Ryokan or Hotels in Kyoto?

Hi all, I know a couple who will be going to Kyoto in December. They've already booked their flight and this is the only time they can go.

Might anyone recommend some not-too-expensive hotels or ryokan conveniently located near JR stations? They mentioned to me that they wanted to stay in a japanese-style hotel, but it must have a western style toilet.

I'm more familiar with setting them up in the Tokyo area, but have never stayed in Kyoto myself for a night or two.

Thanks!
peanut

peanut, as you didn't propose the budget, I'll post 1 ryokan in a walking distance from JR station. It's near Shoseien garden (belongs to Higashi Honganji temple) and about 10 min walk from the station. (English website suggests taking a taxi but it is easy accessed on foot if you travel light)

15000-30000 per person night (with dinner and breakfast)
10000-12000 ppn (with breakfast only)
Rooms with private toilet available and you can use communal path as "Kashikiri."

Kikokuso
http://www.kikokuso.com/

communal BATH, I mean.

The Hatoya is walking distance from JR Kyoto station, offers Japanese style room and Japanese meals. Room is with westernstyle bathroom. Plus ryokan has communal Japanese style ofuro.

JLady, Peter: Thank You! You said that they can use a communal bath. Do the ryokans have a personal shower as well instead?

http://www.kyotojp.com

they have a room with private loo/shower facilities

http://www.kyotowa.com
slightly further away but my friend loves this place very much, plus the price is really good.

Only 1 room in Kikokuso has private bathroom/toilet.
http://www.japaneseguesthouses.com/db/kyoto/kikokuso.htm

I wonder if you know their price range. Then, it would be easier for us to help you.

peanut,
at Hatoya the Japanese style room has its own individual (small) bathroom with bathtube, toilet, basin. In addition there are two communal Japanse bath ( one male / one female ) so you can enjoy the Japanese traditional bath of taking a bath, too.

JLady: It looks like their budget for hotels would be around "$100-$125/night if at all possible".

Amelia: Thank you :) I'll put those in my list of links to research.

Peter: They would prefer to have personal showers, but thanks so much for the info. Is the Hatoya you mention this link below??

http://www.kyoto-hatoya.co.jp/zuiho/pages/english/english.ht...

Try this one. I just booked this Inn/Hotel on my trip to Kyoto. Cost 14,175 for triple room with private shower. So must be cheaper for double room. Check this out. http://www.hotel-iida.co.jp/e-menu.html Just 3 mins walking distance from JR Kyoto Station

peanut,
The traditional Japanese prefers to take a hot bath in the evening and not a shower, so all accomodation offering en-suite bathroom has a ( at least small) , deep bathtube, of course can be used as shower basin, too. The fittings are both faucet for the tube and showerhead to be used if you want to take a shower. But I agree if your client is slightly elder or handicapped it can be difficult to enter the tube/shower combination, it is not as comfortably to enter as a western shower.

Your second question: Yes this is the English language link.