Ranzan (Kyoto Arashiyama Ranzan) is a 40-room inn in Sagatenryuji, Arashiyama, on the west side of Kyoto. The inn says its grounds are thought to be the site of the Oi detached palace, once visited by Emperor Kanmu. Before you book, three things matter: the English pages on its own website are an older version, so check plans and prices on the English booking page; dinner must start between 17:30 and 19:30; and the large shared bath is not described as a hot spring.
Where is Ranzan in Arashiyama, Kyoto, and what is the site?
The address is 33 Sagatenryuji Susukinobaba-cho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto. According to the inn’s facilities page, an excavation on the grounds in 1988 found the remains of a garden pond with early Heian-period objects, and the site was judged likely to be the Oi detached palace. A stone marker records that Emperor Meiji once stayed at the Yamanaka residence here, and the City of Kyoto has put up an information board because the area is linked to The Tale of Genji.
How do I get there?
The booking page lists three rail routes. From JR Kyoto Station, ride to Saga-Arashiyama Station (about 20 minutes) and walk about 15 minutes. From Shijo-Omiya, the Randen tram reaches Arashiyama in about 25 minutes, and the inn is about 5 minutes on foot. Hankyu Arashiyama Station is also listed, about 15 minutes on foot. The official pages do not mention a shuttle bus.
Can I send my luggage or park a car?
The inn offers a paid luggage delivery service from Kyoto Station and will hold bags. There are 15 parking spaces, free, first come, first served; they cannot be reserved, and the terms of stay list the car park as open from 5:00 to 24:00.
Ranzan rooms at a glance
| Room type | Size | Official details |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese room, 14 tatami mats | 67.3 m² | Entry, 8-mat and 6-mat rooms, and a sitting area by the window; views over the courtyard to the Arashiyama hills. 2 to 7 guests |
| Japanese room, 8 tatami mats | See booking page | Entry, 8-mat room and window sitting area; every room faces the courtyard. 2 to 4 guests |
| Twin | 30 m² | Two beds; a sofa bed in 4 rooms. 1 to 2 guests |
| Single | 21 m² | One semi-double bed. 1 to 2 guests |
From the official rooms page and booking page, read October 20, 2026.
Every room has a washlet toilet and a unit bath, according to the booking page, which also lists free Wi-Fi. Rooms have a flat-screen TV, an air purifier, a hair dryer and an electric kettle (an electric pot in the Japanese rooms). A LAN cable can be borrowed at the front desk. Check-in is from 15:00 and checkout is by 10:00. The terms of stay list a curfew of 23:00 and a front desk open from 6:00 to 24:00, and charge for late checkout: one third of the room rate for up to 3 hours, half for up to 6 hours, and the full rate beyond that. The facilities page also shows a karaoke room and a recreation room.
The bath at Ranzan
When is the large bath open?
The large shared bath is open 6:00 to 9:30 and 15:00 to 24:00. Its windows look onto the garden, and it has ReFa fine-bubble shower heads. The official pages do not call it a hot spring, and they do not mention a private or open-air bath.
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.
Meals at Ranzan
What is dinner like, and when does it start?
Dinner is a kaiseki course served in the inn’s restaurant, with three levels named on the official site. An autumn example of the top course includes matsutake mushroom soup in a teapot and Japanese beef cooked on an iron plate. On the plan page, dinner must start between 17:30 and 19:30; after 19:30, the inn says it may not be able to serve it. The menu can change a little with the weather, and the rice is grown in Japan. Booking on the official site adds one drink at dinner and Kyoto sweets in the room on the Luxury plan.
What is breakfast?
Breakfast is fully Japanese, with dishes such as yudofu (simmered tofu) and grilled fish, and a pickles buffet where you take as many Kyoto pickles as you like. The terms of stay give breakfast hours of 7:00 to 9:00. Yudofu is an Arashiyama specialty; our yudofu in Kyoto guide lists restaurants if you want more.
Can the inn handle allergies or a special diet?
The official pages do not mention allergies, vegetarian or halal meals. Contact the inn before booking.
Can I eat lunch there without staying?
Yes. The restaurant serves lunch from 11:30 to 13:30, closed for part of winter, with boxed set meals from 3,300 yen and kaiseki from 7,700 yen, tax included. Kaiseki lunch needs a booking at least three days ahead.
Children, cancellation and payment at Ranzan
What do children cost?
The booking page lets you choose older elementary school children, younger elementary school children (with futon and meals) and infants (no futon or meals). The official pages do not define the ages or give child prices, so check them on the booking page or with the inn.
What is the cancellation policy?
Cancellation fees are set out in the terms of stay and shown on the booking page for each plan. Read the rule on your plan before you confirm. Our hotel cancellation guide explains how fees in Japan work.
How do I pay, and is there a tax?
The booking page offers payment at the inn or online; the terms say the bill is settled at the front desk at checkout. Which card brands are accepted is not fully listed, so check at booking. Kyoto charges an accommodation tax per person per night, paid to the inn, on a sliding scale by the room-only price; see the City of Kyoto page. The inn’s prices are stated to include consumption tax, but the official pages do not say whether the accommodation tax is included.
What foreign guests should know before staying at Ranzan
- The English pages on the inn’s website are an older version. For current plans, prices and rules, use the English booking page.
- Plan to be in the restaurant by 19:30 at the latest for dinner.
- The official pages give different latest arrival times; if you will be late, tell the inn ahead.
- The inquiry form on the Japanese site is in Japanese. For urgent questions the inn asks you to phone: +81-75-864-0088.
- Japanese rooms sleep on futons; the 14-mat room takes up to 7 guests, which suits families.
Frequently asked questions
What time is check-in at Ranzan?
Is the bath at Ranzan a hot spring?
Can I use the bath at Ranzan with a tattoo?
How do I get to Ranzan from Kyoto Station?
Does Ranzan have parking?
Bottom line (2026): Ranzan is a 40-room inn in Arashiyama on a site linked to an old imperial villa, with Japanese rooms up to 14 mats, a large shared bath and kaiseki dinners. Book on the English booking page, start dinner by 19:30, and ask the inn about tattoos, diets and late arrival.
Sources
Every fact on this page is from Ranzan’s official pages: home (Japanese), rooms, facilities, dining, lunch, access and terms of stay (PDF), and the official English booking page and Japanese booking page; the accommodation tax is from the City of Kyoto. All were read on October 20, 2026. Prices and rules change; check the official site before you book.
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