Maglev plan only goes to Osaka/nara/Nagoya/Tokyo, doesn't pass by Kyoto (as of today's plan, not finalized)

​​​​​Makes even more sense to base in Osaka, though I suppose there can be slightly more demand to stopover at a 'small' city like nara

For me, Accommodation in Kyoto has always been more expensive than Osaka/Tokyo (for the same dates that I've been looking at), and lack of subway in Kyoto makes it harder to move about