Toshiharu Ryokan is a small inn in a Kyoto townhouse (kyo-machiya) built in 1909, in Shimogyo Ward, with only five rooms. It has run as an inn since 1951, and its main house and storehouse are registered tangible cultural properties of Japan. Before you book, three things matter: it does not accept children under 14; only two of the five rooms have their own toilet; and there is no dinner, with the entrance locked at midnight.
Toshiharu Ryokan at a glance
| Item | Official information |
|---|---|
| Address | 326 Benzaitencho, Suwamachi-Matsubara-sagaru, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto |
| Building | Kyo-machiya built in 1909; inn since 1951 |
| Rooms | 5, all Japanese tatami rooms |
| Check-in / out | 16:00 / 10:30 |
| Entrance locked | Midnight |
| Meals | Breakfast only, 7:00–9:00, 3,080 yen |
| Baths | Two shared baths, used in turns, 7:00–24:00 |
| Children | Not under 14 |
| Parking | One car, 1,000 yen (contact in advance) |
| Phone | (+81) 75-341-5301 |
From the official site and booking page, read October 20, 2026.
The rooms in a 1909 Kyoto townhouse
The inn describes itself as a small place without lavish service, run with care by the young proprietress and her staff. On arrival, guests are welcomed with handmade Japanese sweets and freshly whisked matcha, and the concept page says guidance is also offered in English. The main house and the storehouse are registered tangible cultural properties, and the wall is designated by the city as a historic design building.
Which rooms have their own toilet?
All five rooms are Japanese-style tatami rooms, and the house has two gardens. Per the Japanese room pages:
| Room | Where | Guests | Own toilet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Satsuki | Main house, 1st floor | 1–2 | Yes (Western) |
| Kiku | Main house, 1st floor | 1–3 | No (shared) |
| Tsuki | Main house, 2nd floor | 1–2 | No (shared) |
| Take | Main house, 2nd floor | 1–3 | No (shared) |
| Aoi | Storehouse | 1–2 | Yes (Western) |
From the official Japanese room pages, read October 20, 2026.
What is different about the storehouse room?
Aoi is the inn’s storehouse room. It is the only room with its own shower room, and that shower room has no bathtub. Guests in the other four rooms use the shared baths. All rooms are non-smoking.
What foreign guests should know before staying at Toshiharu Ryokan in Kyoto
- The entrance is locked at midnight; plan dinner out and your return around it.
- In three rooms the toilets are shared. If that matters, choose Satsuki or Aoi.
- The official booking system changed on February 1, 2026. To check, change or cancel a booking made on the old system (OPTIMA BOOKING), contact the inn.
- In October 2026 the inn posted a notice that it never contacts guests through WhatsApp or other messenger apps, after phishing messages posing as accommodations and booking sites were reported.
- The inn has no public email address; use the contact form on its site, or phone for anything urgent.
Meals at Toshiharu Ryokan
Is there dinner?
No. The FAQ says the inn does not serve dinner, and the staff can introduce restaurants nearby. If you want a Kyoto dish to plan around, our yudofu in Kyoto guide is one place to start.
What is breakfast like?
Breakfast is served from 7:00 to 9:00, brought to your room or to the breakfast area. It is a Japanese meal of freshly cooked rice, miso soup, grilled fish, rolled omelet and obanzai, Kyoto home-style side dishes. On a room-only booking you can add it for 3,080 yen including tax by 18:00 the day before.
Can the inn handle allergies or a special diet?
The official pages do not say. Ask the inn through its contact form before you book.
The baths at Toshiharu Ryokan
How do the shared baths work?
There are two shared baths, used in turns by each room, from 7:00 to 24:00. The official pages do not describe a hot spring, and there is no bathing tax listed.
Can I bathe with a tattoo?
The official pages do not mention tattoos. As the baths are taken in turns by room, ask the inn if this matters to you; our tattoo and onsen guide explains what to ask.
Children, cancellation and payment at Toshiharu Ryokan
Can children stay?
Not under 14. The official booking page, in Japanese and English, says the building has no soundproofing, so children under the age of 14 cannot stay. The rooms and FAQ pages do not repeat this, so it is easy to miss.
What is the cancellation policy?
The cancellation rules are on the booking page and appear only after it loads; we could not read them, so read them on your plan before you confirm. Our hotel cancellation guide covers how fees work in Japan.
How do I pay, and is there a city tax?
The FAQ says credit cards are accepted, though some cards cannot be used. Kyoto City charges an accommodation tax per person per night that depends on the room rate; the rates changed in March 2026. See the City of Kyoto’s accommodation tax page (Japanese) for the current amounts.
Can I check in early or leave late?
The inn can hold your luggage before check-in and after checkout. The FAQ says a late checkout of about an hour can be arranged.
Getting to Toshiharu Ryokan (14haru) in Kyoto
The Japanese site lists the nearest stations as Gojo and Shijo on the subway, and about 8 minutes by taxi from JR Kyoto Station. The official pages do not mention a pickup. There is space for one car at 1,000 yen; contact the inn in advance.
Frequently asked questions
Can children stay at Toshiharu Ryokan?
Do the rooms at Toshiharu Ryokan have their own toilet?
Does Toshiharu Ryokan serve dinner?
What time is check-in at Toshiharu Ryokan?
Is there parking at Toshiharu Ryokan?
Bottom line (2026): Toshiharu Ryokan is a five-room inn in a 1909 Kyoto townhouse, with breakfast only, two shared baths and a midnight lock. Guests must be 14 or older, and only Satsuki and Aoi have their own toilet. Book on the official English booking page and read the cancellation rules there.
Sources
Every fact on this page is from Toshiharu Ryokan’s official pages: home (Japanese), home (English), concept, rooms, breakfast, FAQ, access and the phishing notice, and the official booking page in English and Japanese. The tax note 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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