Nenrinbo (in Japanese, Shiki Hagukumu Yado Nenrinbo) is a ryokan in Takagamine, in the hills of northern Kyoto, with its rooms set around a borrowed-landscape courtyard garden called Sekaku. Before you book, three things matter: if you arrive after 20:00, dinner cannot be served; meals must be booked at least 2 days ahead, and allergies reported 5 days ahead; and renovation work runs from January 6 to mid-March 2027 (planned), with the inn open throughout.
Nenrinbo, Kyoto at a glance
| Item | Official information |
|---|---|
| Address | 40 Kita-Takagamine-cho, Takagamine, Kita-ku, Kyoto |
| Check-in / out | From 15:30 / 10:00 |
| Dinner | Only if you arrive by 20:00; book 2 days ahead |
| Bath | Large or medium shared bath (one open at a time), until 23:00 and 6:30–8:30 |
| Private bath | 5,500 yen for 45 minutes, booked by the day before |
| Prices | From 22,200 yen per adult, tax included, on the booking page |
| Parking | Free for staying guests |
| Phone | +81 75 491 2231 |
From the official site and booking page, read October 20, 2026.
The English page says the name means “the hotel to learn in nature,” a spirit handed down in the founding family from the oil painter Toshio Mabuchi. Because Takagamine was once an art village, Japanese paintings, calligraphy and ceramics are shown around the inn. The courtyard is for viewing only and cannot be entered.
What should you know about the 2027 renovation?
A notice linked from the inn’s home page says work on some rooms and facilities of the Jakurin wing is planned from January 6 to mid-March 2027, and that the inn keeps operating during the work. Scaffolding will be set up in the courtyard. The notice says the rooms themselves are not affected, but part of the view will be. If the garden view matters to you, plan around those dates or ask the inn which rooms face the work; see the renovation notice (PDF, Japanese).
Which room types does Nenrinbo offer?
The Japanese rooms page lists the types below, across the Korin, Kunrin and Jakurin wings. Every room has its own bath and a washlet toilet, air conditioning, a fridge, a safe and yukata. Bathrobes and mineral water are not provided. Room doors do not lock automatically.
| Room type | Size (tatami mats) | Guests |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese room with open-air bath facing the courtyard (Kunrin) | 13–17 | 1–5 |
| Japanese room with view bath (new Korin wing) | 17 | 1–5 |
| Room with garden terrace, two toilets and two baths (Kunrin) | 29 | 4–8 |
| Twin beds plus 7.5-mat tatami area (Korin) | – | 1–4 |
| Japanese room, 14.5 mats (Korin) | 14.5 | 1–5 |
| Garden-side Japanese room (Kunrin), one barrier-free | 10–13 | 1–4 |
| Japanese room (Korin, Kunrin) | 8–9.5 | 1–2 |
| Modern Japanese room (Jakurin) | 12–17 | 1–5 |
From the official rooms page, read October 20, 2026.
Meals at Nenrinbo
What is dinner like?
The year-round menus are Kyoto kaiseki, sukiyaki and shabu-shabu, with a Kinkaku hotpot in winter, a fugu course from October to March and a hamo (pike conger) shabu-shabu course in summer. Kaiseki is served in a hall, and some plans serve dinner in your room or a private room; a private room costs 3,300 yen per room and needs notice 3 days ahead. You choose a start time of 18:00, 18:30, 19:00 or 19:30. The inn lists two different dinner prices on the same page, so check the price on your plan. Lunch is currently suspended.
What is breakfast like?
Breakfast is a Japanese set meal in the hall, which closes at 9:30. The rice is grown in Japan.
Can the inn handle allergies or a special diet?
All meals must be booked at least 2 days ahead. Tell the inn about food allergies or dislikes 5 days ahead; if your needs differ a lot from the set menu, it may need to discuss them or charge extra. Vegetarian, halal and gluten-free meals are not mentioned, so ask before you book.
The baths at Nenrinbo
When is the shared bath open?
There is a large bath, renovated in 2020, and a medium bath, renovated in 2018, but only one of them is open at any time. Bathing runs in the evening until 23:00 and again from 6:30 to 8:30 in the morning; the Japanese and English pages give different evening opening times, so check at check-in. The pages do not say whether the water is from a hot spring.
Is there a private bath?
Yes. The medium bath on the first floor of the Korin wing can be reserved as a private bath for 5,500 yen per 45 minutes, by reservation only, made by the day before. Some room types also have their own open-air or view 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.
In summer the inn opens a pool that is free for staying guests, with a kids’ space in the Jakurin wing; the Japanese and English pages give different season dates, so check with the inn.
Prices, children and rules at Nenrinbo
How much does a stay cost?
On October 20, 2026, the official booking page listed plans with dinner in a private space from 22,200 yen and standard plans with two meals from 29,400 yen, per adult, tax included. Rates change by date and room.
Is there an accommodation tax?
Kyoto charges an accommodation tax per guest per night, set by the room-only price and paid at the inn: from 200 yen below 6,000 yen, 400 yen up to 20,000 yen, 1,000 yen up to 50,000 yen, and more above that. Meals and consumption tax are not counted; see the City of Kyoto tax page.
What do children cost?
Elementary schoolchildren pay 70 percent of the adult rate. For infants, meals and bedding are 50 percent; bedding only is 3,000 yen and neither is 2,000 yen (plus tax); infants with meals but no bedding are not accepted. Under-3s sharing a bed pay a 2,000-yen facility fee (plus tax). Junior high students and older pay as adults.
What is the cancellation policy?
The reservations page lists 30 percent of the room charge 3 and 2 days before, 50 percent the day before, and 100 percent on the day or for a no-show. No deposit is needed, and bookings open 6 months ahead. See our hotel cancellation guide.
How do I pay?
The official pages do not list payment methods or card brands, so ask the inn. If you plan to leave early in the morning, settle your bill the day before; the front desk closes late at night.
Getting to Nenrinbo in Takagamine
From Kyoto Station, take the Karasuma subway line toward Kokusaikaikan to Kitaoji (about 15 minutes), then city bus Kita 1 toward Gentaku to Takagamine Genkoan-mae (about 18 minutes), and walk about 5 minutes. From Hankyu Omiya, city bus 6 takes about 30 minutes. Taxi guides on the access page: about 30 minutes and 3,500 yen from Kyoto Station, about 1,300 yen from Kitaoji and about 1,100 yen from Kinkaku-ji. Parking is free for staying guests.
The English page names Koetsu-ji, Josho-ji and Genko-an among the temples nearby, and puts Kinkaku-ji about 30 minutes on foot or about 10 minutes by taxi; see our Kinkaku-ji guide.
What foreign guests should know before staying at Nenrinbo
- Guests of foreign nationality have their passport copied at check-in.
- Arrive by 20:00 if you want dinner. If you may be late, see our late arrival guide and phone the inn.
- The inn takes questions by phone (+81 75 491 2231) or a contact form; it does not publish an email address.
- The English page is a single page. Cancellation rules, check-in times and the renovation notice are on the Japanese pages.
- The inn says its lowest-rate guarantee applies to bookings made through its Japanese official site.
Frequently asked questions
What time is check-in at Nenrinbo?
Is Nenrinbo open during the 2027 renovation?
Can I bathe at Nenrinbo with a tattoo?
What is the cancellation policy at Nenrinbo?
How do I get to Nenrinbo from Kyoto Station?
Bottom line (2026): Nenrinbo is a ryokan around a viewing garden in Takagamine, northern Kyoto, with kaiseki, sukiyaki or shabu-shabu dinners and a bookable private bath. Arrive by 20:00 for dinner, book meals 2 days ahead, and note the courtyard scaffolding from January to mid-March 2027.
Sources
Every fact on this page is from Nenrinbo’s official pages: home (Japanese), English page, rooms, facilities and baths, cuisine, reservations, access, the renovation notice and the official booking page (Japanese), plus the City of Kyoto tax page. All were read on October 20, 2026. Prices and rules change; check the official site before you book.
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