Best region to stay in Kyoto 2 day 1 night

We have been to Kyoto many times and usually we take day trips from our base in Osaka, but this time (June), we would like to stay for 2 days/1night for a more laidback experience, and maybe do an onsen stayover.

Given that, which regions (downtown/East/West/ etc.) should we stay in for easy access of most things?

The places that we have never been to and would like to hit this time are:
- Arashiyma bamboo forest and the monkey park
- Nijo castle
- Nanzenji

Another other recommendations? (We have already seen Kiyomizudera, Kinkakuji, Fushimi Inari Shrine)

Why not stay at Arashiyama? Nice slow suburb on edge of city with lots of nature.

Most people would choose near Kyoto Station or the Higashiyama area. The former has easy access to get to Arashiyama (which is *in* Kyoto), go down the Nara Line to Fushimi Inari, Uji, Nara, etc, as well as easy access to day trips outside the city. Near Higashiyama has stations for the subway, plus Hankyu & Keihan trains, as well as a large cluster of very good temples all packed together, with little time wasted getting from one to another. For your preferences, Kyoto does not have a lot of hot springs, though I've read there are a couple in the Arashiyama area, but haven't been to any. There is also Funaoka Onsen in the north of the city, though not near the places you mention, and others even further away. Arashiyama would not be a bad choice.
You could spend a whole day for Arashiyama alone. But if you want to enjoy the bamboo grove as well as just see it, you need to be there without the crowds, like before 7 AM or in the evening. Some other good places there include Okochi Sanso, Gioji, and the Otagi Nenbutsuji temple. If you want a bamboo grove without the crowds in the afternoon, you could try the one at the very back of the Adashino Nenbutsuji temple - it is much less known. Your second day, you could see both Nijo Castle as well as Nanzenji, taking some but not too time to get to both. There is more you could see that is close by also though. On the south side of Nijo Castle is Zennyo Ryūō Shrine, which has a nice pond and garden. Near Nanzenji, don't miss Tenjuan (a subtemple) and the Nanzenin Garden also. Murin-an near the zoo is also wonderful.

Thank you all. Any recommendation for onsen/ryukan near
Arashiyama?