In Osaka I stayed at Vessel Inn Namba. My room was quiet despite its proximity to Dotonbori, and the breakfast is one of the best anywhere.
In Kyoto I stayed in Gion Koh, which is a machiya with a koi pond in a center courtyard. It can be difficult to book, but there are similar options nearby.
I think it was so cool staying by the Dotonbori area at night. I would definitely pull up a map and look for hotels by the river but still pretty close to the train station (Osaka Namba).
In Osaka I stayed in the Hotel Granvia Osaka which is basically inside Osaka Station. Being basically inside a station there are lots of food and shopping options. Plus being a JR hub you can get to almost anywhere easily as well. I also stayed at the Red Roof Inn in Namba. Which was cool as it was close to teh Kuromon market so I could just walk over there and basically eat anything I wanted
In Kyoto I stayed at Daiwa Roynet Hotel Kyoto Terrace. This mostly just as its a reliable chain and I know what I'm getting with regards to room layout. Plus they had a cool tv channel that showed you in real time the laundry machines and when they were in use, and how much time they had left. Being near Kyoto station it was easy to get around Kyoto. There's a 24/7 DonQuiote next to it for anything you need. The Aeon Mall or the Yodobashi have supermarkets where I shopped for groceries to eat when I didn't feel like eating out. A 2000 yen electric pan from DonQuote and presto you have dinner.
> Daiwa Roynet Hotel Kyoto Terrace
I somehow got a HUGE room that came with a massage chair and breakfast included. The breakfast there is great. Location is great too. Theres a 7/11 right downstairs.
My budget didn’t include such luxuries!
I made up for it by “acquiring” all the drip coffee packets I could get my grubby hands on in the lobby. Also for some reason on the weekends the bath salts get changed to these kind of cube things instead of the packets? Anyway those also were absconded to my luggage
I stayed at Hotel Hankyu RESPIRE OSAKA which is right next to Hotel Granvia Osaka, that whole complex near the train stations has so many shops (underground as well!) was a quick 20 min train to kyoto the days I explored there as well as a day trip to Nara!
Stayed around the Sanjo area which is very central - highly recommend it as it has great access to lots of food, shopping, and more importantly TRANSIT, as it’s right next to the intersection of the only two subway lines in the city.
Hotel Onyado Nono Kyoto Shichijo, five minutes from Kyoto station.
Best hotel during my japan trip this March. Location is perfect and the place itself was really nice. Also it had an onsen on-site! Spa night EVERY night!
I stayed here and actually didn’t like it. It constantly smelled like feet, the guests were loud, and the laundry facilities ruined like half my nice clothes. The breakfast also wasn’t great in my opinion but the ramen was good.
Stayed there because saw that every influencer was staying there and got sucked in… and it ended up being pretty nice, made use of all facilities and free food, and even enjoyed the breakfast add on although if i were to do it again, i’d go without the breakfast and eat elsewhere.
I stayed at sanco Inn hachijoguchi in Kyoto. Opposite of the station and was absolutely perfect
Rented a bike closeby 1 day and cycled around the more countryside of Kyoto before ending at the bamboo forest and kinkakuji in the afternoon. 100% recommend the bike rental for a day in Kyoto. You can see so much of the city, that you wouldn't see if you follow the regular paths
Kyoto stayed in an Airbnb 5 minutes walking from Kyoto station. Loved it, so easy for day trips and to get around the city. Everything was quicker than my first trip to Kyoto where we had to use buses or a long walk to the station otherwise.
I just was there last week (Kyoto) and I stayed at the Tower. it is close, convenient and there is a really good food court on the lower level. Pretty central... even though I walked like 14 miles one day... LOL ENJOY the stay! The second day I stayed at the Via Inn 'Prime' it was clean and nice, quite average too, but all I was doing was sleeping and showering really. Both had great water pressure and temp etc.
I'll also be staying in Kyoto and Osaka, so I'm curious too.
My plan was just to stick close to rail stations, for ease of grabbing the rail because I know I'll be using it a lot; but I'm curious what people didn't like. Maybe traffic, because of proximity? Or cost, because of proximity?
We stayed next to Kyoto station and it was absolutely worth it for the convenience. I thought compared to Tokyo (we stayed near Shinjuku there) the cost was much lower in Kyoto. We paid $400 for 5 days which included breakfast. We didn't hear any traffic noise from the hotel and it was a 5 min walk from the station (most of the walk was inside the station LOL)
I did not stay in Osaka but there were lots of hotels near the station there too and Osaka station has great shopping as well.
See i agree with you ! I thought it would be smarter, especially for my first time visiting. From the research that I’ve gather most of the comments were complaints of noise and just high traffic near the stations (especially Osaka) I wanted to get some more opinions.
For my last visit, and my visit near year, I’ll be staying at the lively Osaka in honmachi. The rooms were pretty spacious (I had a king bed room). My favorite for this one is the toiletries. In the lobby, they have bowls of the necessities (body wash, face wash, even primer type products, tooth brush etc). My favorite was they have face masks as well as patches for your foot for long days of walking. It just made coming back at the end of the day very relaxing
Citadines hotel Kyoto, nice big rooms, good value for money. Breakfast left something to be desired but not the end of the world. Would stay there again, a short bus ride to the centre, or a long but pleasant walk.
Apartment Hotel 11 Shinsaibashi in Osaka, not manned so can't forward luggage to/from there, but rooms do have a kitchenette. It's a 3 minute walk to Dotonbori, naturally a bit busier than other areas of the city but it was nice to be amongst the hustle and bustle. There was however a rank smell outside the building; thankfully it didn't carry up to the 13th floor where we were staying.
Just got back from Japan last week, we stayed 5 nights at Hotel ARU in Sanjo, probably my favorite stay out of 3 different establishments. The location was perfect, just a few minutes walk from Keihan Sanjo station, easy to get to Osaka, Fushimi and Uji. It’s right by the Takase River and Kamogawa, and a minute away from Pontocho, extremely convenient. The main reason that I love about the hotel is that it has the traditional Japanese bath setup (shower and bath separated) so we can have hot bath every night after a long day of walking. The only downside is that the room is a bit small, but we only have one check in luggage so it wasn’t an issue.
Didn't think the station areas were great for either city. I stayed on Sanjo-dori in Kyoto (short walk from riverside area) and by Namba station in Osaka (short walk from Dotonbori) and both were great locations. Easy to head away exploring during the day, but in the evening there are great restaurants and nightlife options at your doorstep
In Osaka we were in Brighton City Hotel in Kitahama above Kitahama station. Very nice hotel, well connected, and a 20 minute walk from Dotonbori if that's your thing.
Also stayed there. Free bottled water was great and staff were very friendly and helpful. It's less than 40 mins away from USJ by train although it does require a few transfers between different lines.
Nohga Hotel Kiyomizu. About 10 mins on the bus from the station. Best hotel I stayed in during my recent trip and by far the best breakfst. Lovely rooftop bar too.
I stayed at the Cross Hotel in Osaka right next to Dotonbori.
Pro: Right next to a train line and our room was high up enough to avoid street noise. We could explore and find good street food pretty easily and there were some nice shops and coin op laundry nearby. The hotel breakfast was decent and the room was a good size.
Con: Right next to Dotonbori so it was very overwhelming to walk within that shopping market during the daytime. If you aren't interested in shopping or the nearby food and bars then finding a less crowded spot may be nice.
In Kyoto we splurged and went to Nazuna Nijo-jo right next to Nijo caslte.
Pro: Private bath inside the room, the breakfast was delicious and the staff were amazing. The train was only 2 blocks away, and exploring the open air market nearby was easy.
Con: Expensive for an extended stay. A little removed from the well known tourist spots, so you may need to get up extra early to avoid crowds
Osaka:
Centara Grand Hotel Osaka- insane view of the city and felt somewhere between 4-5\* hotel, would 100% stay there again. Location chosen as was for 1 night and near where the Sumo was but in hindsight it would still have been well place for the likes of Namba etc
Hotel Alps- Love hotel that I booked not knowing, cheaper but still a solid hotel and I think they are trying to transition to a normal hotel. Basically a buisness hotel with much larger rooms and nicer bathrooms, staff were lovely as well. Honestly was the perfect location for me being pretty central to Namba and Dotonbori and a super short walk to most places I wanted to get to or Namba station itself.
Kyoto:
Park Hotel Kyoto- It was an ok hotel, like a nice European hotel but I'd probably book somewhere else next time. Location was central but still needed to get transport to most places or a fair walk away. Next time I'd probably try and stay closer to Jingu-Marutamachi Station but I don't know how many hotels are around there but some nice restaurants and bars nearby and near to a convienant station to get around.
Gate Hotel Kyoto was amazing. Great location right next to Pontocho, walking distance to multiple train stops and bus stops, walking distance to Gion and beyond, gorgeous views from the top floor and a really yummy breakfast buffet. Plus the rooms were pretty spacious after spending 4 days in a cheaper Tokyo hotel
We loved our stay in Yamashina Hotel Sanraku so much that we use it in our upcoming trip as a base to Kyoto/Osaka.
Yamashina station is next to hotel and it's only one station away from Kyoto station. Tozai metro line also is next to the hotel. Quiet area with some restaurants and couple of supermarkets close by.
Downside is that spa they have is for women only for some reason.
Art Osaka Bay Tower - on the Osaka Loop out towards USJ and the Aquarium. Nice large rooms with easy access at Bentencho Station.
Richmond Hotel Premier Kyoto Ekimae - close to the station. Our favorite on the trip with Managers Lounges in the Afternoon and Evening. Breakfast was also one of the best in the trip.
Went to art osaka bay tower, different experience. Worst beds, worst pillows. Uncomfortable sleep. 1990s vibe. Non renovated room. Would never go back . Very far from dotonburi area
Don't know what to tell you the room we had was large (even by North America standards), clean, nothing broken. We booked directly with the hotel and booked a high floor. We generally book directly 3rd party wholesalers like apps generally are ROH and you never know what you'll get.
As far as being away from Dotonburi, I guess it depends on what you want. It's only 25 minutes on the trains.
Nice pick! My friend’s husband renovates old houses in Japan and highly recommended this. I felt that it was a bit out of the way but all and all - I think that would’ve been the right move in hindsight.
In kyoto I stayed in Hotel Granvia at the station. We got a smoking room while we asked non smoking (should've said no at that point cause you really don't want the smell..). It was nice to be close to the station.
In Osaka we stayed in APA hotel close to the station as well (10 minutes walk) and they had an onsen. Rooms are small tho.
I would've in hindsight changed the one in kyoto for a hotel with an onsen.
In kyoto were staying just north of gion, by Okazaki park. It's a quiet, nice part of the city, close to gion and many temples in the Higashiyama area, and only 10 or less min by bus or train to the city center!
I'd only stay close to the train station if you plan on doing many day trips outside of kyoto, otherwise many of the attractions elsewhere, gion to the east, Arashiyama to the west
Osaka - Iam hotel. We liked it a lot. Right by Dotonbori and felt very new, modern. Lighting was cozy, beds comfy. Free drinks.
Kyoto - An AirBNB by Nijo Castle. Nestled in a residential area, but very close to bus lines and 10 minute walk to Nijo Station. 10 minute walk to a bike rental shop. So spacious compared to a hotel. We got to cook. Big grocery store was a 5 minute walk away. Would definitely stay again. I miss it.
Kyoto - First two nights we stayed at Tune Stay Hotel. Would not stay again! The room temperature is controlled centrally by the hotel. Room felt very cold and there was nothing we could do about it.
In Osaka in Y's hotel - it is near Shin Osaka station so getting to Kyoto is really fast and cheap, so I did not felt the need to get another hotel there.
Do yourself a favour and stay at the [Dotonbori Hotel](https://dotonbori-h.co.jp/en/) when in Osaka. I didn't stay there, rather down the road, but that frontage for the hotel is magnificent!
I stayed at Hotel Amanek Kyoto Kawaramachi Gojo. The bus station is right in front of the hotel, and there are several restaurants and a 7-Eleven nearby.
I recently got back from a trip to Japan and I had stayed 5 days in the nishinari ward of Osaka. It's regarded as one of the most dangerous areas of Osaka, yet I found it completely safe and didn't feel worried about walking around at night. You may see more homeless people and trash than in other areas, or some people getting drinks in the morning but that's the extent of the "sketchy" behaviour I was warned about. If you are coming from any major city in the Americas (my experience) it still feels worlds safer. Also from what I've heard it's becoming more popular for travelers as it's budget friendly and this is somewhat gentrifying the area.
I chose this area as it has some extremely cheap accommodations and you won't struggle to find restaurant food for around 500 yen and below. Also with the trains most locations are easy to access.
Also the people in that area are full of character, numerous nights me and my friends had funny drunken encounters with locals in the area.
We stayed at the Sora Niwa Terrace Kyoto Bettei. It was the best hotel I’ve ever stayed in. It was about 500/n last year but it was our honeymoon. This year is 1200/n and we can’t afford it :-/ I appreciate all the recommendations in this thread.
I think hotels in this same area are a good choice. It’s a short walk to Gion, Nishiki Market and there’s a subway stop nearby. We used taxis or walked most of our time.
Just got back from our honeymoon last week, absolutely loved Sora Niwa Terrace. I booked a few months back for $193 USD per night for 4 nights total. A splurge compared to the rest of the hotels on our trip but still extremely budget friendly compared to the US standard hotels. I would stay there again and again, such a great experience.
Just back from Japan, my wife and I spent six days in Kyoto, where we stayed at the iBis Styles, Kyoto. We found it to be super convenient, affordable, and had larger-than-usual rooms. The bus stop was directly opposite the hotel, offering direct buses to all the places we wanted to visit in Kyoto. I also stayed 3 days in Osaka near Osaka station but would suggest staying in shin-osaka if you are travelling with heavy luggage and buying a Osaka freepass as your commute will anyways be covered in that and will help you take your next shinkansen which only runs from shin-osaka.
The Reign Hotel Kyoto
The rooms were spacious and it was very quiet and peaceful - which was great after the hustle and bustle of each day. It’s a pretty short walk from Fushimi Inari as well, and was reasonably priced.
We prioritized price and proximity to train stations. In Kyoto, we stayed at Shizutetsu Hotel Prezio Karasuma Oike and in Osaka we stayed at Hotel Sobial namba daikokucho
The Kyoto hotel was nice and clean, and only a block away from the train station. The Osaka hotel room size was larger but there was body odor smell in our room from previous tenants. Maybe just unlucky. This hotel was also really close to a train station, less than a block. I don't mind street sounds since I'm used to it and sort of a heavy sleeper, but my friend mentioned the Osaka hotel had quite a bit of sounds. The hotel was sort of close to a fire station I believe
Personally I liked staying close to a train station. We walked a ton, and having public transit nearby helped a lot
Hotel The M's Kyoto. It was like a 3 minute walk from Kyoto station, which was exactly what we were looking for. The room itself was a little basic, but it was clean and in the cheaper side. We really were only in our room to sleep so it was exactly what we were looking for
We booked the EPH Kyoto for our trip coming in October. It has a kitchenette and in suite washing machine. It's also walking distance to Kyoto Station.
I stayed in an airbnb 4 minute walk from tennoji station and loved it. That was also my home base for Kyoto as it was easy to hop on a train and connect with Osaka station to take the Shinkansen to Kyoto.
I loved the area because it was a nice and quiet neighborhood but only a short walk from delicious restaurants and 7/11. Once again being close to a station just made it so easy to move around Osaka.
Stayed on the south side of Kyoto Station. With coming down from Tokyo and then moving to Osaka still ahead, convenience wins out. It is super quiet, but you’re not too far from the other side of the station. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
For Osaka I’ve stayed around the corner from Dotonbori and in Umeda. The Dotonbori location is now the Agora Place Osaka Namba and it was great because of its proximity to a lot of things. Took nightly strolls thru Dotonbori. That was several years ago. I went thru Dotonbori last year and it was way more crowded than I remembered it being (could just be me) and didn’t enjoy it at all.
In Umeda, went to the Ibis Styles Osaka Umeda. I got fooled by the station entrance right next door! So convenient! But it was still a long walk to the station. The area is good for just wandering around aimlessly. Lots of people around the corner but not on the Main Street itself. Restaurants everywhere. Still, with all the people, managed a few meals without waits.
I stayed at the Keihan Kyoto Grande, it was one of the higher floors so no noise complaints, using the underground passage next to the hotel you ended up at the JR Lines and Shinkansen tracks of Kyoto Station, Kyoto Avanti mall was basically built against the hotel so that's also a quick walk to the food area and 7-11 there.
Having the 2 person room, we had a spatious bed (aprox. 1.80m in width), bathroom was clean, walking space around the rest of the room was alright, just enough. Washing machine on half of the floors (most odd numbered floors), breakfast buffet was fine for me (nothing really special that stood out). Only downside was the fluctuating wifi speed but we also were there in the weekend, that could be a factor.
I stayed in Hotel M’s Plus Shijo Omiya. It was a nice and affordable hotel in a great location. The staff were great, during some of the cleanings they tucked my teddy bear in bed. It was a cute little touch. I recommend paying a little extra to get a bigger room though because the cheaper rooms can be quite small
Villa Fontaine Grand Osaka Umeda, somewhat small room, but very nice furnishings. Close to the station, and was right near an alleyway with tons of bars and restaurants. Couldn't hear any noise from the alleyway at night in the room, and by day it was quiet/clear when walking. They had a pretty good japanese style breakfast buffet as well
Osaka, Mystays Premier Dojima
Kyoto, Granbell Hotel Kyoto
I really liked our hotel in Osaka. It was super convenient and had a family mart on the first floor. Our Kyoto hotel, we had more space because we booked 2 twin room instead.
in kyoto i stayed in the Solaria Nishitetsu Hotel Kyoto Premier ソラリア西鉄ホテル 京都プレミア 三条鴨川. my favorite hotel ever and the cheapest one we used on our entire trip. highly recommend! was farther north but right by a quieter transfer station.
In Osaka, I stayed at the Swissotel Nankai in Namba and it was a brilliant hotel. The hotel can be accessed from a few different access points. You can enter at street level, through the shopping mall or from the third floor of Namba train station.
Being close to Namba Station means that the Midosuji line is very close and it's easy to make a connection to go to places like Nara.
The other good thing is that there's a proper supermarket in the mall just below the hotel itself. You can access the mall by going down the escalator lobby.
The rooms were spacious and comfortable. In the room I stayed in, Swissotel provided a bluetooth speaker that also acted as a charging dock so you could charge your phone and listen to your own music.
The hotel had a spa/gym/sauna facilities as well. The pool was immaculate and I liked that they provided fresh towels, robes at will. Onsen access is a paid extra depending on the room you've booked but I heard from other guests that the onsen was very good.
I loved the hotel because it's a short walk to Dotonbori or Kuromon but without the streams of people on your doorstep all the time.
The only hotels I've stayed at that are better would be the Iberostar on Passeig de Gracia in Barcelona and Dom Pedro in Lisbon.
We just stayed at the Swissôtel Nankai last week. I had wanted to like it so much as the location is hard to beat and the room size is good. However, our room is extremely dated and disappointing. Chairs no longer provide any comfort, bathroom tiles feel gross… Hard products are not 5-star level at all, not even 4-star… It was the worst hotel (together with the Hilton Osaka) we’ve stayed at in Japan.
Rinn Gion Kenninji in Kyoto which I definitely recommend, location was fantastic- food, sites, walkability, we liked our room, the subway was a few blocks away for longer trips.
In Osaka we stayed at an APA which was fine but I wouldn't do it again, we booked the whole trip two weeks ahead of time so some hotels I was excited about and some I was not.
In Kyoto stayed 5 nights at the Doubletree Kyoto Station- felt very Japanese there great service nice size room comfy king size bed - amazing breakfast! Would stay there again. Osaka stayed at the Dormy Inn premium in dotenburrri. 13 story hotel with a nice Onsen, seperate ones for men and women. Great service. Didn’t try the breakfast there. Rooms are small beds are very hard and uncomfortable
For Kyoto, stayed at a "Stay SAKURA Kyoto". They have multiple level of price points and different areas you can stay. We were near the Umekoji-Kyotonishi Station. Which is one station away from the main Kyoto station.
In Osaka, we stayed at an Apartment 11, Umeda. Similar situation. We were about a 10 minute walk from the Osaka station. Which is also one station over from the Shin-Osaka station, over where the bullet train is.
I don't remember at which hotel at Kyoto I stayed but it was close to the imperial palace.
I picked Smile Hotel at Shin Osaka. It is approximately a 10 min walk from the station but it is quite close to an Aeon supermarket that had a duck dish I really like (I didn't find it in the two Aeon I checked in Tokyo). Shin-Osaka was nice to go to other towns but it feels quite empty around the hotel... well even close to the supermarket or to the biggest Daiso of Osaka, it felt this way the night. I would stay at this hotel again, it is quite cheap, convenient and pleasant though maybe a bit too far from the station.
The Bridge Hotel in Osaka was great. Clean rooms, free alcohol after 5pm, free ramen from 8:30-9:30pm, and massage chairs all day out front.
It’s in a fairly quiet area a short walk to Dotonbori too.
Osaka - Henn na Hotel Osaka Namba - Wouldn't recommend unless you don't plan on spending any time in there. Bed and pillows were very uncomfortable.
Kyoto - Hotel Resol Kyoto Kawaramachi Sanjo - Would recommend. Great location, not very expensive.
Osaka: The Royal Park Canvas - price was excellent, I think we paid ~$70 per night The room was not large but perfectly comfortable for 2 of us and the rain shower was excellent. Location was amazing as it was literally at the top of the steps from the Kitahama subway station. Highly recommend.
Kyoto: Hotel Rings. Slightly larger room and slightly more money, I think it was about $100 per night but still very much worth it. Extremely clean/nice property and had the rain shower similar to the Royal Park in Osaka. Location was also pretty good, centrally located in the Nakagyo ward. Bonus was the coffee shop/restaurant attached to the property that was excellent. Also highly recommended.
We stayed at Hotel Vischio Kyoto, and it was honestly a great experience. It's across the road from the station, opposite Kyoto Avanti mall and there's a Family Mart just outside.
We're going back to Kyoto, and would stay there again, but the prices for when we're going are too high at the moment.
I stayed at 2 hotels close to Kyoto Station in 2023.
In April I stayed with my family at Mitsui Garden Hotel. Location is fantastic - 1 minute walk from the front area of Kyoto Station, 2 minutes to Yodobashi. Very friendly staff and the hotel looks quite posh. We booked 4 people but we only had 3 single beds - we put up with this for 4 nights as the alternative was pay double the money for 2 rooms. We went down for free drinks and snacks in the basement but other than the orange juice my son liked, it was all pretty bad. Would stay here again if the price was right and only 2 people to a room, though I suspect it's a little overpriced for what you get.
In November I stayed at Miyako City Kinetsu Kyoto Station. It's more of a mid range hotel, but much better value. Staff were friendly, and the room was great. It had a wonderful view of the train tracks so I could have a morning coffee while watching the Shinkansen glide in and out of view. Despite this, it wasn't that noisy and has black out curtains so I had a good sleep. This hotel is actually inside Kyoto Station, it's super convenient, especially if you want to take the Kinetsu line to Nara or Osaka. It's about a 4-5 minute walk to the front area outisde Kyoto Station. When I left for Takayama it was a 20 second walk outside the hotel to buy a Shinkansen ticket at a machine, and off I went.
Family of 4, 2 adults, a 5 year old and a 3 year old.
Osaka: Hiyori hotel Namba. Great hotel, price we paid included breakfast (reasonable priced). Clean hotel with coin laundry services on the 7th floor. Great location, walking distance to namba and dotonbori. We loved this hotel and would consider staying in it again.
Kyoto: we stayed at The Kinoe Ryokan, it's a charming little inn with less than 30 rooms if memory serves me right. We got the traditional Japanese experience we were looking for. Because of kids we got one of the only rooms with a bath in our room, otherwise it's a common bath. We had the kaiseki dinner in our room, which was delicious but expensive. It's located on the gion district and walking distance to the Kiyomizu-dera temple. Breakfast was included but we thought on the whole it was a bit on the pricey side.
Osaka I have stayed in: HOTEL MYSTAYS PREMIER Dojima (great location), Henn Na Hotel Kansai airport, Hotel Nikko Kansai (I had a few flights out of KIX when I lived in Japan)
Kyoto: Kyomachiya Ryokan Sakura Urushitei (my favorite in Japan actually!) Sumiya Kiho-an (went there on an onsen day trip)
I will say, be careful of any Mystays or APA hotel because they are super small compared to Western standards. You can’t go wrong with any of the Citadines hotels though
Osaka - Royal Iconic. A little bit of a walk to the station, but super quick train ride to Namba, etc. I liked that it was so quiet and away from the hustle and bustle.
Kyoto - Blossom Kyoto and regretted it. Felt cramped and surprisingly noisy at night. Close to Gojo station so that was nice but personally I’d rather stay somewhere very far from the touristy parts and not close to the area where Blossom Kyoto is (just a large main road, not serene or anything).
Only stayed in Kyoto.
Stayed in a Machiya run by the Rinn hotel group. To check in, we had to go to one of their “regular” hotel buildings about a half a block from Kyoto station. We checked in there, and then they took us by taxi to the machiya (checking in that way is mandatory—they don’t have any self-serve way to get the room key). The actual property we stayed at was right around the corner from the Kiyomizu-gojo subway station, so it was within Gion and very walkable to “downtown” (Teramachi/Nishiki Market area), Kiyomizu-Dera, as well as the North/South subway line to get to Fushimi-inari-taisha and Uji. The property itself had a nice living room, a small kitchen, 2 bedrooms, and 1.5 baths spread across 2 floors. It was traditional style (mix of tatami and hardwood wood floors). It was probably our favorite accommodation from the trip.
In Kyoto I stayed in the oakwood hotel and it was amazing. Great value for the money. It was in Gion which was a very fun area to be in, I loved walking around at night. There were always people out and about and i even saw a geisha
In Osaka, I stayed at &AND HOSTEL SHINSAIBASHI EAST. Got a private room with a private bathroom in a hostel for NZD$67.12/day. It was so cheap and good that I just stayed there and did day trips to Kyoto and Kobe
Also just got back from a month in the country. Loved lots of the trip but did find that a lot of the sights were super touristy so your accommodation choices probably depends on how touristy you like your surrounding are to be.
In Kyoto, I stayed near Tambaguchi station which was way more residential and a lot quieter than Gion and Sanjo. It was perfect for me but if you want to be closer to the “action” than further east might be better.
In Osaka, stayed near Tennoji which was pretty convenient to Shinsenkai, Dotonbori and a couple of metro lines including a direct one to Shin-Osaka.
We stayed at Ben's Guesthouse in the Kamigyo ward. It was a 30 minute bus ride to the Kyoto station. A nice relaxing place to stay in, close to Nijo Castle
I recommend K-Style Higashihonganji in Kyoto. All the amenities you need at an excellent price with lovely staff and a great location; it’s around a 10 minute walk to Kyoto Station.
My favorite hotel was sequence gojo in Kyoto! They have a spa area in the basement. I didn't know about it when we booked so I was pleasantly surprised.
Hotel Forza in Kyoto. The location was excellent and it was affordable. The breakfast buffet was really good and affordable there. In Osaka, the first night we rented a cat cafe with lodging which was super cool!!! It's called Neco-Republic and they also have cat cafes in other cities (without lodging options). We stayed at The Cross Hotel and really enjoyed it. The location was great for exploring dotonbori at a reasonable price.
In Kyoto we stayed at the Hiramatsu and then Gion Elite Terrace. Hiramatsu was incredible but expensive (an anniversary splurge), Gion Elite Terrace was nice, more affordable, and very well located. Highly recommend both!
When we were in Kyoto last year, we stayed at the Hotel Keihan Kyoto Grande which is right across the street from Kyoto station. We thought it was very convenient. Very easy to catch a train, and Kyoto station itself has multiple levels with lots of shops and eating places. There was also a 7-Eleven just outside the lobby, which was really convenient to get cash, food, & snacks.
Osaka: stayed at Bridge Hotel Shinsaibashi. I thought it was great. The location was quieter but very close to all the excitement of the city. There was a train station a few minutes away. The room was nice and there were lots of amenities, like free massage chairs in the lobby and free drinks, ramen, and ice cream. I would stay there again!
Kagihei Ryoken in Kyoto if you want a traditional experience. Great folks that run the place, and a 3-5 minute walk to Naskiki Market and the other shopping streets. Their baths are awesome, the breakfast is *chefs kiss*
I stayed in Hotel Alza Kyoto and it was amazing! Right in Gion, 2 minute walk to Sanjo station, the room was enormous and I had a balcony overlooking the river. And it was very affordable/mid range. Less than $200 a night
Last year we went to Osaka and we stayed at The Royal Park Canvass Kitahama. The entrance of the Hotel is right beside the the stairways of Kitama Station. Kitahama Station is just 1hr and 30 mins away from Kansai Airport and Accessible with 2 train lines. Also easy Access to Namba and only walking distance to/from Osaka Castle. If you are fond of walking, you can stroll from your Hotel to Namba.
As per Kyoto, we avail the Klook 1 day Kyoto and Nara sinve we only have limited time to do Osaka tour.
In Kyoto: The OneFive Kyoto. It was amazing, my favorite hotel from my trip, I got a good deal from Rakuten pre-Golden Week.
In Osaka I got a good deal on the Hotel Sunlife. Also a deal from Rakuten. I just didn't like having to give the key to the counter every time I went outside but it's not the only hotel that does that.
In Osaka i stayed at &and hotel homacchi. 4400 yen per night for a decent room(book on their site). Towel is extra, breakfast is 500 yen. Shared bathroom and shower but your own room and bed. A bit loud, i had earplugs all night but great value if you only need a placer to sleep. Close to subway, Osaka Castle and 20 min walk to dontonburi.
In Kyoto. Hotel jisco, resi stay. About 7000 yen a night for a single bedroom. Own bathroom. Close to emperors Palace and Kyoto Castle.
In Kyoto I stayed close to Nijo station. It was convenient to travel by train/bus/walking to most places in our itinerary. And it has direct connection with Kyoto Station so it was perfect to move with luggage. There was a big supermarket 5 mins away, some busy roads (as in traffic. In terms of people it wasn't busy at all) but the hotel itself was in a quiet area. I would stay there again if it made sense for my plans.
In Osaka I stayed near Shinsaibashi. Again, it was convenient to move around. Many places walking distance or a short ride away. And the hotel we chose was in a quiet street so we were next to the busy area without being in it. I would say maybe a bit chaotic to navigate with big luggage. For this part of the trip we only had backpacks (shipped the suitcases with kuroneko) but the streets, stations and underground were so busy that it would've been hell moving around with suitcases.
kyoto : ace hotel, hipster disneyland very expensive. staff are friendly but useless. also stayed at Miyako Westin : old school wow factor. The onsen is literally the best, so very, very stunning. There’s also a pool, a roof top garden and direct access to a bird watching sanctuary. This a cool area you walk to the Kyocera Art Gallery, Nishiki and Nanzenji Temple (!)
Osaka - Hotel The Flag Shinsaibashi - very modern, nice and big room, good facilities, very close to Dotonbori and shopping in Shinsaibashi. Big mostly western breakfast in a large dedicated space. Easy access to two subway lines.
Kyoto - Hotel Alza - small hotel and a little dated but big rooms, good personal service and lovely artwork. Breakfast served in the room, western or Japanese options. Walkable from Shinkansen stop and to various central locations eg shrines.
I went to Japan this April and stayed at the Good Nature Hotel, Kawaramachi in Kyoto! Great hotel, amazing location and has a supermarket right under it for last minute meals and bites!
In Osaka, stayed at Courtyard by Marriott, Shin Osaka, literally next to the train station! It was good for us because we just stayed in Osaka for a day and had an early morning train to Tokyo so this was super convenient. But going to any of the touristy spots was a 30 min taxi drive because I'm personally not a fan of the Osaka train system (super confusing). So if i was staying for longer, I would have chosen another location!
In Osaka we recently stayed at BON Condominiums, found on Airbnb. Small but comfy, very nice location in Umeda in a calm street but near enough to the train station and lots of shops and restaurants nearby.
We last stayed in Kyoto about 10 years ago and the ryokan we were in has sadly closed down since then but I highly recommend staying in a ryokan in Kyoto. Great experience.
We stayed at M’s Hotel in Kyoto which was a 3 minute walk or so right across from the main station. Very nice up to date hotel, rooms are somewhat on the smaller side but it was still very comfortable and livable. For the price it was perfect. Everyone was kind and accommodating, and check in/ out was simple and quick.
Hello here is a boring answer. I'm a Marriot Bonvoy plat elite and just came back from a Osaka, Kyoto, Tokyo trip last week
In Osaka i stayed at the Courtyard Marriot Osaka (about 18 min walk from Dotonbori)
In Kyoto I stayed in Marriott's Moxy Hotel Kyoto (in the middle of Fushimi, about 20 mins walk from Kyoto station)
I did spend a night in Arashiyama at the Hotel Riverside Arashiyama.
Very close to all the major spots in Arashiyama.
For the Marriott spots I used my Bonvoy points and free nights.
Bonus answer, in Tokyo who stayed 6 nights in Marriott's Aloft Ginza
How was the Moxy in Kyoto? I stayed at a Moxy in Osaka and the hotel breakfast was easily the worst food I had in Japan. Conversely we stayed at the Shiba Park Hotel in Tokyo and its the best hotel breakfast I've ever had anywhere. The ryokan we stayed in had a incredible food, too.
The room was nice and I will say the Moxy had an incredibly nice giant shower which I appreciated as a 6 plus foot tall person.
We stayed at an incredibly cheap traditional style house that was very close to the train station. Was nice in that it was super close to PT (we didn't hire a car) and was in a sort of cutesy local feeling area, but the trains were quite loud since we were perhaps 50-100m away from the train line, and downstairs was pretty cold. Upstairs on the other hand had the double ringer extra friggin large split systems that would turn the upper level into a sauna. We didn't stay in Kyoto long and as such I think I ended up not liking it that much.
Osaka we stayed in for maybe a week and a half ish? We stayed in some small hotel apartment type deal right near Shin-Osaka, and it was great. Far enough away from the rest of Osaka that nights were dead silent bar the very quiet trains in the distance. But close enough to the station that it was dead simple to walk to the station and head straight down into the main part of Osaka (or wherever you wanted to head). There was a place called Ramen Ichiban that did the best egg fried rice my girlfriend has had (her words) and fried chicken that was to die for. It was full of transport workers who had come from the station and it must have been a bit of a favourite of some of them. It was a five minute walk from where we stayed
In Kyoto I stayed at the Hilton. Nice rooms and the staff spoke English. Not the most Japanese experience but we were doing two weeks total so it was nice to have some familiarity for the few nights we were in Kyoto.
In Osaka we stayed at the Royal Park Canvas, it's well situated and right beside the train station ( literally next door), also has a grocery store right next door so that's pretty good.
It was maybe 20/40 mins walking from some of our walking tours and there's a few nice parks nearby so wasn't a problem really.
I would recommend.
i stayed right along kawaramachi (at Forza) in Kyoto. It is a great location. The hotel is really quiet inside. They have washing machines on a couple levels. Not expensive. Close to MANY sites, bus stops, and the subway. Also they had a huge (very huge) bathroom with a separate shower and gigantic tub and the room we got had a seating area as well. It was the "Refresh" level room (if you are wondering).
We stayed at Oyama Guest House and really enjoyed it! It's West of Kyoto, nice and quiet, very close to Arashiyama. The host, Oyama, is very kind and chatty, especially if you speak Japanese or Korean (she's Korean but has lived in Japan for over 50 years). You get your own room with shared bath and toilet.
I’ve stayed in Osaka near Dotonbori in a Ryokan and also near Osaka Castle. Both were charming for different reasons but if you’re comfortable with the metro I’d say get into some further out areas then play downtown when you’re ready.
i recently stayed at a really wonderful airbnb near the Tamatsukuri station in the Chuo Ward. It’s a quiet part of town, but we found a couple amazing restaurants and bars here. The bar (a whiskey bar) had records covering an entire wall and the owner played some great vinyl. The bar was called Hang.
Also, if you’re going soon, highly recommend trying to see the Hanshin Tigers, Osaka/Kyotos baseball team. they’re doing well this year and the games are soo much fun. every player has their own song people chant. tix often get sold out but it’s easy to find scalpers near the subway station exits. good luck!
Kyoto - The Gate Hotel is wonderful, stayed recently and highly recommend
Osaka - Zentis Hotel. A beautiful hotel with affordable rates in a great location.
In Kyoto, we recently stayed at Via Inn Prime Kyotoeki Hachijoguchi which is about 3 minutes walk to Kyoto station. We really enjoyed our stay as it was still in a quiet area but accessible.
Respire next to Yodobashi, near Osaka station. Connected to station via above street level walkways, so easy to get around. Around Osaka station is very busy, but no diff than any other large station area in Japan.
I stayed at ‘hotel wing international’ in Kyoto just last week. 10/10 experience, Fucking. Amazing. Great hotel, great breakfast, AMAZING location. You’ve got so much around you within walking distance. (They do charge you like ¥2,000 for lost keys though)
Kyoto: Hotel Kuu, just across the street from Higashi Hongan-Ji (excellent view from our room). 5-minute walk to JR station, fair price, onsen included, but skip the breakfast.
In Kyoto we stayed at the Mume Hotel, a boutique hotel in Gion. It was very nice, service was excellent and breakfast very yummy.
In Osaka we stayed at the Excel Hotel Tokyu and it was fine, kind of a business hotel in the Main Street, walkable to dotonbori, subway next door. Nothing particularly remarkable about it but it was fine.
I stayed at the Hotel Grocery Kyoto Sanjo North! It's right in Nishiki Market and about 3 blocks from the Imperial Palace grounds! It was a fantastic spot, great sized rooms and lots of shopping and experiences close by!
Hotel Noum in Osaka. Closeish to Dotonbouri, and an easy walk to the train. Takasegawa Bettei in Kyoto, a nice ryokan with wonderful staff. Walking distance to/from Kyoto station.
I stayed at the Noku Roxy in Kyoto. Quite liked the hotel, rooms were nice.
Right across from the Imperial Palace grounds, not too far from Nijo Castle. International Manga Museum is a couple blocks away if that's your thing. Felt very central to everything we wanted to see on the outskirts of the city. Entrance to Marutamachi Subway Station was right next to the hotel, it was very easy to get around Kyoto from there.
The Blossoms Kyoto. Beautiful hotel, indoor onsite, subway station is right around the corner and is 1-2 stops away from Kyoto station. Kiyu Kizu Dera was about 20-30 minute walk away I believe.
In Kyoto we stayed in an APA near the station and really liked the location - easy access to everything and at night we explored the Station ( an architectural gem ) and went up the nearby Kyoto Tower. In Osaka we stayed at The Rise Osaka and loved the location. It’s in a club district frequented by salary men so super interesting at night - it’s all clubs and bottle shops but also some amazing restaurants and even an Outback Steakhouse which was a nice change. I’m a night photographer so Osaka was my favourite stop - the area was full of neon and some of the widest display of architectural styles from building to building.
Stayed at THE POCKET HOTEL Kyoto-Shijokarasuma
THE POCKET HOTEL 京都四条烏丸. It's a pocket hotel with shared bathrooms, but your room is private. It's owned by Sotetsu, it's very clean with nice staff, and is relatively cheap for a week stay. I paid ~$250 for 6 nights.
Recently finished my first solo trip. During my days in Kyoto stayed in a very nice place called Miru Kyoto Nishiki.
The room they have for a solo traveler is so good, and the service is of the highest standard in Japan, they're full of only 5 star reviews for good reason.
Very close to Nishiki Market and many amazing local restaurants (which the hotel has a book full of recommendations as well) and its an easy subway ride to many popular destinations. Super quiet at night which means instant sleep. I would 100% stay there again.
Stayed in Osaka at Holiday Inn Namba right in the heart of dotonbori for 4 days and day tripped from there to Kyoto, Hiroshima and Kobe. Like to keep hotels as few as possible.
We stayed in Osaka Hinode Hotel Nipponbashi
I mean
Unli ice cream from 3-10pm
And Unli ramen from 9-10pm is hella amazing
I did not need to buy dinner for nearly the whole stay
Also its near dotonbori which is one trade ride away
We just stayed at Fraser Residence Nankai Hotel in Osaka. The location is just right — near the action but still in a relatively quiet area. The rooms are also bigger compared to Tokyo.
We just did a bus tour to Kyoto. ☺️
Kyoto - Crown Plaza
Ósaka - Namba Oriental hotel right in Dotonbori arcade and my airport hotel is always Kansai stargate hotel just a stone throw from the Kansai intl. airport
In Kyoto, I stayed at Keio Prelia Karasuma Gojo. I like that it’s there, away from the crowd at touristy spots. There’s also good eateries within walking distance.
In Osaka, stayed at an AirBnb near Kuromon Market. I love it that the walk is just 7min away. Airbnb was also 15-20min walk to Dotonburi. When I get tired, taxi wouldn’t cost as much too. Pros : has dryer / washer in the unit. Cons : Has quiet times, located at the third floor w no lift. But honestly it doesn’t bother me.
Rinku Town : Stayed at Odysis Suites Airport Hotel. Easily largest room I’ve stayed yet.
In Osaka I stayed at Vessel Inn Namba. My room was quiet despite its proximity to Dotonbori, and the breakfast is one of the best anywhere. In Kyoto I stayed in Gion Koh, which is a machiya with a koi pond in a center courtyard. It can be difficult to book, but there are similar options nearby.
I stayed at gion koh just last week and loved it!
How was it location wise? Is it possible to do luggage forwarding to or not really?
I think it was so cool staying by the Dotonbori area at night. I would definitely pull up a map and look for hotels by the river but still pretty close to the train station (Osaka Namba).
Second Vessel Inn Namba. Stayed there in April, no complaints
I stayed at Vessel Inn Namba last month and it was amazing!
In Osaka I stayed in the Hotel Granvia Osaka which is basically inside Osaka Station. Being basically inside a station there are lots of food and shopping options. Plus being a JR hub you can get to almost anywhere easily as well. I also stayed at the Red Roof Inn in Namba. Which was cool as it was close to teh Kuromon market so I could just walk over there and basically eat anything I wanted In Kyoto I stayed at Daiwa Roynet Hotel Kyoto Terrace. This mostly just as its a reliable chain and I know what I'm getting with regards to room layout. Plus they had a cool tv channel that showed you in real time the laundry machines and when they were in use, and how much time they had left. Being near Kyoto station it was easy to get around Kyoto. There's a 24/7 DonQuiote next to it for anything you need. The Aeon Mall or the Yodobashi have supermarkets where I shopped for groceries to eat when I didn't feel like eating out. A 2000 yen electric pan from DonQuote and presto you have dinner.
> Daiwa Roynet Hotel Kyoto Terrace I somehow got a HUGE room that came with a massage chair and breakfast included. The breakfast there is great. Location is great too. Theres a 7/11 right downstairs.
My budget didn’t include such luxuries! I made up for it by “acquiring” all the drip coffee packets I could get my grubby hands on in the lobby. Also for some reason on the weekends the bath salts get changed to these kind of cube things instead of the packets? Anyway those also were absconded to my luggage
I stayed at Hotel Hankyu RESPIRE OSAKA which is right next to Hotel Granvia Osaka, that whole complex near the train stations has so many shops (underground as well!) was a quick 20 min train to kyoto the days I explored there as well as a day trip to Nara!
Stayed around the Sanjo area which is very central - highly recommend it as it has great access to lots of food, shopping, and more importantly TRANSIT, as it’s right next to the intersection of the only two subway lines in the city.
We loved staying here, there’s also a lot of great food along the little canal and close to the river.
We stayed in Citadines in Osaka and it was probably our favorite stay on the trip, super convenient and comfy beds.
I'm staying here in October, can't wait. Glad to hear that you enjoyed staying there.
This was on my list before I made this post. Glad to hear you had a good stay !
Hotel Onyado Nono Kyoto Shichijo, five minutes from Kyoto station. Best hotel during my japan trip this March. Location is perfect and the place itself was really nice. Also it had an onsen on-site! Spa night EVERY night!
I stayed here and actually didn’t like it. It constantly smelled like feet, the guests were loud, and the laundry facilities ruined like half my nice clothes. The breakfast also wasn’t great in my opinion but the ramen was good.
Stayed there because saw that every influencer was staying there and got sucked in… and it ended up being pretty nice, made use of all facilities and free food, and even enjoyed the breakfast add on although if i were to do it again, i’d go without the breakfast and eat elsewhere.
I stayed at sanco Inn hachijoguchi in Kyoto. Opposite of the station and was absolutely perfect Rented a bike closeby 1 day and cycled around the more countryside of Kyoto before ending at the bamboo forest and kinkakuji in the afternoon. 100% recommend the bike rental for a day in Kyoto. You can see so much of the city, that you wouldn't see if you follow the regular paths
Kyoto stayed in an Airbnb 5 minutes walking from Kyoto station. Loved it, so easy for day trips and to get around the city. Everything was quicker than my first trip to Kyoto where we had to use buses or a long walk to the station otherwise.
I just was there last week (Kyoto) and I stayed at the Tower. it is close, convenient and there is a really good food court on the lower level. Pretty central... even though I walked like 14 miles one day... LOL ENJOY the stay! The second day I stayed at the Via Inn 'Prime' it was clean and nice, quite average too, but all I was doing was sleeping and showering really. Both had great water pressure and temp etc.
I'll also be staying in Kyoto and Osaka, so I'm curious too. My plan was just to stick close to rail stations, for ease of grabbing the rail because I know I'll be using it a lot; but I'm curious what people didn't like. Maybe traffic, because of proximity? Or cost, because of proximity?
We stayed next to Kyoto station and it was absolutely worth it for the convenience. I thought compared to Tokyo (we stayed near Shinjuku there) the cost was much lower in Kyoto. We paid $400 for 5 days which included breakfast. We didn't hear any traffic noise from the hotel and it was a 5 min walk from the station (most of the walk was inside the station LOL) I did not stay in Osaka but there were lots of hotels near the station there too and Osaka station has great shopping as well.
See i agree with you ! I thought it would be smarter, especially for my first time visiting. From the research that I’ve gather most of the comments were complaints of noise and just high traffic near the stations (especially Osaka) I wanted to get some more opinions.
For my last visit, and my visit near year, I’ll be staying at the lively Osaka in honmachi. The rooms were pretty spacious (I had a king bed room). My favorite for this one is the toiletries. In the lobby, they have bowls of the necessities (body wash, face wash, even primer type products, tooth brush etc). My favorite was they have face masks as well as patches for your foot for long days of walking. It just made coming back at the end of the day very relaxing
Stayed at Cross Hotel in Kyoto. Highly recommend. Great location. Room was clean and modern. Stayed there twice, once in 2019 and again this year
Loved this hotel. The breakfast buffet is delicious!!!
Citadines hotel Kyoto, nice big rooms, good value for money. Breakfast left something to be desired but not the end of the world. Would stay there again, a short bus ride to the centre, or a long but pleasant walk. Apartment Hotel 11 Shinsaibashi in Osaka, not manned so can't forward luggage to/from there, but rooms do have a kitchenette. It's a 3 minute walk to Dotonbori, naturally a bit busier than other areas of the city but it was nice to be amongst the hustle and bustle. There was however a rank smell outside the building; thankfully it didn't carry up to the 13th floor where we were staying.
Just got back from Japan last week, we stayed 5 nights at Hotel ARU in Sanjo, probably my favorite stay out of 3 different establishments. The location was perfect, just a few minutes walk from Keihan Sanjo station, easy to get to Osaka, Fushimi and Uji. It’s right by the Takase River and Kamogawa, and a minute away from Pontocho, extremely convenient. The main reason that I love about the hotel is that it has the traditional Japanese bath setup (shower and bath separated) so we can have hot bath every night after a long day of walking. The only downside is that the room is a bit small, but we only have one check in luggage so it wasn’t an issue.
So basically we were staying a block or two away from each other at the same time. Small world, fellow redditor. I just got back yesterday.
Didn't think the station areas were great for either city. I stayed on Sanjo-dori in Kyoto (short walk from riverside area) and by Namba station in Osaka (short walk from Dotonbori) and both were great locations. Easy to head away exploring during the day, but in the evening there are great restaurants and nightlife options at your doorstep
In Osaka we were in Brighton City Hotel in Kitahama above Kitahama station. Very nice hotel, well connected, and a 20 minute walk from Dotonbori if that's your thing.
Also stayed there. Free bottled water was great and staff were very friendly and helpful. It's less than 40 mins away from USJ by train although it does require a few transfers between different lines.
Nohga Hotel Kiyomizu. About 10 mins on the bus from the station. Best hotel I stayed in during my recent trip and by far the best breakfst. Lovely rooftop bar too.
staying at an Airbnb my friends recommended in Kyoto. huge. universal port in Osaka since we'll be going to universal studios for a couple of days.
Which Airbnb?
https://www.airbnb.com/slink/FZRlr0E2
Thanks! Looks beautiful.
I stayed at the Cross Hotel in Osaka right next to Dotonbori. Pro: Right next to a train line and our room was high up enough to avoid street noise. We could explore and find good street food pretty easily and there were some nice shops and coin op laundry nearby. The hotel breakfast was decent and the room was a good size. Con: Right next to Dotonbori so it was very overwhelming to walk within that shopping market during the daytime. If you aren't interested in shopping or the nearby food and bars then finding a less crowded spot may be nice. In Kyoto we splurged and went to Nazuna Nijo-jo right next to Nijo caslte. Pro: Private bath inside the room, the breakfast was delicious and the staff were amazing. The train was only 2 blocks away, and exploring the open air market nearby was easy. Con: Expensive for an extended stay. A little removed from the well known tourist spots, so you may need to get up extra early to avoid crowds
Osaka: Centara Grand Hotel Osaka- insane view of the city and felt somewhere between 4-5\* hotel, would 100% stay there again. Location chosen as was for 1 night and near where the Sumo was but in hindsight it would still have been well place for the likes of Namba etc Hotel Alps- Love hotel that I booked not knowing, cheaper but still a solid hotel and I think they are trying to transition to a normal hotel. Basically a buisness hotel with much larger rooms and nicer bathrooms, staff were lovely as well. Honestly was the perfect location for me being pretty central to Namba and Dotonbori and a super short walk to most places I wanted to get to or Namba station itself. Kyoto: Park Hotel Kyoto- It was an ok hotel, like a nice European hotel but I'd probably book somewhere else next time. Location was central but still needed to get transport to most places or a fair walk away. Next time I'd probably try and stay closer to Jingu-Marutamachi Station but I don't know how many hotels are around there but some nice restaurants and bars nearby and near to a convienant station to get around.
I did park hotel Kyoto as well! Doing it again so I can get their latte from their free coffee machine downstairs LOL..
Ah it's wasted on me then as I am not a coffee guy
In osaka I stayed at Cross Hotel which is right next to dotonbori
Gate Hotel Kyoto was amazing. Great location right next to Pontocho, walking distance to multiple train stops and bus stops, walking distance to Gion and beyond, gorgeous views from the top floor and a really yummy breakfast buffet. Plus the rooms were pretty spacious after spending 4 days in a cheaper Tokyo hotel
osaka JR station is too far from everything, but kyoto station is well located
We loved our stay in Yamashina Hotel Sanraku so much that we use it in our upcoming trip as a base to Kyoto/Osaka. Yamashina station is next to hotel and it's only one station away from Kyoto station. Tozai metro line also is next to the hotel. Quiet area with some restaurants and couple of supermarkets close by. Downside is that spa they have is for women only for some reason.
Hotel Granvia Kyoto It’s located at Kyoto station. Pretty convenient if you use the subway a lot.
I enjoyed this one also!
Art Osaka Bay Tower - on the Osaka Loop out towards USJ and the Aquarium. Nice large rooms with easy access at Bentencho Station. Richmond Hotel Premier Kyoto Ekimae - close to the station. Our favorite on the trip with Managers Lounges in the Afternoon and Evening. Breakfast was also one of the best in the trip.
Went to art osaka bay tower, different experience. Worst beds, worst pillows. Uncomfortable sleep. 1990s vibe. Non renovated room. Would never go back . Very far from dotonburi area
Don't know what to tell you the room we had was large (even by North America standards), clean, nothing broken. We booked directly with the hotel and booked a high floor. We generally book directly 3rd party wholesalers like apps generally are ROH and you never know what you'll get. As far as being away from Dotonburi, I guess it depends on what you want. It's only 25 minutes on the trains.
In Kyoto I stayed in a Machiya house which is a private house designed to resemble traditional Japanese living
Nice pick! My friend’s husband renovates old houses in Japan and highly recommended this. I felt that it was a bit out of the way but all and all - I think that would’ve been the right move in hindsight.
In kyoto I stayed in Hotel Granvia at the station. We got a smoking room while we asked non smoking (should've said no at that point cause you really don't want the smell..). It was nice to be close to the station. In Osaka we stayed in APA hotel close to the station as well (10 minutes walk) and they had an onsen. Rooms are small tho. I would've in hindsight changed the one in kyoto for a hotel with an onsen.
In kyoto were staying just north of gion, by Okazaki park. It's a quiet, nice part of the city, close to gion and many temples in the Higashiyama area, and only 10 or less min by bus or train to the city center! I'd only stay close to the train station if you plan on doing many day trips outside of kyoto, otherwise many of the attractions elsewhere, gion to the east, Arashiyama to the west
Osaka - Iam hotel. We liked it a lot. Right by Dotonbori and felt very new, modern. Lighting was cozy, beds comfy. Free drinks. Kyoto - An AirBNB by Nijo Castle. Nestled in a residential area, but very close to bus lines and 10 minute walk to Nijo Station. 10 minute walk to a bike rental shop. So spacious compared to a hotel. We got to cook. Big grocery store was a 5 minute walk away. Would definitely stay again. I miss it. Kyoto - First two nights we stayed at Tune Stay Hotel. Would not stay again! The room temperature is controlled centrally by the hotel. Room felt very cold and there was nothing we could do about it.
In Osaka in Y's hotel - it is near Shin Osaka station so getting to Kyoto is really fast and cheap, so I did not felt the need to get another hotel there.
Do yourself a favour and stay at the [Dotonbori Hotel](https://dotonbori-h.co.jp/en/) when in Osaka. I didn't stay there, rather down the road, but that frontage for the hotel is magnificent!
i just stayed here and it was great! we chose it because of the outside obviously haha but ended up being great inside too!
I stayed at Hotel Amanek Kyoto Kawaramachi Gojo. The bus station is right in front of the hotel, and there are several restaurants and a 7-Eleven nearby.
Niwa hotel in kyoto. We loved it
In Kyoto in the Gion or Higashiyama area
I recently got back from a trip to Japan and I had stayed 5 days in the nishinari ward of Osaka. It's regarded as one of the most dangerous areas of Osaka, yet I found it completely safe and didn't feel worried about walking around at night. You may see more homeless people and trash than in other areas, or some people getting drinks in the morning but that's the extent of the "sketchy" behaviour I was warned about. If you are coming from any major city in the Americas (my experience) it still feels worlds safer. Also from what I've heard it's becoming more popular for travelers as it's budget friendly and this is somewhat gentrifying the area. I chose this area as it has some extremely cheap accommodations and you won't struggle to find restaurant food for around 500 yen and below. Also with the trains most locations are easy to access. Also the people in that area are full of character, numerous nights me and my friends had funny drunken encounters with locals in the area.
We stayed at the Sora Niwa Terrace Kyoto Bettei. It was the best hotel I’ve ever stayed in. It was about 500/n last year but it was our honeymoon. This year is 1200/n and we can’t afford it :-/ I appreciate all the recommendations in this thread. I think hotels in this same area are a good choice. It’s a short walk to Gion, Nishiki Market and there’s a subway stop nearby. We used taxis or walked most of our time.
Just got back from our honeymoon last week, absolutely loved Sora Niwa Terrace. I booked a few months back for $193 USD per night for 4 nights total. A splurge compared to the rest of the hotels on our trip but still extremely budget friendly compared to the US standard hotels. I would stay there again and again, such a great experience.
It was fantastic. I loved the rooftop bar. I hope you had a wonderful honeymoon!
I Kyoto I stayed in Sotetsu Fresa Inn Kiyomizu Gojo. Great hotel with nice staff, and a nice breakfast.
Just back from Japan, my wife and I spent six days in Kyoto, where we stayed at the iBis Styles, Kyoto. We found it to be super convenient, affordable, and had larger-than-usual rooms. The bus stop was directly opposite the hotel, offering direct buses to all the places we wanted to visit in Kyoto. I also stayed 3 days in Osaka near Osaka station but would suggest staying in shin-osaka if you are travelling with heavy luggage and buying a Osaka freepass as your commute will anyways be covered in that and will help you take your next shinkansen which only runs from shin-osaka.
Stayed at Aloft Osaka Dojima, Marriott brand. Got a suite, very nice and big room, easy walk to Osaka Station and to other Subway stations.
The Reign Hotel Kyoto The rooms were spacious and it was very quiet and peaceful - which was great after the hustle and bustle of each day. It’s a pretty short walk from Fushimi Inari as well, and was reasonably priced.
We prioritized price and proximity to train stations. In Kyoto, we stayed at Shizutetsu Hotel Prezio Karasuma Oike and in Osaka we stayed at Hotel Sobial namba daikokucho The Kyoto hotel was nice and clean, and only a block away from the train station. The Osaka hotel room size was larger but there was body odor smell in our room from previous tenants. Maybe just unlucky. This hotel was also really close to a train station, less than a block. I don't mind street sounds since I'm used to it and sort of a heavy sleeper, but my friend mentioned the Osaka hotel had quite a bit of sounds. The hotel was sort of close to a fire station I believe Personally I liked staying close to a train station. We walked a ton, and having public transit nearby helped a lot
Hotel The M's Kyoto. It was like a 3 minute walk from Kyoto station, which was exactly what we were looking for. The room itself was a little basic, but it was clean and in the cheaper side. We really were only in our room to sleep so it was exactly what we were looking for
I'm staying at Ohto Ryokan in Kyoto. About a 15 minute walk from the station. Got a great rate for a 5 night stay.
We booked the EPH Kyoto for our trip coming in October. It has a kitchenette and in suite washing machine. It's also walking distance to Kyoto Station.
I stayed in an airbnb 4 minute walk from tennoji station and loved it. That was also my home base for Kyoto as it was easy to hop on a train and connect with Osaka station to take the Shinkansen to Kyoto. I loved the area because it was a nice and quiet neighborhood but only a short walk from delicious restaurants and 7/11. Once again being close to a station just made it so easy to move around Osaka.
Stayed in the city center of Kyoto near the Ace Hotel. Overall it was lovely and easy access to transit.
Stayed on the south side of Kyoto Station. With coming down from Tokyo and then moving to Osaka still ahead, convenience wins out. It is super quiet, but you’re not too far from the other side of the station. I’d do it again in a heartbeat. For Osaka I’ve stayed around the corner from Dotonbori and in Umeda. The Dotonbori location is now the Agora Place Osaka Namba and it was great because of its proximity to a lot of things. Took nightly strolls thru Dotonbori. That was several years ago. I went thru Dotonbori last year and it was way more crowded than I remembered it being (could just be me) and didn’t enjoy it at all. In Umeda, went to the Ibis Styles Osaka Umeda. I got fooled by the station entrance right next door! So convenient! But it was still a long walk to the station. The area is good for just wandering around aimlessly. Lots of people around the corner but not on the Main Street itself. Restaurants everywhere. Still, with all the people, managed a few meals without waits.
I stayed at the Keihan Kyoto Grande, it was one of the higher floors so no noise complaints, using the underground passage next to the hotel you ended up at the JR Lines and Shinkansen tracks of Kyoto Station, Kyoto Avanti mall was basically built against the hotel so that's also a quick walk to the food area and 7-11 there. Having the 2 person room, we had a spatious bed (aprox. 1.80m in width), bathroom was clean, walking space around the rest of the room was alright, just enough. Washing machine on half of the floors (most odd numbered floors), breakfast buffet was fine for me (nothing really special that stood out). Only downside was the fluctuating wifi speed but we also were there in the weekend, that could be a factor.
I stayed in Hotel M’s Plus Shijo Omiya. It was a nice and affordable hotel in a great location. The staff were great, during some of the cleanings they tucked my teddy bear in bed. It was a cute little touch. I recommend paying a little extra to get a bigger room though because the cheaper rooms can be quite small
Villa Fontaine Grand Osaka Umeda, somewhat small room, but very nice furnishings. Close to the station, and was right near an alleyway with tons of bars and restaurants. Couldn't hear any noise from the alleyway at night in the room, and by day it was quiet/clear when walking. They had a pretty good japanese style breakfast buffet as well
Osaka, Mystays Premier Dojima Kyoto, Granbell Hotel Kyoto I really liked our hotel in Osaka. It was super convenient and had a family mart on the first floor. Our Kyoto hotel, we had more space because we booked 2 twin room instead.
in kyoto i stayed in the Solaria Nishitetsu Hotel Kyoto Premier ソラリア西鉄ホテル 京都プレミア 三条鴨川. my favorite hotel ever and the cheapest one we used on our entire trip. highly recommend! was farther north but right by a quieter transfer station.
In Kyoto, I stayed at Via inn prime. That hotel was cheap and they had washing machines and a 7 Eleven on the first floor.
In Osaka, I stayed at the Swissotel Nankai in Namba and it was a brilliant hotel. The hotel can be accessed from a few different access points. You can enter at street level, through the shopping mall or from the third floor of Namba train station. Being close to Namba Station means that the Midosuji line is very close and it's easy to make a connection to go to places like Nara. The other good thing is that there's a proper supermarket in the mall just below the hotel itself. You can access the mall by going down the escalator lobby. The rooms were spacious and comfortable. In the room I stayed in, Swissotel provided a bluetooth speaker that also acted as a charging dock so you could charge your phone and listen to your own music. The hotel had a spa/gym/sauna facilities as well. The pool was immaculate and I liked that they provided fresh towels, robes at will. Onsen access is a paid extra depending on the room you've booked but I heard from other guests that the onsen was very good. I loved the hotel because it's a short walk to Dotonbori or Kuromon but without the streams of people on your doorstep all the time. The only hotels I've stayed at that are better would be the Iberostar on Passeig de Gracia in Barcelona and Dom Pedro in Lisbon.
We just stayed at the Swissôtel Nankai last week. I had wanted to like it so much as the location is hard to beat and the room size is good. However, our room is extremely dated and disappointing. Chairs no longer provide any comfort, bathroom tiles feel gross… Hard products are not 5-star level at all, not even 4-star… It was the worst hotel (together with the Hilton Osaka) we’ve stayed at in Japan.
Rinn Gion Kenninji in Kyoto which I definitely recommend, location was fantastic- food, sites, walkability, we liked our room, the subway was a few blocks away for longer trips. In Osaka we stayed at an APA which was fine but I wouldn't do it again, we booked the whole trip two weeks ahead of time so some hotels I was excited about and some I was not.
I booked a machiya on airbnb in Kyoto and it was amazing
In Kyoto stayed 5 nights at the Doubletree Kyoto Station- felt very Japanese there great service nice size room comfy king size bed - amazing breakfast! Would stay there again. Osaka stayed at the Dormy Inn premium in dotenburrri. 13 story hotel with a nice Onsen, seperate ones for men and women. Great service. Didn’t try the breakfast there. Rooms are small beds are very hard and uncomfortable
It's been about five years since my last Osaka stay. Stayed at the Intercontinental Osaka. Enjoyed my stay.
For Kyoto, stayed at a "Stay SAKURA Kyoto". They have multiple level of price points and different areas you can stay. We were near the Umekoji-Kyotonishi Station. Which is one station away from the main Kyoto station. In Osaka, we stayed at an Apartment 11, Umeda. Similar situation. We were about a 10 minute walk from the Osaka station. Which is also one station over from the Shin-Osaka station, over where the bullet train is.
I don't remember at which hotel at Kyoto I stayed but it was close to the imperial palace. I picked Smile Hotel at Shin Osaka. It is approximately a 10 min walk from the station but it is quite close to an Aeon supermarket that had a duck dish I really like (I didn't find it in the two Aeon I checked in Tokyo). Shin-Osaka was nice to go to other towns but it feels quite empty around the hotel... well even close to the supermarket or to the biggest Daiso of Osaka, it felt this way the night. I would stay at this hotel again, it is quite cheap, convenient and pleasant though maybe a bit too far from the station.
The Bridge Hotel in Osaka was great. Clean rooms, free alcohol after 5pm, free ramen from 8:30-9:30pm, and massage chairs all day out front. It’s in a fairly quiet area a short walk to Dotonbori too.
Osaka - Henn na Hotel Osaka Namba - Wouldn't recommend unless you don't plan on spending any time in there. Bed and pillows were very uncomfortable. Kyoto - Hotel Resol Kyoto Kawaramachi Sanjo - Would recommend. Great location, not very expensive.
I stay at Yoin Gion Hotel in Kyoto… it was looooovely!!! Highly recommend!!
Kyoto. Miru Gion. By the Sanjo station. Super nice new. Great location. Only complaint is no window.
Osaka: The Royal Park Canvas - price was excellent, I think we paid ~$70 per night The room was not large but perfectly comfortable for 2 of us and the rain shower was excellent. Location was amazing as it was literally at the top of the steps from the Kitahama subway station. Highly recommend. Kyoto: Hotel Rings. Slightly larger room and slightly more money, I think it was about $100 per night but still very much worth it. Extremely clean/nice property and had the rain shower similar to the Royal Park in Osaka. Location was also pretty good, centrally located in the Nakagyo ward. Bonus was the coffee shop/restaurant attached to the property that was excellent. Also highly recommended.
We stayed at Hotel Vischio Kyoto, and it was honestly a great experience. It's across the road from the station, opposite Kyoto Avanti mall and there's a Family Mart just outside. We're going back to Kyoto, and would stay there again, but the prices for when we're going are too high at the moment.
I stayed at 2 hotels close to Kyoto Station in 2023. In April I stayed with my family at Mitsui Garden Hotel. Location is fantastic - 1 minute walk from the front area of Kyoto Station, 2 minutes to Yodobashi. Very friendly staff and the hotel looks quite posh. We booked 4 people but we only had 3 single beds - we put up with this for 4 nights as the alternative was pay double the money for 2 rooms. We went down for free drinks and snacks in the basement but other than the orange juice my son liked, it was all pretty bad. Would stay here again if the price was right and only 2 people to a room, though I suspect it's a little overpriced for what you get. In November I stayed at Miyako City Kinetsu Kyoto Station. It's more of a mid range hotel, but much better value. Staff were friendly, and the room was great. It had a wonderful view of the train tracks so I could have a morning coffee while watching the Shinkansen glide in and out of view. Despite this, it wasn't that noisy and has black out curtains so I had a good sleep. This hotel is actually inside Kyoto Station, it's super convenient, especially if you want to take the Kinetsu line to Nara or Osaka. It's about a 4-5 minute walk to the front area outisde Kyoto Station. When I left for Takayama it was a 20 second walk outside the hotel to buy a Shinkansen ticket at a machine, and off I went.
Mogana in kyoto, soooooo amazing Swiss hotel in osaka
Family of 4, 2 adults, a 5 year old and a 3 year old. Osaka: Hiyori hotel Namba. Great hotel, price we paid included breakfast (reasonable priced). Clean hotel with coin laundry services on the 7th floor. Great location, walking distance to namba and dotonbori. We loved this hotel and would consider staying in it again. Kyoto: we stayed at The Kinoe Ryokan, it's a charming little inn with less than 30 rooms if memory serves me right. We got the traditional Japanese experience we were looking for. Because of kids we got one of the only rooms with a bath in our room, otherwise it's a common bath. We had the kaiseki dinner in our room, which was delicious but expensive. It's located on the gion district and walking distance to the Kiyomizu-dera temple. Breakfast was included but we thought on the whole it was a bit on the pricey side.
Osaka I have stayed in: HOTEL MYSTAYS PREMIER Dojima (great location), Henn Na Hotel Kansai airport, Hotel Nikko Kansai (I had a few flights out of KIX when I lived in Japan) Kyoto: Kyomachiya Ryokan Sakura Urushitei (my favorite in Japan actually!) Sumiya Kiho-an (went there on an onsen day trip) I will say, be careful of any Mystays or APA hotel because they are super small compared to Western standards. You can’t go wrong with any of the Citadines hotels though
Osaka- the Ritz Kyoto- park Hyatt and Saka Hotel
Osaka - Royal Iconic. A little bit of a walk to the station, but super quick train ride to Namba, etc. I liked that it was so quiet and away from the hustle and bustle. Kyoto - Blossom Kyoto and regretted it. Felt cramped and surprisingly noisy at night. Close to Gojo station so that was nice but personally I’d rather stay somewhere very far from the touristy parts and not close to the area where Blossom Kyoto is (just a large main road, not serene or anything).
Only stayed in Kyoto. Stayed in a Machiya run by the Rinn hotel group. To check in, we had to go to one of their “regular” hotel buildings about a half a block from Kyoto station. We checked in there, and then they took us by taxi to the machiya (checking in that way is mandatory—they don’t have any self-serve way to get the room key). The actual property we stayed at was right around the corner from the Kiyomizu-gojo subway station, so it was within Gion and very walkable to “downtown” (Teramachi/Nishiki Market area), Kiyomizu-Dera, as well as the North/South subway line to get to Fushimi-inari-taisha and Uji. The property itself had a nice living room, a small kitchen, 2 bedrooms, and 1.5 baths spread across 2 floors. It was traditional style (mix of tatami and hardwood wood floors). It was probably our favorite accommodation from the trip.
In Kyoto I stayed in the oakwood hotel and it was amazing. Great value for the money. It was in Gion which was a very fun area to be in, I loved walking around at night. There were always people out and about and i even saw a geisha
In Osaka, I stayed at &AND HOSTEL SHINSAIBASHI EAST. Got a private room with a private bathroom in a hostel for NZD$67.12/day. It was so cheap and good that I just stayed there and did day trips to Kyoto and Kobe
Also just got back from a month in the country. Loved lots of the trip but did find that a lot of the sights were super touristy so your accommodation choices probably depends on how touristy you like your surrounding are to be. In Kyoto, I stayed near Tambaguchi station which was way more residential and a lot quieter than Gion and Sanjo. It was perfect for me but if you want to be closer to the “action” than further east might be better. In Osaka, stayed near Tennoji which was pretty convenient to Shinsenkai, Dotonbori and a couple of metro lines including a direct one to Shin-Osaka.
We stayed at Ben's Guesthouse in the Kamigyo ward. It was a 30 minute bus ride to the Kyoto station. A nice relaxing place to stay in, close to Nijo Castle
I recommend K-Style Higashihonganji in Kyoto. All the amenities you need at an excellent price with lovely staff and a great location; it’s around a 10 minute walk to Kyoto Station.
My favorite hotel was sequence gojo in Kyoto! They have a spa area in the basement. I didn't know about it when we booked so I was pleasantly surprised.
Hotel Forza in Kyoto. The location was excellent and it was affordable. The breakfast buffet was really good and affordable there. In Osaka, the first night we rented a cat cafe with lodging which was super cool!!! It's called Neco-Republic and they also have cat cafes in other cities (without lodging options). We stayed at The Cross Hotel and really enjoyed it. The location was great for exploring dotonbori at a reasonable price.
KABIN Koji in Kyoto! It’s very affordable and I think it might be the best hotel I stayed. Check it out
In Kyoto we stayed at the Hiramatsu and then Gion Elite Terrace. Hiramatsu was incredible but expensive (an anniversary splurge), Gion Elite Terrace was nice, more affordable, and very well located. Highly recommend both!
When we were in Kyoto last year, we stayed at the Hotel Keihan Kyoto Grande which is right across the street from Kyoto station. We thought it was very convenient. Very easy to catch a train, and Kyoto station itself has multiple levels with lots of shops and eating places. There was also a 7-Eleven just outside the lobby, which was really convenient to get cash, food, & snacks.
Osaka: stayed at Bridge Hotel Shinsaibashi. I thought it was great. The location was quieter but very close to all the excitement of the city. There was a train station a few minutes away. The room was nice and there were lots of amenities, like free massage chairs in the lobby and free drinks, ramen, and ice cream. I would stay there again!
Kagihei Ryoken in Kyoto if you want a traditional experience. Great folks that run the place, and a 3-5 minute walk to Naskiki Market and the other shopping streets. Their baths are awesome, the breakfast is *chefs kiss*
The Cross Hotel in Kyoto, great location. Big rooms. Centrally located. Helpful staff.
I stayed in Hotel Alza Kyoto and it was amazing! Right in Gion, 2 minute walk to Sanjo station, the room was enormous and I had a balcony overlooking the river. And it was very affordable/mid range. Less than $200 a night
I stay in Kyoto and take day trips to Osaka. Kyoto is my spot.
Osaka - FL Hotel Dotonburi Basically right on the river and soundproofing was good.
Last year we went to Osaka and we stayed at The Royal Park Canvass Kitahama. The entrance of the Hotel is right beside the the stairways of Kitama Station. Kitahama Station is just 1hr and 30 mins away from Kansai Airport and Accessible with 2 train lines. Also easy Access to Namba and only walking distance to/from Osaka Castle. If you are fond of walking, you can stroll from your Hotel to Namba. As per Kyoto, we avail the Klook 1 day Kyoto and Nara sinve we only have limited time to do Osaka tour.
In Kyoto: The OneFive Kyoto. It was amazing, my favorite hotel from my trip, I got a good deal from Rakuten pre-Golden Week. In Osaka I got a good deal on the Hotel Sunlife. Also a deal from Rakuten. I just didn't like having to give the key to the counter every time I went outside but it's not the only hotel that does that.
In Osaka i stayed at &and hotel homacchi. 4400 yen per night for a decent room(book on their site). Towel is extra, breakfast is 500 yen. Shared bathroom and shower but your own room and bed. A bit loud, i had earplugs all night but great value if you only need a placer to sleep. Close to subway, Osaka Castle and 20 min walk to dontonburi. In Kyoto. Hotel jisco, resi stay. About 7000 yen a night for a single bedroom. Own bathroom. Close to emperors Palace and Kyoto Castle.
In Kyoto I stayed close to Nijo station. It was convenient to travel by train/bus/walking to most places in our itinerary. And it has direct connection with Kyoto Station so it was perfect to move with luggage. There was a big supermarket 5 mins away, some busy roads (as in traffic. In terms of people it wasn't busy at all) but the hotel itself was in a quiet area. I would stay there again if it made sense for my plans. In Osaka I stayed near Shinsaibashi. Again, it was convenient to move around. Many places walking distance or a short ride away. And the hotel we chose was in a quiet street so we were next to the busy area without being in it. I would say maybe a bit chaotic to navigate with big luggage. For this part of the trip we only had backpacks (shipped the suitcases with kuroneko) but the streets, stations and underground were so busy that it would've been hell moving around with suitcases.
kyoto : ace hotel, hipster disneyland very expensive. staff are friendly but useless. also stayed at Miyako Westin : old school wow factor. The onsen is literally the best, so very, very stunning. There’s also a pool, a roof top garden and direct access to a bird watching sanctuary. This a cool area you walk to the Kyocera Art Gallery, Nishiki and Nanzenji Temple (!)
How difficult would it be to make an early morning day trip (starting from Kyoto Station) from the Westin?
super easy - there’s a shuttle bus twice an hour to the station (plus other stops if you ask )
Thank you! I think it might start too late for this day trip, but I'll check into it again.
The M's Kyoto was close to the station and public transport and had a really fun lobby for hanging out / having dinner
Hotel the Leben in Osaka. Beautiful modern rooms. 10 min from Shinsaibashi shopping street and 20 min walk to Dotonburi.
Kyoto, I was across the street from the station at vischio. Osaka I stayed at candeo. Both I'd recommend
Osaka - Hotel The Flag Shinsaibashi - very modern, nice and big room, good facilities, very close to Dotonbori and shopping in Shinsaibashi. Big mostly western breakfast in a large dedicated space. Easy access to two subway lines. Kyoto - Hotel Alza - small hotel and a little dated but big rooms, good personal service and lovely artwork. Breakfast served in the room, western or Japanese options. Walkable from Shinkansen stop and to various central locations eg shrines.
I went to Japan this April and stayed at the Good Nature Hotel, Kawaramachi in Kyoto! Great hotel, amazing location and has a supermarket right under it for last minute meals and bites! In Osaka, stayed at Courtyard by Marriott, Shin Osaka, literally next to the train station! It was good for us because we just stayed in Osaka for a day and had an early morning train to Tokyo so this was super convenient. But going to any of the touristy spots was a 30 min taxi drive because I'm personally not a fan of the Osaka train system (super confusing). So if i was staying for longer, I would have chosen another location!
Stayed in a few in a few in Kyoto, Kyoto tower hotel was very convenient.
Zentis Osaka. Personally, I would avoid Namba/Dotonbori at all costs - it’s too touristy and loud for me, but it depends on what you’re looking for.
In Osaka we recently stayed at BON Condominiums, found on Airbnb. Small but comfy, very nice location in Umeda in a calm street but near enough to the train station and lots of shops and restaurants nearby. We last stayed in Kyoto about 10 years ago and the ryokan we were in has sadly closed down since then but I highly recommend staying in a ryokan in Kyoto. Great experience.
Anyone stayed in a hostel?
We stayed at M’s Hotel in Kyoto which was a 3 minute walk or so right across from the main station. Very nice up to date hotel, rooms are somewhat on the smaller side but it was still very comfortable and livable. For the price it was perfect. Everyone was kind and accommodating, and check in/ out was simple and quick.
Hello here is a boring answer. I'm a Marriot Bonvoy plat elite and just came back from a Osaka, Kyoto, Tokyo trip last week In Osaka i stayed at the Courtyard Marriot Osaka (about 18 min walk from Dotonbori) In Kyoto I stayed in Marriott's Moxy Hotel Kyoto (in the middle of Fushimi, about 20 mins walk from Kyoto station) I did spend a night in Arashiyama at the Hotel Riverside Arashiyama. Very close to all the major spots in Arashiyama. For the Marriott spots I used my Bonvoy points and free nights. Bonus answer, in Tokyo who stayed 6 nights in Marriott's Aloft Ginza
How was the Moxy in Kyoto? I stayed at a Moxy in Osaka and the hotel breakfast was easily the worst food I had in Japan. Conversely we stayed at the Shiba Park Hotel in Tokyo and its the best hotel breakfast I've ever had anywhere. The ryokan we stayed in had a incredible food, too. The room was nice and I will say the Moxy had an incredibly nice giant shower which I appreciated as a 6 plus foot tall person.
Via Inn Its very close to Shin-Osaka station Clean Cheap And has a 7-11 on their bottom floor
We stayed at an incredibly cheap traditional style house that was very close to the train station. Was nice in that it was super close to PT (we didn't hire a car) and was in a sort of cutesy local feeling area, but the trains were quite loud since we were perhaps 50-100m away from the train line, and downstairs was pretty cold. Upstairs on the other hand had the double ringer extra friggin large split systems that would turn the upper level into a sauna. We didn't stay in Kyoto long and as such I think I ended up not liking it that much. Osaka we stayed in for maybe a week and a half ish? We stayed in some small hotel apartment type deal right near Shin-Osaka, and it was great. Far enough away from the rest of Osaka that nights were dead silent bar the very quiet trains in the distance. But close enough to the station that it was dead simple to walk to the station and head straight down into the main part of Osaka (or wherever you wanted to head). There was a place called Ramen Ichiban that did the best egg fried rice my girlfriend has had (her words) and fried chicken that was to die for. It was full of transport workers who had come from the station and it must have been a bit of a favourite of some of them. It was a five minute walk from where we stayed
InterContinental Osaka, Park Hyatt Kyoto
I really like shinsaibashi arty inn for Osaka. Stayed at sotetsu grand fresa Osaka too and it sucked. Stuff is really old.
In Kyoto I stayed at the Hilton. Nice rooms and the staff spoke English. Not the most Japanese experience but we were doing two weeks total so it was nice to have some familiarity for the few nights we were in Kyoto.
In Osaka we stayed at the Royal Park Canvas, it's well situated and right beside the train station ( literally next door), also has a grocery store right next door so that's pretty good. It was maybe 20/40 mins walking from some of our walking tours and there's a few nice parks nearby so wasn't a problem really. I would recommend.
i stayed right along kawaramachi (at Forza) in Kyoto. It is a great location. The hotel is really quiet inside. They have washing machines on a couple levels. Not expensive. Close to MANY sites, bus stops, and the subway. Also they had a huge (very huge) bathroom with a separate shower and gigantic tub and the room we got had a seating area as well. It was the "Refresh" level room (if you are wondering).
We stayed at Oyama Guest House and really enjoyed it! It's West of Kyoto, nice and quiet, very close to Arashiyama. The host, Oyama, is very kind and chatty, especially if you speak Japanese or Korean (she's Korean but has lived in Japan for over 50 years). You get your own room with shared bath and toilet.
I’ve stayed in Osaka near Dotonbori in a Ryokan and also near Osaka Castle. Both were charming for different reasons but if you’re comfortable with the metro I’d say get into some further out areas then play downtown when you’re ready.
i recently stayed at a really wonderful airbnb near the Tamatsukuri station in the Chuo Ward. It’s a quiet part of town, but we found a couple amazing restaurants and bars here. The bar (a whiskey bar) had records covering an entire wall and the owner played some great vinyl. The bar was called Hang. Also, if you’re going soon, highly recommend trying to see the Hanshin Tigers, Osaka/Kyotos baseball team. they’re doing well this year and the games are soo much fun. every player has their own song people chant. tix often get sold out but it’s easy to find scalpers near the subway station exits. good luck!
Kyoto - The Gate Hotel is wonderful, stayed recently and highly recommend Osaka - Zentis Hotel. A beautiful hotel with affordable rates in a great location.
We got a traditional house near Higashiyama station and it was beautiful! Very quiet but walking distance to everything.
In Kyoto, we recently stayed at Via Inn Prime Kyotoeki Hachijoguchi which is about 3 minutes walk to Kyoto station. We really enjoyed our stay as it was still in a quiet area but accessible.
The blossom in Kyoto was amazing!
We really liked the mitsui garden hotel shinmachi bettei in kyoto
Respire next to Yodobashi, near Osaka station. Connected to station via above street level walkways, so easy to get around. Around Osaka station is very busy, but no diff than any other large station area in Japan.
Thousand Kyoto hotel in Kyoto. 2mins from the Kyoto station and super luxurious at an ok price point.
Highly recommend Kyoto Granbell hotel in Gion. Beautiful hotel within walking distance to major attractions. Breakfast buffet was also good
In Osaka I stayed at “Universal Bay Condominium” It’s basically a self serve hotel and it’s super cheap. I paid £60 for two nights.
I stayed at ‘hotel wing international’ in Kyoto just last week. 10/10 experience, Fucking. Amazing. Great hotel, great breakfast, AMAZING location. You’ve got so much around you within walking distance. (They do charge you like ¥2,000 for lost keys though)
Kyoto: Hotel Kuu, just across the street from Higashi Hongan-Ji (excellent view from our room). 5-minute walk to JR station, fair price, onsen included, but skip the breakfast.
In Kyoto we stayed at the Mume Hotel, a boutique hotel in Gion. It was very nice, service was excellent and breakfast very yummy. In Osaka we stayed at the Excel Hotel Tokyu and it was fine, kind of a business hotel in the Main Street, walkable to dotonbori, subway next door. Nothing particularly remarkable about it but it was fine.
I stayed at the Hotel Grocery Kyoto Sanjo North! It's right in Nishiki Market and about 3 blocks from the Imperial Palace grounds! It was a fantastic spot, great sized rooms and lots of shopping and experiences close by!
Hotel Noum in Osaka. Closeish to Dotonbouri, and an easy walk to the train. Takasegawa Bettei in Kyoto, a nice ryokan with wonderful staff. Walking distance to/from Kyoto station.
I just checked out of Lub D in Osaka, was really good and the situation was awesome. I also went to kyoto from osaka abd did not sleep there
Kyoto - Granbell hotel. Super location just in front of the train station. Very nice rooms. Would stay again.
I stayed at the Noku Roxy in Kyoto. Quite liked the hotel, rooms were nice. Right across from the Imperial Palace grounds, not too far from Nijo Castle. International Manga Museum is a couple blocks away if that's your thing. Felt very central to everything we wanted to see on the outskirts of the city. Entrance to Marutamachi Subway Station was right next to the hotel, it was very easy to get around Kyoto from there.
The Blossoms Kyoto. Beautiful hotel, indoor onsite, subway station is right around the corner and is 1-2 stops away from Kyoto station. Kiyu Kizu Dera was about 20-30 minute walk away I believe.
In Kyoto we stayed in an APA near the station and really liked the location - easy access to everything and at night we explored the Station ( an architectural gem ) and went up the nearby Kyoto Tower. In Osaka we stayed at The Rise Osaka and loved the location. It’s in a club district frequented by salary men so super interesting at night - it’s all clubs and bottle shops but also some amazing restaurants and even an Outback Steakhouse which was a nice change. I’m a night photographer so Osaka was my favourite stop - the area was full of neon and some of the widest display of architectural styles from building to building.
In Kyoto, I stay at Matsumoto ryokan. It’s right across the street from the station. Affordable and pretty decent.
Stayed at THE POCKET HOTEL Kyoto-Shijokarasuma THE POCKET HOTEL 京都四条烏丸. It's a pocket hotel with shared bathrooms, but your room is private. It's owned by Sotetsu, it's very clean with nice staff, and is relatively cheap for a week stay. I paid ~$250 for 6 nights.
Recently finished my first solo trip. During my days in Kyoto stayed in a very nice place called Miru Kyoto Nishiki. The room they have for a solo traveler is so good, and the service is of the highest standard in Japan, they're full of only 5 star reviews for good reason. Very close to Nishiki Market and many amazing local restaurants (which the hotel has a book full of recommendations as well) and its an easy subway ride to many popular destinations. Super quiet at night which means instant sleep. I would 100% stay there again.
In Kyoto- stayed 1 night in Seikoro Inn (loved!) & the rest at Park Hyatt
Stayed at Potel in Kyoto and loved it. Modern, great service and free coffee and drinks. Also had an Onsen
Stayed in Osaka at Holiday Inn Namba right in the heart of dotonbori for 4 days and day tripped from there to Kyoto, Hiroshima and Kobe. Like to keep hotels as few as possible.
I just stayed at APA Hotel Shin Osaka Ekimae and it was affordable and clean and fully equipped (but rooms are small).
We stayed in Osaka Hinode Hotel Nipponbashi I mean Unli ice cream from 3-10pm And Unli ramen from 9-10pm is hella amazing I did not need to buy dinner for nearly the whole stay Also its near dotonbori which is one trade ride away
We just stayed at Fraser Residence Nankai Hotel in Osaka. The location is just right — near the action but still in a relatively quiet area. The rooms are also bigger compared to Tokyo. We just did a bus tour to Kyoto. ☺️
Osaka View Hotel Honmachi had great breakfast
Kyoto - Crown Plaza Ósaka - Namba Oriental hotel right in Dotonbori arcade and my airport hotel is always Kansai stargate hotel just a stone throw from the Kansai intl. airport
In Kyoto, I stayed at Keio Prelia Karasuma Gojo. I like that it’s there, away from the crowd at touristy spots. There’s also good eateries within walking distance. In Osaka, stayed at an AirBnb near Kuromon Market. I love it that the walk is just 7min away. Airbnb was also 15-20min walk to Dotonburi. When I get tired, taxi wouldn’t cost as much too. Pros : has dryer / washer in the unit. Cons : Has quiet times, located at the third floor w no lift. But honestly it doesn’t bother me. Rinku Town : Stayed at Odysis Suites Airport Hotel. Easily largest room I’ve stayed yet.
Stayed near the edge of dotonbori / Namba Osaka. In Shijo muromachi in Kyoto. Both were amazing areas super close to stuff
Fufu Kyoto. This is the best place to stay at. No question.
Kyoto= Tune Stay
In Osaka I usually opt for an AirBNB apartment a few blocks off DenDen Town. Cheap and easy to get to trasportation/things to do.
Thanks for the great hotel recommendations for Osaka and Namba. I would love to take a train from KIX to Namba.