Kyoto Takao Momijiya is a ryotei ryokan, an inn built around Kyoto cuisine, in Takao, the maple valley in the hills north-west of central Kyoto. It has two buildings: the Main Building, Takao Sanso, among Kitayama cedars, and the Annex, Kawa no Iori, reached over its own suspension bridge across the Kiyotaki River. Before you book, three things matter: the baths are not hot springs; the free station shuttle must be booked in advance; and the doors close at 23:00, far from the city’s late-night trains and taxis.
Momijiya at a glance
| Item | Official information |
|---|---|
| Address | Takao, Umegahata, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto 616-8289 |
| Buildings | Main Building (Takao Sanso) and Annex (Kawa no Iori) |
| Founded | 1907 (Meiji 40) |
| Rooms open | 15:00 to 10:00 the next morning |
| Doors close | 23:00 (front desk 7:30–21:30) |
| Baths | Shared, private and in-room open-air baths; not hot springs |
| Prices | From 19,250 yen per person, tax included (homepage) |
| Rooms | All non-smoking; Wi-Fi in both buildings; no in-room safe |
| Phone | +81-75-871-1005 |
From the official pages, read October 20, 2026.
The inn traces its start to 1907. The Yamamoto family, foresters of Kitayama cedar since the Edo period, were lay representatives of Jingoji and Kozanji temples and had long fed and housed pilgrims. The Main Building is a three-story concrete building with no elevator or escalator. Its Japanese rooms either have their own bath and toilet, some with retro tiles, or a shower booth instead of a bath. Most Annex rooms have a private open-air bath of Shigaraki pottery or cypress and cedar; the Kinkaku and Ginkaku rooms have a toilet but no bath. The renovated Hototogisu room, reopened in November 2022, sits on a slope reached by steps.
How do you get to Momijiya in Takao, Kyoto?
Is there a free shuttle?
Staying guests can use the inn’s shuttle, and the official access page says it must be booked in advance; ask the inn how to book it. In November, only the 16:00 and 17:00 runs (16:10 and 17:10 at Hanazono) operate.
| Shuttle | Departs |
|---|---|
| Uzumasa Tenjingawa Station, Exit 1 (subway Tozai Line) | 15:00, 16:00, 17:00 |
| JR Hanazono Station | 15:10, 16:10, 17:10 |
| Return from the Annex | 9:10, 10:10 |
| Return from the Main Building | 9:20, 10:20 |
From the official access page, read October 20, 2026.
Can I take the bus or drive?
The Takao bus stop is right by the Main Building, served by Kyoto City Bus No. 8 and West JR Bus. The access page gives the JR Bus from Kyoto Station at about 40 minutes and 230 yen per adult. The inn can call a taxi, with a wait of 20 to 30 minutes. If you drive, stop at the Main Building and ask where to park; for lunch guests in November, parking may be a paid lot nearby.
The baths at Momijiya
Are the baths hot springs?
No. The official bath page says plainly that they are not hot springs. The Main Building has the shared open-air Sora no Yu and the indoor Yama no Yu, for four or five people. The Annex has the shared Miyama no Yu and Kitayama no Yu, and most Annex rooms have their own open-air bath.
How do the private baths work?
The Main Building’s private open-air baths, Tenku no Yu Hoshi and Tsuki, are about 45 steps up from the 2nd floor and are not wheelchair accessible. They cost 4,000 yen for 45 minutes, booked on the day in check-in order, from 14:00 to 21:00 (last session ending 21:45) and 7:00 to 9:00 (ending 9:45). The Annex’s private bath, Atago no Yu, takes two people and needs a booking; ask the inn for its price. Our private bath fees guide compares how inns charge.
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 Momijiya
What is dinner like?
Dinner is a kaiseki course, from appetizers and a seasonal platter through sashimi, simmered, grilled, fried and steamed dishes to rice, pickles and fruit, served in a compact sequence. With 3 days’ notice you can switch to premium wagyu shabu-shabu. Staying guests eat in the Komorebi dining room or in their room, and from early June, dinner moves to the kawadoko, a platform over the river, where maiko join the tables as a service.
What is breakfast like?
Breakfast is a light Japanese meal featuring tofu from Morika, a Saga tofu maker, served from 8:00 to 9:30 (last start 8:30), at Komorebi in the Main Building or Takao in the Annex.
Can the inn handle allergies or a vegetarian diet?
The Japanese FAQ says vegetarian meals are possible with 3 days’ notice, and the English page says the same for allergies. Give the details when you book.
Prices and rules at Momijiya
How much does a stay cost?
The homepage lists plans per person, tax included: from 19,250 yen for a Main Building room on the valley side, 27,500 yen for a room with an open-air bath or the Asagiri detached room, 30,800 yen for Hototogisu, and from 33,000 yen for the firefly-viewing plan. The terms add a 15 percent service charge to the basic rate; the homepage does not say whether its prices include it, so check on the booking screen. Because the baths are not hot springs, the official pages list no bathing tax.
What is Kyoto’s accommodation tax?
From stays on March 1, 2026, the City of Kyoto charges per person per night: 200 yen under 6,000 yen, 400 yen from 6,000 yen, 1,000 yen from 20,000 yen, 4,000 yen from 50,000 yen and 10,000 yen from 100,000 yen. Meals and consumption tax are not counted in the rate. The inn’s pages do not say whether their prices include it.
What do children cost?
The terms set children’s rates (elementary school age and under) as a share of the adult rate, depending on meals and bedding, but they give two different breakdowns. Ask the inn for your child’s rate.
What is the cancellation policy and how do I pay?
For groups of up to 14, the terms charge 100 percent for a cancellation on the day or a no-show, with lower charges in the days before; over New Year (December 30 to January 3), 30 percent applies from 30 days before. The inn may ask for a deposit. Payment is in cash or by credit card and similar at the front desk; the pages do not list card brands. See our hotel cancellation guide.
What foreign guests should know before staying at Momijiya
- The English website is a single page; details such as the bath rules and terms are on the Japanese pages. The booking page is in English.
- Book the shuttle when you book the room.
- Takao is the maple valley, and November is its busiest month; our Japan in November guide covers the season.
- Pack for stairs: no elevator in the Main Building, and steps and a slope to some Annex rooms.
- There is no safe in the room; leave valuables at the front desk.
Frequently asked questions
Are the baths at Momijiya hot springs?
Does Momijiya run a shuttle?
What time is check-in and checkout at Momijiya?
What is the cancellation policy at Momijiya?
Can I use the baths at Momijiya with a tattoo?
Bottom line (2026): Kyoto Takao Momijiya is a cuisine-led ryokan in the Takao maple valley, with a Main Building among cedars and an Annex across a private suspension bridge. The baths are not hot springs, the shuttle needs a booking, and doors close at 23:00. Confirm the details that matter to you with the inn, and book on the official English booking page.
Sources
Every fact on this page is from Momijiya’s official pages: home (Japanese), English page, about, Main Building rooms, Annex rooms, baths, meals, facilities, FAQ, access and accommodation terms, and the City of Kyoto 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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