The experience
Murin-an is the villa that the statesman Yamagata Aritomo built in Kyoto between 1894 and 1896. The seventh Ogawa Jihei made the garden to his wishes, with a stream fed from the Lake Biwa Canal and the Higashiyama hills behind it. It has been a national Place of Scenic Beauty since 1951.
By day the garden is open to visitors. After closing, Murin-an offers a night private plan: the lit garden and its buildings, a main house, a Western-style house and a tea room, are yours until 22:00 at the latest.
For two guests we would plan the evening with a tea ceremony in the house and English support, both offered by Murin-an. Food and drink are allowed inside the buildings. They are not part of Murin-an's fees.
On the day
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The garden after closing
The night plan starts when the garden closes: 17:00 from October to March, 18:00 from April to September.
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The lit garden
You walk the garden after dark. A garden guide can join for ¥11,000 an hour if you would like one.
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Tea in the house
A tea ceremony is one of Murin-an's options. Our guide price includes it for two.
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Dinner or drinks inside
Food and drink are allowed in the buildings, apart from the upper floor of the Western-style house. Live music is possible after a volume check with Murin-an.
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Leaving
The plan ends at 22:00 at the latest.
Guide price
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Night private plan | ¥300,000 |
| Tea ceremony, base fee | ¥30,000 |
| Tea ceremony, two seats at ¥2,700 | ¥5,400 |
| English support | ¥40,000 |
| Guide price for two | ¥375,400 |
- These are Murin-an's own fees, tax included.
- A garden guide is optional at ¥11,000 an hour.
- Food, drink and transport are not included.
Good to know
- When to apply
- Murin-an takes applications from 180 days to one month before the date. A plan of the evening (purpose, times, number of guests and an outline) goes to Murin-an by one month before, and use is allowed only after they review it. Later requests need a separate discussion with Murin-an.
- Payment and cancellation
- Payment is due three weeks before the date. From 10 days before, the cancellation fee is 100%.
- Language
- English support is a Murin-an option at ¥40,000 and is included in the guide price above.
- On the evening
- A signed consent form is needed on the day. There is no eating or drinking outdoors or on the upper floor of the Western-style house.
- Season
- Murin-an recommends the fresh green of spring and the autumn leaves. In June, July and August the long days let you see the garden in daylight and after dark.
What STAYGO does
- We send the application and the plan of the evening to Murin-an in Japanese and answer their questions.
- We arrange the tea ceremony and English support with Murin-an and fit the evening into your days in Kyoto.
- We plan how you get there and back.
You pay Murin-an directly, at the fees above. STAYGO adds nothing to them.
Arranged only as part of a STAYGO journey.
Details checked on the host's published page on 13 October 2026. Hosts set their own prices and terms and may change them. We confirm them again when we arrange your date, and nothing is confirmed until the host accepts it.
You pay hotels, ryokan, restaurants and guides directly, at their own rates. We add no markups and take no commissions. The Signature planning fee is USD 3,500 for your group, for a journey of 7–14 days. Longer or more complex journeys are planned as Bespoke.
