ryokan or machiya in kyoto
 

Hi!

Can someone recommend a quaint traditional ryokan or machiya in kyoto area? maybe with a nice view or neighborhood... budget is around maximum of 30,000 yen (if dinner is included)

also, for those who have stayed in a ryokan and machiya, which one did you prefer?

and lastly, do you think having a kaiseki dinner is worth it? or better to just have dinner outside?

Thanks!

While I can't recommend a ryokan or machiya in Kyoto, I can answer your other questions:

Ryokan versus machiya - these are completely different experiences. A machiya is a traditional Japanese townhouse rental with a multiple rooms and a kitchen. Housekeeping may or may not be included in the rental. Dining can be self-catered or ordered in. Kyoto is more known for them than other areas of Japan (although we rented one in Kanazawa). Ryokans are more hotel-like but built on or near hot springs (onsens) throughout Japan. One part of the Ryokan experience centers around a hot bath or baths that fed by the springs. The one we stayed at had both a "public" bath and a private bath attached to our room. The other part of the experience is the meals, which are usually served Kaiseki-style and included in the room rate. Dinners (and breakfasts, to some extent) feature multiple courses of beautifully prepared and presented food.

I hope this helps clarify the difference.

I haven't stayed yet in a rented machiya - we looked at this last time we went to Kyoto but as I have problems with my hips, I wanted to be nearer to metro/ bus routes and the ones I could find were not well located (or were already booked!)

BUT I can perhaps help on the ryokan experience, here's an article I wrote on the experience http://www.kaveyeats.com/2012/11/sta...se-ryokan.html (and a version I created for a food and travel magazine I write for http://goodthingsmagazine.com/japanese-ryokan-living/)

One of the most memorable meals of my life was French Kaiseki in Kyoto at Misoguigawa, and it still seems to get good reviews:
http://www.misogui.jp/eng/misogigawa/