Audrey

Can anyone recommend a moderately priced (10,000 - 15,000 yen/night/person) Japanese ryokan in Kyoto?

cfoos

My husband and I just spent three nights at the Ryokan Hiraiwa in Kyoto. I believe it was around 8,500 yen for 2 people per night in Japanese style rooms with shared bathrooms. Breakfast is available for an extra charge. When we were there, all the other rooms were taken by a high school group from Australia, so it felt a bit like a pajama party. Under other circumstances, I am guessing it would be quieter. The location is good and it is clean and well kept. They have a website you could probably find if you do a search on something like google.com<BR>Good luck! We loved Kyoto.

kyoto bound

I cannot imagine 3 whole days in Kyoto...two would be more than enough for all but Japanese scholars...best food I ever had in my life but I went in August and it was over 100 degrees, apparently typical for that region so keep that in mind...I was wilting after the first full morning..

LCUY

And for a different opinion...I have been to Kyoto many times, usually for 3 nights, and always wish I had more time. There are so many interesting temples, shops, hikes, etc., that it would take weeks to bore me! Summer is not the best time to be anywhere in Japan...it is VERY hot and humid, except up in the mountains. Try to go in the spring or fall if you have a choice. Winter is beautiful too, but quite cold.

Florence

And for one more different opinion ;-)<BR><BR>I have been in Kyoto a good 20 times, mostly in July/August, even staying 3 months one year. I don't understand how you can get bored and remember only the heat in a city that offers so much of the new and old, traditional and futuristic <BR><BR>Summer IS hot, but is also the time when so many things happen (Gion festival in July, O-bon in August) ... with the help of good air conditionning in all shops and museums, and all those wonderful vending machines full of deliciously cool soft drink, you can easily survive.

kyoto bound

I have recommended Kyoto to everyone I know....however in that heat, it would be hard to take multiple days of it. I was also disappointed that it was such a big city and everything was so stretched out and far apart from each other. By the grace of God I was able to take some busses, but I did not find the city to be particularly tourist oriented. When I visited Kamakuri, on the other hand, there was a tourist office in the railroad station and many locals stopped what they were doing to take me places, one older gentleman (at least 85, with a cane) walked nearly a mile with me to make sure I arrived where I was going! Of course I had no idea it was going to be that long when I started out...but not speaking Japanese there was no way to communicate. I guess I found this smaller town, though a cultural mini compared to Kyoto, of course, more charming and friendly. I would go back to Kyoto, though, if only to eat that food again.

Florence

Bonjour Kyoto Bound,<BR><BR>You write &quot;in that heat, it would be hard to take multiple days of [Kyoto]&quot;<BR><BR>isn't it a wonder that people are actually living there all summer long ? ;-)<BR><BR><BR>&quot;When I visited Kamakura, on the other hand, there was a tourist office in the railroad station ...&quot;<BR><BR>There is one tourist office inside Kyoto station, and one in front, at the foot of Kyoto tower, with English-speaking people and lots of free informations.

kyoto bound

Florence, I see you answer many posts here which is kindly of you so I am not trying to pick on you, really. However, when we talk HEAT in Kyoto we are talking EXTREMES. I am from Chicago and went to college in Washington, DC, both known for extremes of summer humidity, and then spent many weekends in Phoenix, which is in the 110's+, and I still thought Kyoto was insufferably hot and humid! Older tourists, for example, would NOT be able to tour a full day in that, nor would people suffering from asthama nor small children, nor pregnant women, etc. etc. I suppose if you live there you get used to it but it is different for the rest of us and as a travel advisor, it is worth making this known. I have NEVER been anywhere on ALL the continents to beat this combo of heat and humidity, and I live in South America at the present time. Even Singapore was cool by comparison. It is only fair to let people know that.

Florence

Kyoto Bound,<BR><BR>I live near Geneva, Switzerland, which is currently freezing, and I've visited Kyoto in the Summer quite a few times, usually for sport seminars (kendo, japanese fencing, this mad people sport where you try to hit your opponent on the head with a stick while wearing a 15 pounds set of protections, and screaming out loud). After the fist day, you call yourself ugly names for having been so stupid as to get there in the summer, all the while realising you are nevertheless surviving and having a good time ;-)<BR><BR>Despite the heat and humidity, I've never seen any tourist, however old, young, pregnant, or asthmatic, die during a Japanese summer, so I surmise that it can be survived ... <BR><BR>However, I can quite understand how it can be unbearable for some, and I think you're right to let people know how you felt about it.

lcuy

Kyoto bound- While much of Japan is incredibly hot &amp; humid in the summer, you may have hit an especially hot period. To me, Tokyo is way worse, what with the heat just radiating off all the concrete, but you found one good way to survive...head for a town on the coast( like kamakura) or one in the mountains (takayama, nikko), hang out in the department stores during lunch time, or find a nice park to relax in during the heat of the day. Again, if summer is the only time you can visit, try to go early in June or like florence suggested, just take comfort that you'll be very distracted by all the festivals that occur in the summer!