Accommodations

Good general introductory information about Japan and recommended accommodations in Kyoto near the wedding locations can be found here on the Kyoto International Conference Hall website.

NOTE: The Conference Hall is right next to the Kyoto Takaragaike Prince Hotel (the wedding reception location) and the last subway train station in that area called Kokusaikaikan Station (Karasuma Line). If you are staying elsewhere and travel in by train, the wedding ceremony at Iwakura Kūkan, is located 15 minutes away by car from this train station and hotel. The best way to get from the train station to wedding ceremony location is by taxi. Taxis can be expensive but if people can coordinate to travel in groups, it will be affordable.

We would recommend staying at the Kyoto Takaragaike Prince Hotel if you want the ease of getting to the wedding ceremony and reception. We are looking into getting a discount rate for guests staying at the Prince Hotel.

Below are some recommended accommodations (mostly from Lonely Planet Kyoto, 2005) which we chose based on convenience to get to the wedding location not because we've actually stayed there. However, we know that most people will be interested in staying longer in Kyoto so you may wish to stay in a location more central to sightseeing or more to your liking. In that case, you might want to look at accommodations in the below areas as well as in the downtown area. It is about 25-30 minutes by train from those areas to the Kokusaikaikan Station.

Hotels
If you look at accommodation websites, you will find some hotels called 'business hotels'. These cater to the lone business man but they can do well for the budget traveller who doesn't need much space or the frills!
Low-end:
The Palace Side Hotel (Northwest Kyoto)

Mid-range:
Holiday Inn Kyoto (Northeast Kyoto; 20 minutes by car from Prince Hotel in neighbourhood)
Hotel Gimmond (downtown Kyoto)
Karasuma Kyoto Hotel (downtown Kyoto)

High-end/Luxury:
New Miyako Hotel (downtown Kyoto)
Hotel Kyoto Okura (downtown Kyoto)
Kyoto Takaragaike Prince Hotel (Northeast Kyoto)

For more of a taste of Japan, go with ryokans!
Ryokans are traditional Japanese-style accommodations which usually are tatami-mat rooms and you sleep on futons on the floor. Like hotels, there are budget to high-end Ryokans.
NOTE: Some ryokans implement a curfew time, so do double-check this when you are enquiring.

Low-end:
Kinsuikan (Downtown area)
Miwaya Ryokan (Kyoto Station area)
Ryokan Daiya (Daiya Inn) (Kyoto Station area)
Ryokan Murakamiya (Kyoto Station area)
Nashinoki Inn (Northwest Kyoto)
Ryokan Shimizu (Kyoto Station)

Low to mid-range:
Pension Higashiyama (Southeast Kyoto)
Three Sisters Inn Annex (Southeast Kyoto)

Mid to high-range:
Gion Fukuzumi (Southeast Kyoto in famous Gion; mid-range)
Yachiyo Ryokan (Southeast Kyoto; mid to high-end)

Ryokan associations:
Don't like those ryokans? Here are some other sites.
Ryokan in Kinki (specifically Kyoto area)
Japanese Inn Group
Japan Ryokan Association
Japanese Guest Houses

Real budget travellers, go with guesthouses
These are a lot like youth hostels but without the strict rules and need for membership. Dorms and private rooms available.
Aoi So Inn (Northwest Kyoto)
Greenpeace Kyoto (Northeast Kyoto)
Budget Inn (Kyoto Station Area)
Tour Club (Kyoto Station Area)

If you want to rough it, here are youth hostels:
Japan Youth Hostels, Inc.

All in one accommodation search
Good website from the Japan National Tourist Organization that allows you to look at and book different accommodation.

Wedding to be at Iwakura Kukan on April 8th which also happens to be Buddha's Birthday!

Kyoto is a city rich in Japanese culture and history. It is a great place to visit not only for weddings but for the geishas, temples, gardens, and mountains.

If you were wondering why we are having our wedding in April, the reason is we wanted our wedding to coincide with the famous cherry blossom (sakura) season in Kyoto.
Not to mention that April 8 happens to be the Buddha's birthday!

Cherry blossom season usually begins in the first week of April and lasts a very short time of a week or two. So if you are coming for the wedding, book early as the season is very popular and we would recommend that you come a few days before the event as cherry blossoms should be in full and glorious bloom before the wedding.

The wedding ceremony and reception are situated in the Northeast area of Kyoto, on the outskirts of Kyoto City proper. Matt's family live directly across the street from the Iwakura Kukan (home of Heidi and Quentin Durning) where the wedding ceremony will take place. The wedding reception is at the Kyoto Takaragaike Prince Hotel located 15 minutes away, right next to the train station.

Kyoto Takaragaike Prince Hotel
Daiya Inn in Kyoto	Aoi So Inn in Kyoto
Nashinoki Inn in Kyoto	Palace Side Hotel in Kyoto