Originally Posted by
rp88
If the train is so far away, how are people planning on exploring Kyoto? Walking it all?
The closest train stations are Keihan at either Gojo or Shijo, about a 15 minute walk; not exactly far. No matter where you stay in Kyoto actually exploring the city can be a bit of a challenge transportation-wise. Some people try the buses, but they are incredibly overcrowded. A hired car can be worth the expense, especially for a group of 4 people, but of course it is not exactly cheap. My preference would be to combine trains (Keihan + subway gets you to much of the city, adding Hankyu, JR, etc, depending on destination) and taxis. Taking taxis alone can get very expensive; traffic in Kyoto can get terribly congested, and the meter keeps going up; we once spent 15 minutes in a taxi trying to turn a corner at a traffic light to go to a temple.
There is a lot to see within easy walking distance from PH Kyoto; I would say that it is better located for walking sightseeing than the FS or RC.