Ryokan Matsumae is a small inn in Naramachi, Nara’s old town district near Nara Park. It moved to Imamikado-cho on the old Ise Kaido road and now has just two rooms, both named after pieces of kyogen comic theater. Before you book, three things matter: you can book only on its own form or by phone; there is no dinner; and the doors close at 22:00.
The two rooms at Ryokan Matsumae
The inn says the thing it values most is meeting people, in the spirit of ichigo ichie, “one time, one meeting.” Two rooms means a small, quiet house.
| Room | Takara no Tuchi | Suehirogari |
|---|---|---|
| Floor | 1st | 2nd (no elevator) |
| Size | 8 tatami mats | 6 + 8 mats, two connected rooms |
| Guests | 1–3 | 2–6 |
| Rate from (plus tax) | 16,000 yen for 1; 28,000 yen for 2 | 30,000 yen for 2; 48,000 yen for 6 |
| Special feature | A small garden | Octahedral speaker (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth) |
From the official room rate page and room PDFs, read October 21, 2026.
What is in each room?
Both rooms have free Wi-Fi, a bath with a washing area, a toilet with a washlet, a refrigerator, a desk and a sutra-copying set. The bath and toilet are separate. There is no TV in the rooms; the TV is in the library on the 1st floor. Amenities include shampoo, body soap, towels, a toothbrush, a hairdryer, a coffee machine with beans, tea and a yukata. From the 1st-floor room, the inn says, you can hear the bell of Kofukuji’s Nan’endo hall.
Can I rent the whole inn?
Yes. The rate page lists the whole building for 3 to 8 guests from 70,000 yen, plus tax.
Ryokan Matsumae at a glance
| Item | Official information |
|---|---|
| Address | 5 Imamikado-cho, Nara, Nara 630-8374 |
| Phone from abroad | +81-742-22-3686 |
| Rooms | 2 Japanese-style rooms |
| Check-in / out | From 15:00 / 10:00 |
| Doors close | 22:00 |
| Meals | No dinner; breakfast 1,000 yen plus tax (book by the day before) |
| Bookings | Official form or phone only |
| Payment | Cash, Visa, Mastercard, American Express |
| Smoking | Non-smoking inside; a smoking space is provided |
From the official site, read October 21, 2026.
Bathing at Ryokan Matsumae
Is there a shared bath or onsen?
The official pages describe a private bath in each room, with a washing area beside the tub. They do not mention a shared bath, an outdoor bath or a hot spring.
Does a tattoo matter here?
The official pages do not mention tattoos. Since the bath is inside your own room, ask the inn only if you have a specific concern.
Breakfast, and dinner in Naramachi
What is breakfast like?
Breakfast is Japanese style, 1,000 yen plus tax, and is eaten in your room; from the garden room, the inn suggests enjoying it while looking at the garden. Book it by the end of the day before, in the breakfast field of the booking form. The meal page also tells the story of two Nara foods, narazuke pickles in sake lees and chagayu rice porridge cooked in tea. It adds that tap water is safe to drink anywhere.
Where do I eat dinner?
The official pages say dinner is not provided, so plan to eat out in Naramachi or near the station before you return. The pages do not mention allergy or special-diet options for breakfast; ask through the request field on the booking form.
Prices, children, cancellation and payment
How much does a stay cost?
Rates are per room, include the service charge and exclude consumption tax, and change with the season. Takara no Tuchi starts at 16,000 yen for one guest, 28,000 yen for two and 36,000 yen for three. Suehirogari starts at 30,000 yen for two, rising to 48,000 yen for six.
What do children cost?
The rate page lists a futon fee of 3,000 yen for preschool children. It does not give other child rates, so ask when you book.
What is the cancellation policy?
A no-show and a same-day cancellation cost 100 percent, and 2 days before costs 50 percent of the basic room charge. For the day before, the official pages differ, so confirm the rate with the inn. Our hotel cancellation guide explains how these fees work.
How do I book and pay?
Fill in the booking form; your booking is confirmed only when the inn replies, and it asks you to answer its email within three days. Guests living abroad are asked for the card type, number and expiry date as a guarantee. You pay at checkout in Japanese yen, by cash, Visa, Mastercard or American Express.
Getting to Ryokan Matsumae in Nara
The inn is about 7 minutes on foot from Kintetsu Nara Station and about 12 minutes from JR Nara Station; the English access text adds about 5 minutes by taxi. Nara Park is about 2 minutes away, the bus stop for Kansai Airport about 7 minutes, and Todaiji and Kasuga Taisha about 20 minutes on foot; see our Todaiji guide. Kyoto and Osaka are about 35 minutes by train, and our Tokyo to Nara guide covers the longer trip. Parking is available on request, first come, first served; ask when you book.
What foreign guests should know before staying at Ryokan Matsumae
- The site has no separate English version; most pages show Japanese and English together, and the room details are in English PDFs.
- The vacancy calendar marks bookable days with a circle and covers about six months ahead.
- The doors close at 22:00; our late arrival guide explains how to handle a late train.
- There is no elevator, which matters for the 2nd-floor room.
- Visitors may not come into guest rooms; the inn asks you to meet them in the 1st-floor lobby.
- A calligraphy session is offered by reservation; check the fee with the inn.
Frequently asked questions
How do I book Ryokan Matsumae?
Does Ryokan Matsumae serve dinner?
What time is check-in at Ryokan Matsumae?
Does Ryokan Matsumae have a shared bath?
How far is Ryokan Matsumae from Kintetsu Nara Station?
Bottom line (2026): Ryokan Matsumae is a quiet two-room inn in Naramachi, a short walk from Kintetsu Nara Station and Nara Park. Each room has its own bath, breakfast is optional and there is no dinner. Book on the official form, and arrive before the doors close at 22:00.
Sources
Every fact on this page is from Ryokan Matsumae’s official pages: home, rooms, room rates, meals, access, booking form, vacancy calendar and the English room PDFs for Takara no Tuchi and Suehirogari. All were read on October 21, 2026. Prices and rules change; check the official site before you book.
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