the City of Kyoto’s accommodation tax page, read on October 20, 2026. We have not stayed there. Deliberately not stated: room prices (the official pages do not list them and we could not read the booking page), the number of rooms, the tattoo rule, a private bath, vegetarian or halal meals, and whether cards are accepted at the inn, none of which the official pages give.
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Ryotei Rangetsu at a glance

A roofed wooden boat with a boatman on a green river between rocky banks, seen from above
A boatman on the river in Arashiyama, Kyoto, in spring. Not a view from Ryotei Rangetsu. Photo: schizoform (CC BY 2.0)
ItemOfficial information
Address7 Susukinobaba-cho, Saga-Tenryuji, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto
Check-in / out15:00 / 11:00 (no late checkout)
Last check-in18:30 with dinner; 23:00 breakfast-only or room-only
Doors close24:00
Large baths15:00–23:00 and 6:00–10:30, staying guests only
MealsKyoto kaiseki dinner; Japanese breakfast with Sagano tofu
PricesNot listed on the official pages
ParkingFree for guests; no shuttle
SmokingAll rooms non-smoking

From the official site, read October 20, 2026.

Arrival times and the midnight curfew at Ryotei Rangetsu

Tall bamboo stalks along a trail in a bamboo forest
The Arashiyama bamboo forest, seen from a trail. Not part of the inn. Photo: shankar s. from Poona (pune), India, India (CC BY 2.0)

The clock matters more here than at a city hotel, so plan your day in Arashiyama around it.

When do I need to arrive?

Check-in starts at 15:00. Guests on a plan with dinner must check in by 18:30; breakfast-only and room-only guests can arrive until 23:00. Same-day bookings are not accepted. You can send luggage to the inn by courier in advance, and staff keep bags after checkout.

Is there a curfew?

Yes. The inn closes its doors at 24:00 for guests’ safety and sleep. Checkout is 11:00, and late checkout is not offered.

Kaiseki dinner and breakfast at Ryotei Rangetsu

What are the meals like?

Dinner is Kyoto kaiseki, with the season’s ingredients. You choose a start time of 17:30, 18:00 or 18:30. Breakfast starts at 8:00, 8:30 or 9:00, with fish, an egg dish and yudofu (simmered tofu) made with tofu from Sagano. Our yudofu in Kyoto guide explains the dish.

Where are meals served?

Guests in the main building eat both meals in the renovated dining area, in private rooms of warm wood, each looking onto a garden or a small courtyard garden, so you do not see other guests while you eat. For the detached room, parties of three or more eat in the dining area; the official pages do not say where two guests in that room eat, so ask when you book.

Can the kitchen handle allergies or a special diet?

The allergy notice covers 28 listed allergens, including egg, milk, wheat, buckwheat, peanut, shrimp and crab. For these, the kitchen leaves the ingredient itself out of your dishes; it cannot handle allergens outside the list. Everything is cooked in one kitchen, so traces may remain. For severe or multiple allergies, or if you need full removal, the inn may decline to serve meals and then accepts food you bring yourself. Tell the inn at least one week before. Vegetarian, halal and other diets are not mentioned.

Rooms and baths at Ryotei Rangetsu

Rapids running between gray rocks on a river, with trees on the bank
Rocks and rapids on the Hozu River, seen on a river boat trip. Not the inn’s view. Photo: Sjaak Kempe from Groningen, The Netherlands (CC BY 2.0)
Room typeWhat the official pages say
Detached room (1st floor)Japanese-style, from 42 m², futon; faces the Oi River; its own baths, including a hinoki (cypress) bath
Special room, main building (2nd floor, 3 rooms)Japanese-Western, from 59 m², two Simmons mattresses; semi-open-air bath
Standard room, 50 m² (2 rooms)Japanese-Western, two Simmons mattresses; hinoki bath
Standard room, 34 m²Japanese-Western, two Simmons mattresses; hinoki bath
Single Japanese room (1st floor)8 tatami mats, 34 m², one guest, futon; hinoki bath

From the official rooms page, read October 20, 2026.

Every room has a shower, a warm-water toilet, a fridge, a kettle with coffee and tea, a TV, a safe, a hair dryer and Wi-Fi. The Western-style mattresses are 1,200 by 2,000 mm. With three or more guests, the third mattress is smaller or you sleep on futons. The inn says it has no barrier-free rooms.

What is the bath water?

The inn uses natural deep underground water from Arashiyama, heated for bathing, and calls it “Rangetsu no Yu.” It lists 114.7 mg of sodium and 276.5 mg of bicarbonate per liter and says the water leaves the skin smooth. It does not call the water an onsen.

When are the large baths open?

The large baths, shown on the official page as a rock bath and a hinoki bath, are for staying guests only. They open 15:00 to 23:00 and again 6:00 to 10:30, with towels and basic skin care provided. The official pages do not mention a private bath to reserve.

How does the construction next door affect the baths?

A two-story wooden shop is being built on the lot right beside the inn, with work planned until early April 2027, from 9:00 to 17:00, with Sundays and holidays off as a rule. Because of noise, and because workers on the scaffolding may be visible from rooms, the inn limits in-room open-air bath hours during the work. The notice does not give the exact hours, so ask when you book.

Can I bathe with a tattoo?

The official pages do not mention tattoos. Ask the inn before you book. Our tattoo and onsen guide explains what to ask.

Prices, children, cancellation and payment at Ryotei Rangetsu

How much does a stay cost?

The official pages do not list room prices, and we could not read the official booking page, so check rates there. Bookings open on July 1 for stays from October to March, and on February 1 for stays from April to September. On top, the Kyoto accommodation tax is charged per person per night, based on the room-only rate before meals and consumption tax: 200 yen under 6,000 yen, 400 yen up to 20,000 yen, 1,000 yen up to 50,000 yen, 4,000 yen up to 100,000 yen, and 10,000 yen from 100,000 yen. You pay it to the inn, unless it is already in what you paid when booking.

What do children cost?

The official pages set child rates by age group, from the full adult rate down to free for babies under one. Preschoolers are 10,000 yen plus tax with their own futon, or 5,000 yen plus tax sharing a parent’s bedding. Confirm your child’s rate with the inn before you book.

What is the cancellation policy?

The FAQ lists 30 percent from 3 days before, 50 percent from 2 days before and on the day before, and 100 percent on the day or for a no-show. The inn notes the rule may differ by stay date. To change or cancel, use the booking lookup for online bookings, or call +81-75-865-2000 for phone bookings. See our hotel cancellation guide.

How do I pay?

Bookings made directly by phone or email are paid by bank transfer only; the website has no prepayment. The official pages do not say whether cards are accepted at the inn.

Getting to Ryotei Rangetsu in Arashiyama, Kyoto

Hills covered in red and orange autumn leaves above a long bridge and a wide riverbed
Autumn color on the hills of Arashiyama, Kyoto, above the river and its bridge. Not the inn.

The closest station is Randen (Keifuku Electric Railroad) Arashiyama Station, about 5 minutes on foot. JR Saga-Arashiyama Station and Hankyu Arashiyama Station are each about 15 minutes on foot. The inn has no shuttle. By car, it is about 40 minutes from the Kyoto-Higashi or Kyoto-Minami interchange on the Meishin Expressway, or about 25 minutes from Oharano on the Kyoto Jukan Expressway. Parking is free for guests, including before check-in and after checkout. If you are planning a longer stay in the city, see how many days to spend in Kyoto.

What foreign guests should know before staying at Ryotei Rangetsu

  • The inn has English pages; from abroad, call +81-75-865-2000 between 9:00 and 21:00 Japan time.
  • On a dinner plan, aim to reach Arashiyama early; check-in closes at 18:30.
  • Be back by midnight, when the doors close.
  • Until early April 2027, ask how the construction next door affects your room’s open-air bath.
  • Send allergy details at least one week ahead.

Frequently asked questions

What time is check-in at Ryotei Rangetsu?
Check-in is from 15:00 and checkout is 11:00. On plans with dinner, the last check-in is 18:30; on breakfast-only and room-only plans it is 23:00. The doors close at 24:00, and late checkout is not offered.
Is the bath water at Ryotei Rangetsu a hot spring?
The inn describes its water as natural deep underground water from Arashiyama, heated for the baths. It does not call it an onsen. The large baths are for staying guests and open 15:00 to 23:00 and 6:00 to 10:30.
Can I bathe with a tattoo at Ryotei Rangetsu?
The official pages do not mention tattoos. Ask the inn before you book, especially if you plan to use the large baths.
What is the cancellation policy at Ryotei Rangetsu?
The official FAQ lists 30 percent from 3 days before, 50 percent from 2 days before and on the day before, and 100 percent on the day or for a no-show. The inn notes that the rule may differ by stay date.
How do I get to Ryotei Rangetsu?
It is about 5 minutes on foot from Randen (Keifuku) Arashiyama Station, and about 15 minutes from JR Saga-Arashiyama or Hankyu Arashiyama Station. There is no shuttle, and parking is free for guests.

Bottom line (2026): Ryotei Rangetsu is a culinary ryokan by the Oi River, five minutes from Randen Arashiyama Station, with kaiseki in private dining rooms and baths of heated deep underground water. Arrive by 18:30 on dinner plans, be in by midnight, and ask about bath hours while the work next door continues.

Sources

Every fact on this page is from Ryotei Rangetsu’s official pages: home, rooms, cuisine, spa, access and FAQ in English, the Japanese home page and FAQ, and the allergy notice (Japanese PDF), plus the City of Kyoto’s accommodation tax page. All were read on October 20, 2026. Prices and rules change; check the official site before you book.

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Author of this article

Researched in Japanese, written in English. Every guide is sourced from official information and cross-checked before we publish.

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