Staying in Kyoto

[scorchedflower]

Hi everyone

Comments

[anonymous]

Staying in the Gion area would but you very near most of the happenings in the city, at least really close to the big shopping areas.

However the buses are so convient that you can really get from most anywhere to anywhere else with out much issues.

[londons_rose]

I was there about 2 years ago, and I stayed in Gion. Gion was very nice, and as two women traveling together, we never felt uncomfortable walking around on the streets, even at all hours of the night. In fact, it seemed to us that Gion really doesn't come to life until after about 8pm. As for the train station, it's a nice area too. We liked that area a lot and here again didn't feel uncomfortable. What we found with staying in Gion vs. staying near Kyoto Ekimai (the train station) is that many things in Gion don't open until mid morning, so breakfast was an issue. There is one Starbucks that we found there that has passable morning sets, but nothing to write home about. There's also a little cafe right on the corner of Shijodori and Hanamikojidori that the geisha sometimes have breakfast in that's not too bad also. Their morning sets are decent, with a good amount of food. If you stay in Gion, make sure you have plans for breakfast if you're an early riser since you won't find much open. Staying near the train station will

[londons_rose]

Oh my gosh! That's SO cool! I've never run into anyone else who's stayed there!! Weren't they just the nicest?? We adored staying there. And very easy to get to anything we wanted to go to.
Oooh, that bakery was SO wonderful. The melon pan was my favorite. I swear I ate that every morning we were there (other than trying the breakfast at the ryokan a couple times) And the little newsstand right on the corner. The old man who runs it is SO nice! He's got such an adorable sense of humor. We went there every evening to get our black milk tea for the next morning.

[scorchedflower]

Wow, thanks for the information - its always so much nicer to hear peoples real experinces than rely on a guide book, especially when they're saying nice things :)
Following on but in the same vein, how busy/quiet was the area, especially around the Ryoken? I know it's on the edge of the city, but Im just trying to asses how rural or whatever it is. I must sound crazy-paranoid, but I want to avoid having to walk down empty streets alone after dark if I can, especially because there isnt a metro station to close by.

Thanks a heap, sorry for the interrogation!

[londons_rose]

I think seeing geiko and maiko is all in the timing. We were very fortunate to see many maiko (though no geiko) The first morning we were there we got to see 6 maiko in full dress heading into a cab. We got very lucky several times... though! I think our luck had a lot to do with the fact that we were there during Gion Matsuri.

[scorchedflower]

Thanks a lot - seems like that is -the- place to stay! I have more questions above, if you have a few more moments to spare :)

[glaciation]

When my wife and I visited Kyoto last March, we stayed at Hotel Nishiyama, a ryokan hotel in the vicinity of the Terumachi-dori shopping arcade and Imperial Palace. We were walking distance from excellent food and shopping, a long walk/short subway ride to Gion, and found the bus connections very convenient. My Japanese is limited, but the staff were patient and willing to speak English to me when (and only when!) I couldn't make myself understood. I would definitely stay there again.

I found Gion to be the most magical part of Kyoto, particularly at night during cherry blossom season. Staying there would be like being in a (crowded) fairy tale. If you can find a nice place to stay there, you'll enjoy it -- but my Japanese friend tells me the prices are such that most native travelers can't afford to stay there. I didn't check, so I can't comment on that.