Kyoto - Hot spring - Onsen

1. Do I need to stay at a Ryokan to enjoy relaxing in a Hot spring (onsen?) ?

Ryokans are pretty expensive costing upward of $300 for two people for a single night.

2. I was really hoping to have a night where I can have a hot bath, slip into a yakata and have dinner. Is there anyway of doing this without staying at a Ryokan?

Do I need to stay at a Ryokan to enjoy relaxing in a Hot spring (onsen?) ?

No. See here:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2292.html

Ryokans are pretty expensive costing upward of $300 for two people for a single night.

There are ryokan for $200 and less per person and night. And remember that this includes a big dinner and a big breakfast.

I was really hoping to have a night where I can have a hot bath, slip into a yakata and have dinner. Is there anyway of doing this without staying at a Ryokan?

Have a hot spring bath followed by a dinner in yukata is a typical ryokan experience. But again, there are ryokan for $200 or less.

I don't know a specific one close to Kyoto, though.

One alternative would be to stay at a business hotel and use "lunch package" at a ryokan. Then, you don't have to stay in a ryokan.

Though it is not onsen, the tourist hotel I once stayed in Higashiyama area had a public bath which guests could use for free of charge.
Hotel Heian no Mori :
http://web.travel.rakuten.co.jp/portal/my/info_page_e.Eng?f_...

Finding a Ryokan under 200 is not an easy feat. Though i will keep looking.

try www.japanhotel.net and check all the areas in Kyoto. some have rooms just under $200 for 2 and a public bath (not an onsen). Most Ryokans are small to relatively small places and can ask high prices as there are millions of potential customers. To be fair maintening a Ryokan with an onsen is labour and material intensive (all the wooden parts, the tatamis, the gardens are easily damaged by constant use) so it does make sense that they would charge more than a plain business hotel.

Some hotel type listed here on this site. you may want to look under Higashiyama or Nakagyou area in Kyoto.

http://www.ryokan.or.jp/kinki/eng/

Try this site:
http://www.jpinn.com/

There is a nice Ryokan in Uji-shi, about 30 minutes from Kyoto. The name of the Ryokan is Hanayashiki. I have been there and its location and atmosphere are great. More information can be found here
http://www.ukifune-en.co.jp/english/plan/index.html

If you can travel about 1 to 2 hours, then you can visit the Arima Onsen area of Kobe. That is a great place with the choice of many ryokans. I have stayed at the Arimaview Ryokan there and it was quite enjoyable.

Good luck.

http://japaneseguesthouses.com/db/kyoto/index.htm

This site has a list ryokan for all budgets.

Personally, I'm planning to head to Oohara-no-sato to experience the benefits of Onsens and traditional service. It's just under $100 AUD per person (depending on your meal plan) and it's been given a decent review on a few sites.

...its a publich bath (sento) in Kyoto. We really enjoyed it. Its listed in lonely planet japan or on the lp homepage.take care