APA Kyoto Gion Hotel, Kyoto

Advantages: Cheap area, gorgeous attractions and temples, good for short visits!
Disadvantages: Limited activity so best for -5 day visits.

...anything like a candle. The station is full of shops, restaurants and a huge department store! =) Kyoto in itself is definitely a place to go and see. Its a lot more traditional than the Tokyo side of Japan. Whilst there aren't many traditional courtyard buildings left, and its difficult to spot a real geisha (visit gion corner for that!) its very different. And travel is cheap! Whats best is we got an all inclusive trip including Shinkansen bullet train from Tokyo station to Kyoto station,and 3 nights in the New Miyako hotel for just £150 each. Its definitely worth looking up!... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Location
Disadvantages: Lack of character

...I stayed in Kyoto Dai-Ni Tower Hotel, Kyoto, last Christmas with my partner for 2nights. Its one of the Tower Hotel group. Tower Hotel is the main one located in front of Kyoto station, the hotel attract visitor for its tower view around Kyoto and public bath facility. If you stay in one of their hotel you get free ticket to the Kyoto Tower and Discount coupon for bath. Dai-Ni Tower is just around the corner virtually 2min walk from station and Its slightly cheaper than the main one. If you want to stay in Kyoto for a few days and trying to see all the main temples and main tourist place with guided bus tours leaving from Kyoto Station this hotel is convenient. Most of the tour leaves pretty early in the morning so you don't want rushing around Kyoto using underground to get back to the main station in morning hour. Even if you decided... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Most popular tourist attraction
Disadvantages: None

...Gion is the most famous geisha district in Kyoto (and whole Japan I think). Geisha is a professional female entertainer since the olden Japan times. (There is now a movie on Geisha : Memoirs of a Geisha). In Gion, you can see many old buildings and there are many restaurants. In the evening, you will most probably bump into a geisha while strolling along Hanami-Koji. You are not able to stop a geisha and talk to her because most of the time, if you see them, they are on their way to the teahouse where they serve their clients. (From what my Japanese friend told me, a geisha is paid about USD$800 per hour to entertain a guest). The teahouse is like a private club where only the very rich can afford to go. And, you have to be recommended by an existing member of the teahouse to join it. If not, as a tourist, you cannot enter a teahouse... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful