Overall the Sun-Members Kyoto-Saga was a very good hotel and a great fit for travelers with more experience traveling in and navigating Japan, including speaking and understanding basic phrases. The rooms were clean and well-appointed in the manner familiar to Japanese travelers, the staff were courteous (with very limited English), and the meals in the hotel restaurant were well above average. There are a lot of resources in the neighborhood for do-it-yourselfers and more budget-conscious travelers, including a laundromat, market (Mandai), and quite a few decent local eateries - including an excellent teppanyaki and bakery and a very good coffee shop (Time Cafe). The 'neighborhood map' provided by the hotel was useful for getting oriented, and the shuttle Arashiyama-Saga Sta saved time and walking, which you will do plenty of regardless. Taxis to and from the station were about Y560 and readily available during the day; at night you can have the hotel near the station call one for you. The hotel is relatively close to Arashiyama-Saga and the temples and sites on the western side of the valley, but conversely it is quite far (and usually 1-3 trains) from the attractions in central Kyoto and the eastern side of the valley, so factor in extra transit and walking time for your days.