Where to Stay in Osaka: Osaka Hinode Hotel Nipponbashi Review
Recently, some friends asked me for hotel recommendations in Osaka (大阪). As Japan's second largest metropolitan area after Tokyo, there are indeed many options to choose from when it comes to accommodation in this gigantic city, which offers so much to do and is also a great starting point for exploring the Kansai region.
On my last few trips to Osaka, I stayed each time at Osaka Hinode Hotel Nipponbashi (大阪逸の彩ホテル), a mid-range hotel that has, in my opinion, the best value for money in Osaka! In this article, I'll share my honest experience and explain why I highly recommend this hotel if you’re planning to stay a few days in Osaka.
Why I Love Staying at Osaka Hinode Hotel Nipponbashi
A Comfortable and Modern Hotel Stay
Osaka Hinode Hotel Nipponbashi offers a comfortable and modern stay, with well-designed, non-smoking rooms that are relatively spacious compared to the average hotel room size in cities like Osaka or Tokyo. From my personal experience, the rooms were I stayed were immaculately clean.
The front desk staff were friendly and helpful, making check-in and check-out smooth, and they allowed me to store my luggage before check-in and after check-out without any hassle. Language barriers were not an issue either, as the staff speak English, Chinese, Korean, and Japanese, making it easy to communicate and get local recommendations.
For added convenience, a laundry room equipped with washing machines and dryers is available 24/7 for a small fee. I also enjoyed the access to the hotel's rooftop, from where you can admire a beautiful view of the cityscape, especially at night.
A Very Convenient Location in Shinsekai District
The hotel is located in the Shinsekai district, which is a great base for exploring the city.
Things to do in the area include:
Admiring the Tsutenkaku Tower (通天閣), a 100-meter steel tower that is the local landmark of Shinsekai district and is illuminated at night.
Walking around Shinsekai (新世界), an old district of Osaka which has a retro charm, with its colourful signs and bustling streets full of local eateries. You can look around for Billiken statues, gold statues of a chubby smiling character, a symbol of good fortune that is kind of the unofficial mascot of Osaka.
Take a walk around Tennoji park (天王寺公園), and visit the small Japanese garden Keitakuen Garden (慶沢園) or Tennoji zoo (天王寺動物園) and nearby temples and shrines such as Horikoshi Jinja (堀越神社) and Isshin-ji Temple (一心寺).
Shitenno-ji (四天王寺), one of Japan's oldest temples, founded in 593, is a 15-minute walk away. Entry to the temple's outer precincts is free, but an entrance fee must be paid for access to the central temple, the garden and the treasure hall. It's a beautiful temple, and it wasn't crowded at all when I went, so I'd recommend it if you love temples like I do.
In addition to the attractions listed above, you'll find plenty of restaurants where you can indulge in Osaka's culinary culture and konbinis nearby the hotel.
Moreover, a subway entrance to Ebisucho Station (恵美須町駅) on the Sakaisuji line is right next to the hotel, providing easy access to the rest of Osaka. For instance, if you're heading to Shinsaibashi or Namba, you can reach them by train in just 10 minutes (2-3 stations) or take a leisurely 20-minute walk along Nipponbashi Denden Town (でんでんタウン 日本橋筋商店街). You can also access the Nankai-Koya line at Imamiyaebisu Station (今宮戎駅) in a 5-minute walk.
Modern Onsen Baths for a Relaxing Stay
Whenever I can, I always try to choose a hotel with an onsen or public bath, because soaking in an onsen to relieve all the aches after a long day of exploring is the best feeling ever.
Osaka Hinode Hotel has a large communal bath and a small cold bath for each gender, as well as a sauna. Once you've changed into the loungewear and slippers provided in your room, you can head off to the onsen bath in a separate building, where you'll also find massage chairs and a small gym area. The shared bath is open from 6am to 12pm and from 15pm to 12am. The onsen is modern and large, with individual shower rooms for a little more privacy. Please note that the hotel website states that tattooed guests are not allowed to bathe in the communal bath.
✨ TRAVELY TIP: During my stay at the hotel, I noticed that the onsen were generally very busy between 7:30pm and 9 pm, just before the evening ramen were served (I’ll mention it on the next section).
If you prefer to use a private onsen, where you can be just with your family in your own private bath, know that they are a few private onsen rooms also available for a fee.
The Perfect Expression of Japanese Omotenashi, with Various Additional Services Offered Free of Charge
In addition to the large onsen, what struck me at Osaka Hinode Hotel Nipponbashi was the abundance of amenities and services offered by the hotel. Coffee, juice, tea, cold and hot water are available all-you-can-drink 24 hours a day at the restaurant on the first floor. Moreover, there is a complimentary happy hour with a large selection of free alcoholic drinks (including beer, cocktail, wine and more) from 3pm and every night, from 9pm to 10pm, you can enjoy as much homemade ramen as you like (the flavor of the broth changes according to the day of the week). Ice cream is also available free of charge from 3pm to 10pm, which is particularly pleasant to enjoy after the onsen. What is great is that you can enjoy all these complementary food and drinks in a large common area where you can have dinner. If you’re in a big group, you can use that area to gather together, and you can also bring food from outside and have it there. And in the morning, a buffet-style breakfast is also available for a fee.
In addition, the hotel offers an equipment rental service (some free, others for a fee), including bicycles, pocket wifi, umbrellas and other essentials.
Another thing I really appreciated are the different cultural experiences that are also available everyday from 5 to 6pm, different depending on the days of the week:
Kimono dressing experience on Mondays and Thursdays;
Japanese games on Tuesdays and Fridays;
Japanese food tasting, such as takoyaki, on Wednesdays and Saturdays;
And crafting experience on Sundays.
More information can be found on the hotel website here.
A Great Price for the Experience
Price of a night varies depending on availability and seasonality but is in the range of ¥15 000-¥25 000 per night for two. Given all the amenities mentioned above, I think Osaka Hinode Hotel Nipponbashi provides an amazing value for the money. You can book a room on websites such as Agoda or Booking, or on the hotel website.
To Conclude
I’d recommend staying at Osaka Hinode Hotel Nipponbashi without hesitation for couples or groups of friends or families, and more generally for travelers looking for both comfort and value in Osaka. Staying at this hotel contributed to my fond memories of my stay in Osaka, and I would definitely go there again in the future.
Looking for more travel recommendations around Osaka? You can check my other Osaka-related articles.
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