Kyoto hotels
 

Hi, any hotel recommendations for Kyoto?
I'm looking at dates 21-26 May and hoping to pay under $1000 AUD for the five nights.
Currently tossing up between:

Sakura Terrace The Gallery
Hotel Grand Bach
Hotel Gran Ms Kyoto
Hotel Unizo
Dormy Inn Premium Kyoto Ekimae Natural Hot Spring
M's Inn Higashiyama.

Can anyone recommend any of the above hotels? Open to suggestions for hotels not already listed!

I can't comment on the hotels themselves, but I can say that I prefer to stay in the Kawaramachi district, so based on location alone, the Hotel Gran Ms Kyoto would be a place I'd consider, and maybe the Hotel Grand Bach Kyoto. JMO, based on my interests and ease of access to public train and subway stations.

Hi kja,
Noticed those two hotels have the best location - weighing up whether it's worth the price difference. Sakura Terrace The Gallery is just $600 for the 5 nights and have the biggest room of the lot.
On my other thread we discussed Momiji-so, but I'm sad to learn it's booked out when we are in Miyajima (28 May). Do you know if Miyajima Seaside Hotel is as good?

Hello - we always stay at the Palaceside Hotel in Kyoto - very affordable, well located.

I never got to stay at Momiji-so, but I recommend Auberge Watanabe in Miyajima. Discovered it while wandering around Miyajima in 2008 and had a delicious meal there. Recommended it to a friend for her trip in 2013 and she said it was her favorite part of her two week trip.
http://www.auberge-watanabe.com/english/

Sorry, I don't know other lodging on Miyajima. Have you checked the reviews on tripadvisor and booking.com?

Hi OverIt, it's all booked out for that week of May unfortunately - must be good!

Auberge Watanabe looks as incredible as Momiji-so... but I've rejigged my itinerary in order to be in Miyajima on the night that Momiji-so is available so now I can't pick between the two! Ah spoilt!

Oooh, you got a reservation for Momiji-so -- congratulations! I hope you like it as much as I did. :-) It is, I think, I bit less formal than some high-end ryokan, while still offering the gracious hospitality, delightfully constructed settings, and memorably delectable meals for which ryokan are known.

And for what little it's worth, I wasn't enamored of the location of the very popular Palaceside Hotel in Kyoto. I wanted a place a bit closer to interesting restaurants and streets with a wider variety of evening options and easy access to a wider array of subway and train options -- JMO. And, of course, things could have changed since I was there....

I stayed in Auberge Watanabe on our 2012 trip and loved it, have since sent a few friends there and they have enjoyed too. I know that Momijo-so gets great feedback here too. So I don't think you'll go wrong with either!

Why not check the airbnb or vrbo offerings. A decent-sized apartment will be comparatively less expensive and should be larger than a hotel room. And you can still probably get a super Japanese wonder toilet in the apartment.