Marufukuro in Kyoto, Nintendo’s Former Headquarters Transformed into an Exceptional Retreat

The Discreet Charm of a Kyoto Neighborhood in Renaissance

In Kyoto, Marufukuro enjoys a rare location in the Kagiyacho district, just a short distance from the station and the banks of the Kamo River, amid an urban landscape still imbued with old-world charm. Removed from the tourist bustle yet perfectly connected, the hotel provides an ideal base from which to explore the former imperial capital: Shosei-en Garden, a detached garden of Higashi Honganji Temple, Sanjusangendo Temple, and the Kyoto National Museum are all within easy reach. With its peaceful lanes, historic buildings, and new hidden gems, this revitalized neighborhood cultivates a nostalgic and elegant atmosphere, perfect for discovering a more intimate side of Kyoto.

Nintendo’s Birthplace Reawakens as an Exceptional Hotel

In this discreet Kyoto neighborhood, Marufukuro draws its elegance from a remarkable history. It was here, in 1889, that Fusajiro Yamauchi founded Nintendo by opening a small workshop devoted to hanafuda, a traditional Japanese card game distinguished by its intricate motifs. From these handcrafted beginnings gradually emerged a flourishing company that would become one of Japan’s foremost names in playing cards. In the 1930s, to accommodate its growth, the Yamauchi family commissioned a complex combining offices, warehouses, and a private residence: a place for both work and family life, imbued with the spirit of Marufuku, a former name associated with the company, which was reborn in April 2022 as the quietly elegant Marufukuro hotel.

The property first captivates with its Art Deco architecture, inherited from the early Showa era. Straight lines, geometric motifs, touches of color, stained glass, and original tiles create a beautifully balanced setting, meticulously restored with the utmost respect for the original structure. Nothing here feels frozen in time: traces of the past appear in a preserved sign, an emblem, and the silhouette of the façades, as well as in period features retained and incorporated into the décor, including the original elevators. These details offer subtle nods to the era when Nintendo produced hanafuda, karuta, and other playing cards, long before entering the global imagination of digital entertainment.

The renovation orchestrates a delicate dialogue between heritage and contemporary creation. The three historic buildings are joined by a wing designed under the direction of Tadao Ando, where concrete, light, and pure volumes introduce a calm, almost meditative modernity. The various spaces named Spade, Heart, Club, and Diamond subtly extend the playing-card theme, while the library designed by Suppose Design Office, the artworks, and the archival objects give the property the character of a collector’s home. Marufukuro thus offers discreet, cultured, and profoundly Japanese luxury, where every detail connects its artisanal origins with a distinctly contemporary vision of hospitality.

18 Keys Blending Retro Charm with Tadao Ando’s Clean Lines

Marufukuro houses just 18 rooms and suites, spread across the three historic buildings and the contemporary annex. Each differs in volume, atmosphere, and layout, cultivating a highly individual charm that combines 1930s elegance, Nintendo heritage, and thoroughly modern comfort. In the original buildings, the rooms subtly evoke the spirit of the former headquarters through moss-green tones, carefully selected furnishings, and retro details, while the new wing favors natural light, clean lines, and the exposed concrete so closely associated with Tadao Ando. Among the most beautiful categories, the Japanese Suite, located in the former Yamauchi residence, enchants with its traditional aesthetic, tatami flooring, and outdoor rotenburo bath; the Residential Suite, conceived as a genuine 75-square-meter apartment with a kitchenette and laundry facilities, offers a brighter, more contemporary atmosphere; and the Marufukuro Suite, perched atop the new annex, brings past and present together within a spectacular space of approximately 78 square meters, extended by a vast terrace.

We had the pleasure of staying in the Japanese Balcony King, located on the top floor of the historic building. At 45 square meters, it strikes a beautiful balance between intimacy, space, and refinement within a Japanese-Western atmosphere. Its private balcony opens onto panoramic views of Higashiyama, while the high ceilings with their triangular timber framework lend the room a distinctive character and enhance its sense of spaciousness. Elegant without ostentation, the décor blends retro spirit, contemporary comfort, and delicate Japanese details, creating an especially inviting cocoon after a day spent exploring Kyoto. Here, we found everything that defines Marufukuro’s understated charm: a generously stocked minibar, postcards in the hotel’s signature colors, and a room opened with a charming antique iron key adorned with a key ring inspired by vintage Nintendo signs. The bathroom features a deep bathtub, locally made amenities, and traditional Japanese wash bowls and stools.

The Refinement of a Japanese Morning

The day begins with a delicate Japanese breakfast composed of subtle savory notes, each preparation celebrating the season and the elegance of local flavors. Carefully cooked in a clay pot, the rice is accompanied by comforting miso soup, the fish of the day—such as grilled salmon with soy sauce—and a choice of refined small dishes, from Kameoka beef sukiyaki to noodles fragrant with aromatic vegetables. A selection of traditional accompaniments—chirimen sansho, ume, hijiki, Manganji pepper with miso, and tsukudani-style simmered ginger—invites guests to savor every bite slowly, in the spirit of a Japanese morning that is at once simple, generous, and deeply considered.

Our Dinner at Tempura Marufuku

At Marufukuro, gastronomy unfolds as an intimate encounter with Kyoto and its seasons. Behind the discreet noren curtain of Tempura Marufuku, the chefs perform a delicate culinary ballet before your eyes, placing each freshly fried tempura across a magnificent counter of polished pale wood. Light and airy, every piece gracefully reveals the purity of ingredients carefully selected from Kyoto and the surrounding region, served on artisanal tableware sourced from across Japan. In the evening, the experience takes the form of 12- or 17-course tempura kaiseki menus.

Our 12-course dinner begins with freshwater clam soup presented with quintessential Japanese restraint in a small ceramic cup. From the very first sip, the tasting experience opens on a note both delicate and profound, centered on the gentle minerality of the freshwater clams, with an enveloping warmth that prepares the palate without weighing it down. To accompany our meal, I chose a dry Sawaya Matsumoto sake, whose crystalline precision was an ideal match, while my husband preferred the Nude Beer Kyoto Craft Komorezora, extending the impression of freshness like a luminous pause between umami, delicate salinity, and artisanal elegance.

The kuruma prawn arrives with elegant Japanese simplicity. Encased in a light, golden, almost ethereal batter, its delicate frying allows the prized prawn’s pearly, sweet flesh to shine through, while the head and slender, crisp legs contribute a more intense and indulgently briny dimension. This mouthful evokes the quiet luxury of an omakase meal: precision of technique, purity of produce, and the immediate pleasure of the contrast between fragile crispness and tender seafood.

After this expression of the sea, Kyoto’s Kamo eggplant introduces a gentle vegetal sweetness, served in a small green ceramic bowl that accentuates the golden tones of the delicately fried eggplant. Its flesh is meltingly soft, almost creamy, with lightly crisp edges, coated in a dark, glossy sauce with deep notes of umami. The dried bonito flakes scattered on top add an airy, saline, and smoky touch that dances in the heat of the dish and highlights the natural sweetness of this prized Kyoto variety.

The vegetal theme then gains intensity with Manganji pepper and bottarga, presented as a delicately fried morsel in which the pepper’s tender green hue appears beneath a fine layer of light, crisp batter. Generously dusted with finely grated golden bottarga, it acquires an intense briny salinity that contrasts with the vegetal sweetness of the Manganji pepper, renowned for its subtly sweet flavor and very mild heat. The dish embodies contemporary Japanese elegance, pairing ethereal tempura with a luxurious Mediterranean condiment and combining crisp, melting, and granular textures. It is an ideal way to continue the meal on a note that is refined, vibrant, and deeply savory.

On a sunnier note, the sweetcorn arrives as a delicate golden morsel. Light and finely irregular, the fried coating reveals an airy, almost lace-like texture, while its honey-blond color promises the natural sweetness of the corn concentrated beneath a crisp shell. Served alone and unadorned, this small piece relies on the purity of the ingredient and the precision of the technique: an apparently simple yet refined indulgence, in which the corn’s vegetal sweetness meets the subtle warmth of perfectly mastered batter.

The meal then returns to flowing waters with ayu, presented whole in a fine golden coating whose crisp contours hint at the delicacy of the river fish. Beside it, a small touch of sansho-leaf sauce contributes a fresh, peppery, almost citrus-like note that awakens the subtle sweetness of the flesh and balances the airy texture of the batter.

As a counterpoint to this riverine delicacy, the carrot arrives as a study in minimalist elegance: a long slice of deeply orange carrot, its base wrapped in a fine, crisp tempura coating. The contrast between the carrot’s anticipated vegetal sweetness, the smoky depth of its coloring, and the airy texture of the batter is especially appealing. The result feels both rustic and refined, perfectly aligned with the spirit of a Japanese fine-dining counter where every detail, from service to cooking, celebrates precision and seasonality.

Next comes the tempura of the day’s fresh fish with caviar, a morsel of rare elegance: a piece of fish encased in an exceptionally light, pale, and crisp tempura batter. A generous spoonful of caviar crowns the top, its dark, pearlescent sheen contrasting with the delicate coating and white flesh in a meeting of warmth, brininess, and luxurious salinity. A lemon wedge served alongside adds a bright touch of acidity and heightens the impression of refinement within a presentation that is understated, intimate, and distinctly Japanese.

The marine progression continues with turban shell, served by hand on a slender skewer with a light, lace-like coating that reveals glimpses of the shellfish’s pearlescent tones beneath its crisp veil. The texture plays on the contrast between the airy crunch of the batter and the briny, almost creamy flesh, enhanced by a liver and seaweed sauce promising umami depth with saline and gently earthy notes.

As the savory portion draws to a close, a bowl of rice with conger eel tempura arrives: pearly, tender, glossy rice topped with generous pieces of conger eel tempura, perfectly golden and delicately glazed with an amber sauce. The coating is fine and crisp, with irregular ridges promising a light first bite before revealing the fish’s tender flesh, while the rice gently absorbs the sweet and savory notes.

Finally, vanilla ice cream with sweet potato offers a dessert of refined simplicity, served in a wide, translucent bowl that showcases the contrast between the smooth, creamy ivory scoop and the golden and purple pieces of roasted sweet potato. The milky sweetness of the vanilla envelops the denser, almost candied texture of the sweet potato, whose lightly caramelized edges add a warm, rustic note. It is a minimalist yet charming composition, its elegance arising from the balance of freshness, rounded sweetness, and earthy flavors—the ideal conclusion to the meal on a delicate, soothing, and deeply comforting note.

Two Lounges Between Intimate Memories and Japanese Avant-Garde

The Guest Lounge elegantly extends the arrival experience within an atmosphere that is both intimate and steeped in history. Located in the historic building, it occupies a former reception room now reserved for hotel guests, where check-in is also conducted over a welcome drink. This intimate lounge retains period furnishings and decorative features, providing the ideal setting in which to absorb the soul of the property. Highlights include original armchairs, an antique desk, and a LEGO model of the building—a discreet nod to the company’s playful heritage. Self-service drinks are available at all times, inviting guests to pause here at any moment of the day.

In the new wing, the Dining Lounge reveals a more contemporary ambiance, conceived as a combined living and dining room open throughout the day. Designed in the architectural spirit of Tadao Ando, it also hosts breakfast, offers drinks, light bites, and late-night snacks, and is distinguished by its impressive artistic presence. Pieces donated by Tadao Ando sit alongside various artworks, including works by Yayoi Kusama, creating a subtle dialogue between heritage, design, and contemporary art. Whether settling in for a quiet pause, an impromptu coffee, or a moment of relaxation at the end of the day, each of these two lounges has its own distinctive character and invites guests to enjoy the property at their own pace.

The Library Honoring Nintendo

Named “dNa,” Marufukuro’s library offers a rare immersion into Nintendo’s heritage. Conceived under the supervision of SUPPOSE DESIGN OFFICE, this elegant guest-only lounge brings together Japanese and international books, vintage consoles, memorabilia, and contemporary works exploring the universe from which the brand emerged. Through interactive installations by Rhizomatics, references to hanafuda cards, and iconic pieces such as the Famicom and Game Boy, the space sensitively reveals Nintendo’s origins, imagination, and philosophy as interpreted by the Yamauchi family.

The library can be explored at any hour in an intimate atmosphere equally conducive to conversation and contemplation. Just a few steps away, the self-service bar invites guests to settle in with a coffee during the afternoon or, later, to prepare their own drink from a fine selection of whiskies, Scotches, and gins, some of which recall the preferences of Nintendo’s founder. Leafing through a rare book, admiring a console transformed into an art object, and then enjoying a drink within this memory-filled setting creates a singular experience that is cultural, playful, and resolutely refined.

My Review

Staying at Marufukuro means surrendering to a rare form of luxury—one that favors memory over spectacle, precision over excess, and intimate emotion over grand statements. In this former Nintendo home transformed into an insiders’ retreat, Kyoto reveals itself with a distinctive gentleness, framed by Art Deco heritage, contemporary architecture, seasonal cuisine, and hospitality of exemplary delicacy. The property will appeal equally to design enthusiasts and admirers of Japanese history, gourmet travelers, and those seeking an intimate retreat away from the most predictable itineraries. Marufukuro stands out as one of those precious destinations that inspire you to slow down, see Kyoto from a different perspective, and savor every moment with renewed attention.

What I Loved:

• The superb restoration of Nintendo’s former headquarters: the atmosphere of the 1930s has been fully preserved while integrating seamlessly with the new building designed by Tadao Ando.
• The hotel’s exceptionally intimate character, with only 18 rooms, as well as its small exclusive lounge where everything is included.
• Outstanding cuisine: an excellent fine-dining tempura restaurant and a remarkable breakfast.

What I Regretted:

• Absolutely nothing: the experience is exceptional. Of course, with only 18 rooms, guests should not expect the facilities of a large hotel, but that is precisely what gives the property its charm and exclusivity.

Practical Information

• Japanese Balcony King room priced at €750 in July 2026.