I am going to Kyoto for the first time in early October. I have business in China, and I am stopping in Kyoto for three or four days on my way back home. Unfortunately, I am hitting Kyoto on a weekend, and there seem to be no hotels available. Evidently this is high season, and weekends are particularly tough. I am looking for a four or five star hotel.

Osaka has hotel availability for my dates at nice hotels for good rates. Does it make sense to base in Osaka and do day trips to Kyoto? Is this easily doable? I know this may not be ideal, but if I have to choose between a Ritz Carlton that is a 30 minute train ride away (?), or a mediocre hotel at about the same rate (If I can find one) not centrally located in Kyoto, I think Osaka makes more sense (?).

Thank you.

It is doable. I went from Kyoto to Osaka for a baseball game and a sumo tournament there and it was easy. Get an itinerary down for your few days in Kyoto so you know where you are headed when you get to the train station. Taxis are not expensive in Kyoto (NOT like you have heard they are in Tokyo) and you can get across town from the station to Higashiyama for $20. You might want to consider that since you only have a few days, can afford it, will be coming from Osaka each day, and are doing this after a biz trip to China. Otherwise, Kyoto has good bus transportation and some subway transportation- it depends on where you want to go. Or you might want to do a tour one day to hit alot of sights and do some things on your own other days.
I am assuming you've tried the Westin Miyako and the Granvia, both very good hotels. The suites at the Kyoto Brighton are supposed to be nice. And the Righa Royal also gets good ratings, as does the ANA.

It's doable but I'd try to avoid it.

I checked the Westin for Oct 7-10. It is available the 7th but not the nights of the 8th or 9th. So you might be able to spend one of your weekend nights in Kyoto, if you wanted.

KimJapan always recommends the club level at the Hilton in Osaka. I think she said it is across the street from Osaka station, but maybe it is at the station. I think there is a Granvia at Osaka station.

If you stayed in Osaka near JR Osaka station then you can easily travel between Osaka and Kyoto by train with no change of trains.

You would have a few JR options:

- local trains that make the trip in 44 minutes with 12 stops. These are frequent, every 5 to 15 minutes.

- local trains that make the trip in 35 minutes with 4 stops. These run about every 30 minutes.

- limited express trains that make the trip in 26 minutes with 1 stop. These run every 15 to 30 minutes.

The base fare is 690 yen. Add 750 for a green seat on the local or add

1340 yen for a reserved seat on the limited express trains.

Osaka itself has some things worth visiting. Note the first entry on this page: you can see gasshozukiri houses without going all the way to Shirakawago or Takayama. http://www3.tky.3web.ne.jp/~edjacob/osaka.htm

Osaka is also convenient for getting to Nara, which is at least as interesting as Kyoto (and a lot quieter).

Wow. The amount of knowledge on this board never ceases to amaze me...Thank you everyone for the help. Yes, I did check all of the hotels mentioned, and they are all booked for my dates, with the exception of a couple of openings for one night. I booked at the Ritz Carlton in Osaka; I will keep checking Kyoto, and if I can get two nights or more together, I will book it. Otherwise, I'll base in Osaka and deal.

Thank you.

fishskis- just saw your message. If you haven't already done so call the JTB in CA 1-800-574-9038. I was not able to find rooms in April and call them. I told them places we would like to stay. She checked and was able to get us a very nice room at the Hotel Okura (great hotel in a great location) at a good rate. JBT was able to book the room for us because the Japanese tourist groups are given blocks of rooms according to JTB. Good Luck!