Originally Posted by
paehk
Thanks everyone for the advice.
@LapLap - sadly we don't have time to stray off the beaten track. We're going primarily for the skiing in Niseko, but have made some time to detour in Kyoto and Tokyo.
Our budget will be about $200 per night.
For two?
I cannot think of one Ryokan within Tokyo or Kyoto where you would get a great Ryokan experience for ¥20,000, never mind ¥10,000 (Ryokan prices are generally per person)
The only solid suggestion I have for you is to go to Kurama Onsen on the outskirts of Kyoto. It's just 30 minutes and a ¥410 train trip from Demachiyanagi station in Kyoto - so no need to compromise your itinerary.
Or reduce your hotel budget for other nights within Tokyo and Kyoto and splurge out on one of Kyoto's better establishments - like the the Hiiragiya or Tawaraya.
---
You
could go to
Andon Ryokan or
Kimi Ryokan in Tokyo if you just want the experience of sleeping on a futon or stay at the
Motonago (no curfew) or Three Sisters Inn in Kyoto (which has a curfew)- the last two would probably offer perfectly decent experiences and a service level comparable to a good Minshuku (Japanese style Bed and Breakfasts - although dinner is often served at Minshuku) rather than a good Ryokan.
But what
I would certainly do in your place is allow one late afternoon/early evening on your itinerary and go stay at one of Hokkaido's extraordinary Onsen Ryokan instead.