where to stay in kyoto
 

We are entering through Osaka-Kansai airport for our first ever trip to japan and are planning on going right to
Kyoto for 4-5 nights (1 daytrip to Nara) any suggestions on places to stay?

Bonjour Addwag,

what is your budget ? for Yen 5000 per person or less, I can recommend Ryokans Hiraiwa, Hinomoto, Kyoka, Yuhara, and Station Ryokan Seiki. All members of Welcome Inns, clean, well located around Kyoto station but in calm areas.

we would like something clean and nice, with a classic japanese feel in a good location- but ideally the cheaper the better--
also somewhere where english is somewhat spoken (although I heard no one speaks english in japan?)

Stayed in May at Ryokan Murakamiya which was both reasonable (Y4500 p/p) and charming. Not much English spoken, but it's not needed, very clean and less than 10 min. walk from Kyoto station. The couple who own this ryokan are completely delightful. Check it out at http://www.jpinn.com/inn/11-6.html

Friends have recommended the Three Sisters Inn. Does anyone concur in this recommendation? (I am planning a Kyoto visit in Nov and am considering staying at Three Sisters.)

how do you make a reservation for the three sisters? I have not been able to find an email address for them

we decided to fly into tokyo spending 4-5 days there at the Ryokan Asakusa Shigetsu then spending 4-5 days in kyoto staying at the Station Ryokan SEIKI
before returning to tokyo for our departure--
any must sees or dos??!?!?