Kansai recs?
 

I'm going to be in Kansai (Kyoto and Osaka) all next week and would love some recs for good places to each. I'm adventursome, don't speak Japanese and don't really have budgetary restraints.

Only been to Osaka twice and never got around to seeing the city. But when I go, there are two places that I liked which I will go back to. The first is Fugetsu which is a Danny's-like fast food chain serving okonomiyaki, Japanese pizza which originated in Osaka. Not fanciful food but goes down well with a beer. Also quite an experience to see it done before you as every seat has a grill in front of it. The other place I like is a kshinobo place meaning assorted fried things on a stick. This place is right behind the Ritz Carlton hotel. If you ask the concierge there, I am sure they will refer you to it. It is about a 5 minutes walk from the hotel.

You could take a short train ride to Kobe and have Kobe beef in Kobe. :cool:

SHABU-SHABU ^

There is a real cool hotel on top of the Kyoto train station. The lobby is very luxurious and I've heard the rooms are great too. I ate lunch at formal Japanese restaurant in the hotel which was very, very nice.

I think stimpy is talking about the Granvia Hotel--if you need more info, there's lots of discussion of it on the Japan board if you do a search.

For restaurant recommendations, I suggest starting with a search here.