Originally Posted by
jbfield
The only reason I'm adding the stop in Osaka is because I've got an international flight from KIX at 10:50 in the morning and travelling from Kyoto to KIX might otherwise mean too early a start. Happy to spend two nights in Kyoto instead of one if I can get around that though.
Hmm ... Limited Express HARUKA 7 departs Kyoto Station at 7.15 and reaches KIX at 8.54. Speaking for myself, a 7.15am departure would be preferable to a change of hotel. The Granvia hotel in Kyoto is convenient for early departures, as it's directly connected to the station.
If you prefer to go to Osaka, I suggest you look at hotels near Namba station (e.g. Swissotel). It's a lively place to spend your last evening in Japan and you can take the Nankai Rapi:t train, which gets you to the airport in 40 mins. Or a Nankai airport Express, which gets you there a bit cheaper and ten minutes slower. (These trains are run by Nankai railways - not JR).
If you want to wake up as late as possible on your final day, then you could take the last train from Kyoto to the airport and spend the night at the hotel on the airport island.