Accommodation in Osaka & Kyoto

Hi,

My friend & I will be travelling to Osaka & Kyoto from 12 to 19 Jan 08. I have already shortlisted a few hotels / ryokans in both Osaka & Kyoto, but am not sure which ones are more accessible (ie: nearer to the main subways) and affordable. Would prefer it to be near the tourists attractions as well. Can someone please advise?

Osaka:
Dotombori Hotel - http://www.japanhotel.net/data/hotel_information.asp?HotelID...
Kuramoto Hotel �
http://www.kuramoto-hotel.co.jp/english/map.html
Yamatoya Honten �
http://www.yamatoyahonten.co.jp/bilingual/english/facility.h...
Kaneyoshi Ryokan �
http://www.kaneyosi.jp/english.htm
Toyoko Inn (Osaka Tanimachi 4chome) �
http://www.toyoko-inn.com/e_hotel/00039/index.html
Toyoko Inn (Osaka Taniyon Kousaten) �
http://www.toyoko-inn.com/e_hotel/00150/index.html
Super Hotel (Osaka Tanimachi 4chome) �
http://www.superhotel.co.jp/en/s_hotels/tanimachi.html
Super Hotel (Namba / Nipponbashi) �
http://www.superhotel.co.jp/en/s_hotels/nihonbashi.html

Kyoto:
Hatoya Zuihoukaku �
http://www.kyoto-hatoya.co.jp/zuiho/pages/english/english.ht...
Hotel Kinsuikan �
http://homepage3.nifty.com/kinsuikan/eng/index.html
Matsumoto Ryokan �
http://matsumoto.kyoto-ekimae.com/start-e.html
Ryokan Kohro �
http://www.kohro.com/english/englishindex.html
Hotel Rakuchou �
http://www.rakuchou.co.jp/english/english.htm
Hotel Nishiyama �
http://www.ryokan-kyoto.com/faq.html
Hotel New Kinparo �
http://www.newkinpa.on.arena.ne.jp/english.html
Matsui Ryokan �
http://www.matsui-inn.com/honkan_eng/tsujyou/index.php

Thanks in advance for your help!
Emily.

I apologize for not being able to tell you about htels as the last time (last 2 weks of October 2007) we stayed in a Toyoko Inn in Kobe (and yes I visited Kyoto and Osaka several times).
As you will be there for +/- one week only, have you considered staying in One hotel only? Kyoto or Osaka?

Hi Emily
My friend and I stayed at this Ryokan in Kyoto for 4 nights and loved it! http://homepage.mac.com/divyam/yonbanchi/index.html. The owners name is Divyam and he has lived in Japan for about 25 years with his Japanese wife (he is originally from France). They were very friendly and helpful and I would not hesitate to stay there again.
Have a great trip!
Ashley

Hi Ashley,

Thanks for the recommendation! The place looks nice, but is it near Kyoto City? How much did you pay for the accommodation?

Emily.

Emily
It cost us 10,000 Yen a night for 2, and if you want to find the location on google maps look for Shinnyo do temple in Kyoto, its about 10 metres from the entrance. Its in a quite area with about a 5 minute walk to the nearest bus stop. Its about another 10 - 15 minute trip to Kyoto train station where the bus terminal is, though there are these pink buses (they may not be anymore as we went during cherry blossom time) that are for tourists and they loop around the city. The bus system is very good in Kyoto and we had no problems at all getting around. We even hired bikes one day from down the road and road along the Philosophers Path and into Gion.
Divyam recommended the bikes, and a few other little places not well known that he likes.

Ashley