A dynamic modern Japanese garden utilizing the Higashiyama mountains as a borrowed landscape and incorporating water from the Lake Biwa Canal. This space, where a Western-style building steeped in Meiji-era history merges with the natural beauty that transforms with each season, captivates visitors.
Japanese Gardens
Historic Sites
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Highlights
Magnificent garden beauty with Higashiyama as a borrowed landscape and the gentle murmur of the Lake Biwa Canal.
Innovative design that pioneered modern Japanese gardening.
The Western-style building, scene of the historic "Murin-an Conference."
Autumn leaves and moss carpets that transform with each season.
A blissful moment at the Main House Cafe, where you can enjoy the garden view.
Kyoto City Bus: Get off at the "Jingu-michi" or "Okazaki Koen / Bijutsukan / Heian Jingu-mae" bus stop and walk for about 10 minutes. Kyoto Municipal Subway Tozai Line: Approximately a 7-minute walk from Keage Station. Taxi: Approximately 20 minutes from Kyoto Station. Murin-an does not have a parking lot, so using public transportation or a taxi is recommended. If you come by bicycle, you can use the on-site bicycle parking area (capacity for about 6 bikes). Show route
Op.Hours
From April to September, we welcome visitors from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. From October to March, our hours are 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Please note that the last admission is always 30 minutes before closing time.
Cld.Days
Closed annually from December 29th to December 31st. Please be aware of additional temporary closures for facility maintenance throughout the year. For instance, planned closures include August 5th, September 2nd, and December 11th in 2025, and January 14th, February 17th, and March 4th in 2026. For the most current and detailed schedule, we highly recommend checking our official website.
Fee
Standard Admission: 600 JPY.
Peak Season Pricing (2025): Discover the beauty during our busiest times! From April 1st to April 13th, admission is 900 JPY. From April 26th to June 1st, it's also 900 JPY. In autumn, from October 11th to October 19th, it's 1,000 JPY, and from November 1st to November 14th, it's 1,000 JPY. The vibrant peak between November 15th and December 7th is 1,500 JPY. Looking ahead to 2026, enjoy our special New Year's period from January 1st to January 3rd for 1,000 JPY, and the spring dates from March 28th to March 31st for 1,000 JPY.
Please note that prices may fluctuate based on the timing of your ticket purchase. We highly recommend checking our official website for the most current pricing before your visit.
Admission Exemptions: We are pleased to offer free admission to residents of Kyoto City aged 70 and over. Exemptions also extend to individuals holding a long-term care insurance certificate, along with one accompanying caregiver, and individuals presenting a physical disability certificate or similar identification, along with one accompanying caregiver. Furthermore, elementary and junior high school students residing in Kyoto City or attending schools within the city, as well as infants and preschoolers, are granted free admission.
Admission Discounts: Enjoy a 100 JPY discount upon presenting a Kyoto City Subway 1-Day Free Ticket or similar eligible passes. University and junior college students enrolled in the Kyoto City Campus Cultural Partners Program can also enter for a special rate of 100 JPY.
INFO
To ensure a smooth visit, advance reservations are highly recommended, as entry is not permitted after your reserved time.
All payments are required in advance, and please be aware that a 100% cancellation fee applies to all cancellations. For group visits of 10 or more people, payment must be completed at least 30 days prior to your scheduled arrival.
For the safety and well-being of all, visitors experiencing fever or any signs of illness are kindly asked to refrain from entering. Alcohol sanitization is also required upon entry.
To help us preserve the beauty and integrity of our historic facility, we kindly ask all visitors to follow the designated tour route guided by our knowledgeable staff.
Special photography rules apply: For video recording, photography featuring individuals or personal belongings as the main subject, or the use of tripods, monopods, or selfie sticks, a prior application and a photography fee are required (30,000 JPY). For professional or pre-wedding shoots, the fee is 100,000 JPY. Any photography that may disrupt other visitors' enjoyment is also subject to these regulations.
Your standard admission fee grants you access to our magnificent garden, the elegant first floor of the main house (Omoya), and the charming Western-style building (Yokan). Should you wish to experience the serene tea ceremony room or explore the second floor of the main house, please note that separate paid reservations are required.
Join us for engaging events! A delightful mini-lecture on local wild birds is held on the first and third Wednesdays of every month. Plus, mark your calendars for the 28th of each month, our special 'Garden Day,' offering free admission to visitors aged 35 and under (valid ID required).
Murin-an is a villa built by Yamagata Aritomo, a statesman during the Meiji and Taisho periods, in the Nanzenji area of Kyoto between 1894 (Meiji 27) and 1896 (Meiji 29). This villa is composed of four elements: a garden, main house, Western-style building, and teahouse. The garden, in particular, is lauded as a "masterpiece of modern Japanese gardening," a fusion of owner Yamagata Aritomo's profound vision for gardens and the exceptional skill of the renowned seventh-generation garden designer, Jihei Ogawa. It departs from the symbolic gardens of its time, characterized by a naturalistic new garden aesthetic that incorporates satoyama (village forest) landscapes and dynamic water flows reminiscent of a stream. Within its approximately 3,100 square meters, a vast lawn utilizing the Higashiyama mountains as a borrowed landscape and pristine water directly drawn from the Lake Biwa Canal flow, captivating observers. This innovative garden astonished people of its time, to the extent that it was said, "All subsequent gardens emulate Murin-an." Although Yamagata initially favored grass, the high humidity caused moss to dominate, and now over 50 varieties of moss spread like velvet, conveying a beauty woven by time. Yamagata's innovative sensibilities shine throughout, such as the planting of fir trees, which are uncommon as garden trees. Furthermore, the second floor of the Western-style building was the setting for the "Murin-an Conference" in 1903 (Meiji 36), prior to the outbreak of the Russo-Japanese War, where Yamagata Aritomo, Ito Hirobumi, Katsura Taro, and Komura Jutaro gathered to discuss diplomatic policy towards Russia. This location, a crucial turning point in modern Japanese history, conveys the tense atmosphere of that era to the present day. Murin-an is a place that profoundly moves visitors, condensing history, nature, and an innovative aesthetic sense. It is currently managed by Kyoto City and carefully preserved and open to the public as a National Place of Scenic Beauty.