Osaka is a fun-loving, vibrant sister as compared to the pricey and posh capital city of Tokyo. The city is not only famous for its gastronomy but also its historic sights and dynamic culture. Osaka’s bar/restaurant culture is legendary and it is the perfect place in the country to let your hair down and enjoy a pulsating nightlife. So much so, that the travelers to the city are spoilt for choice when it comes to the accommodations as well. The best hotels in Osaka, Japan range from designer boutique ones and traditional ryokans to buzzing hostels to unimaginable luxurious ones. In fact, Osaka is also famous for its capsule hotels, which is an accommodation type unique to Japan and can now be found throughout the world!
Apart from a wide range of choices for hotels, travelers also have to narrow down the neighborhoods of their choice too. First-time visitors to the city, as well as those looking for luxurious digs, will love Umeda. Namba is where you stay for the shopping and nightlife, while budget travelers will find lots of options in the Honmachi area. Shin-Osaka is the best base for indulging in day trips to cities like Kyoto and Nara, which lie within an hour of Osaka and where you’ll find great hotels too. Culture buffs will love the traditional Japanese vibe of Nakazakicho. On the other hand, neighborhoods around Osaka Castle look heavenly during the cherry blossom season.
Undoubtedly, Osaka is a spirited and zestful city that is begging to be discovered. To that end, here are the 11 best hotels to stay at in Osaka, Japan. And if you’re looking for another, cheaper alternatives, take a look at 11 Best Capsule Hotels in Osaka next!
Hotel Conrad Osaka
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It is only fitting that one of the city’s most designer hotels Conrad Osaka lies in one of the snazziest and shiniest structures in the city. The hotel lies within walking distance of both Namba and Umeda and is surrounded by the best concert halls and art museums in the city.
The hotel’s super-attractive lobby sits on the 40th floor of the skyscraper, with a large window wall acting as the perfect frame for a sweeping view of Osaka’s skyline. Scene stealers include a minimalistic white staircase with curves to die for and the bevy of contemporary artwork sprinkled across the place. Without a doubt, the highlight of the hotel’s material amenities is the tranquil, white-pebble-interior spa. It not only has a host of Japanese-inspired treatments but also has picturesque views of the city. The R&R is furthered by the heavenly indoor pool, while the staff takes care of all and any excursions that guests might want to engage in. Rounding up the decadent offerings is the array of restaurants serving everything from Japanese to world cocktails.
Rooms meld contemporary comforts with traditional Japanese aesthetics. The spaces feature with white origami-esque walls, traditional tea sets, and lacquerware-style artwork. Apart from lavish bathrooms, all rooms boast jaw-dropping views of the city.
St. Regis Osaka
10
The St. Regis is easily one of the best centrally-located hotels in Osaka for luxurious living. The hotel lies along a tree-lined street in Midosuji and is perfect for every day and high-end shopping. Furthermore, the Honmachi underground station lies just beneath the hotel.
Everything about the hotel is impressive, right from the two-story ceilings to the contemporary chandeliers in its Italian restaurant. The airy Rue d’Or bar is where you can tuck into a hearty breakfast of Chinese, Japanese, and Western specialties. The bar bedazzles you with its glittering silver ceilings, ginormous mirrors, and midnight-blue walls. It even has a live piano player from Tuesday through Sunday. The terraced zen garden lives up to its name, while the 14th-floor spa is a great place to kick back and relax. If you’re visiting during the summer, don’t miss their bottomless champagne lunches on the garden terrace.
In a country known for its small spaces, the St Regis’ rooms, even the entry-level ones, are spacious. The unfussy, contemporary decor features sketches of Japanese flowers and pastel-hued, silky-soft furnishings. However, it’s the floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the city and the luxurious bathrooms with bathtubs and Art Deco lighting that take your breath away. For even more space, choose the largest suites which are akin to residential apartments and feature individual flower themes.
Cabin & Capsule J-Ship Osaka
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The excellent Cabin & Capsule Hotel J-SHIP Osaka is one of Osaka’s 11 Best Capsule Hotels, an accommodation type that Japan pioneered. Capsule hotels, as the name suggests, are essentially pods used mainly for sleeping purposes. However, today, they have access to luxury facilities too, just like J-Ship does. What’s more, the capsule hotel lies a stone’s throw from JR Namba Station, which makes it great for exploring the city.
Capsule hotels generally have gender-separate floors, and so does J-Ship. Guests can choose from either the sleeping pods or the sleeping cabins that even have a desk. Moreover, the pods are spacious according to Japanese standards, so you don’t have to worry about crouching or lack of space. Furthermore, the hotel even provides sleep clothes to a slew of bathroom amenities like complimentary organic toiletries. For the women, the hotel even has a female-only floor with a hair salon, powder room, and beauty accessories for getting dressed up every day.
When it comes to the amenities, J-Ship offers more than you can imagine. For one, it has a much-lauded onsen experience, which is a communal whirlpool bath. Additionally, there’s a lovely Japanese garden and a common lounge area great for meeting new people.
Yamatoya Honten
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With Yamatoya Honten, you don’t have to choose between a city center location and a peaceful and tranquil hotel. The lovely ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) lies near both Shinsaibashi and Namba while offering the ambiance of a quaint rural inn. If that wasn’t enough, it is absolutely well-placed for travelers to explore the top things to see in Osaka.
Immerse yourself in traditional Japanese home experience with the yukata robes (to be worn within the ryokan), tatami straw-mat floors, and low futon beds. Also, not all rooms have attached bathrooms, just like traditional ryokans, and have communal ones. So, look out for your preference while booking rooms. Apart from the above, one can enjoy lovely views of the gushing Dontonburi river from the rooms too.
Traditional amenities at this ryokan include an onsen (communal bath) and the delicious local fare served by on-site restaurant. That being said, the ryokan also offers modern creature comforts with excellent levels of convenience. These include flatscreen TVs, free Wi-western-style breakfasts, and even a souvenir shop.
Dotonbori Hotel
7
Perhaps the most distinctive feature about the Dotonbori Hotel is the four impressive, carved pillars at the entrance. A pair of carved human feet sits at the base of every pillar, while the middle columns feature huge sculptures of the human face forms. Moreover, each face has distinctive features of different races, namely India, African, European, and East Asian. It symbolizes that people from all walks of life and cultures are welcome. This unique feature easily makes the Dotonbori one of the most culturally unique hotels in Osaka.
The sparsely decorated but spacious rooms make for a comfortable stay. Laminate floors with vibrant pops of color in walls, drapes, and throws keep it interesting. Travelers should know that a few entry-level rooms have large pillars in the middle of the rooms due to the building design. Nonetheless, the rooms feature comfy beds and a slew of mod-cons.
Apart from a well-trained, multilingual staff, the hotel also has a comfy seating area, free nightly wine, beer, and ramen, free massage chairs, and even free round-the-clock tea/coffee. Moreover, the Dotonbori offers a gamut of complementary services, which include everything from bike rentals to international phone calls.
Hotel Ichiei
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If you’re looking for a modern hotel with Japanese flair, then the Hotel Ichiei in downtown Namba is perfect. Apart from its phenomenal central location, the hotel is also directly connected to the Namba Station Midosuji Subway Line. What’s more, the airport limo bus stops right in front of the hotel. So, if you stay here, then exploring Osaka is a walk in the park.
A Japanese styling aesthetic is what sets this hotel apart from the many others in the area. While the hotel has both traditional Japanese rooms and western ones, the best one is probably the modern Japanese-style one which is the best of both worlds. It is an inimitable fusion of east and west with tatami-mat floors with comfy and plush western beds. Larger groups and families can go in for the suite, which is one of the biggest rooms in the Namba area!
Furthermore, the Hotel Ichiei has an on-site Japanese restaurant that offers traditional kaiseki-style meals in the room. To top that, it even has a peaceful and serene onsen which is perfect to relax in after a long day of exploring Osaka.
Cross Hotel
5
Given the profusion of high-rises in central Osaka, the Cross Hotel is like a breath of fresh air. The centrally-located hotel is the perfect place to crash during your stay in Osaka, Japan.
A large white ‘X’ on a glass-fronted entrance welcomes you to this edgy and contemporary place. The sleek lobby features a red, white, and black color scheme complete with an eye-catching aquarium in the center. The bar is a great place to have an evening cocktail or a nightcap before retiring to bed. The glam restaurant overlooking the tree-lined Midousuji street is the perfect place to grab some breakfast before you up and leave for the day. Apart from this, the hotel also has a hair and beauty salon, a souvenir shop, and even computer stations.
Cross Hotel’s modern rooms are mostly white with splashes of red and black accents, with the design being reminiscent of a traditional ryokan. Guests can choose from twin, double, triple, and superior rooms, apart from larger suites. Plush centerpieces, a bevy of mod-cons, and a bathroom with a deep tub are exactly what you want to come back to after a long day.
Hotel New Otani
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If you’re looking for a good hotel to stay near Osaka Castle, then the Hotel New Otani is perfect. This massive multi-story hotel with views of Osaka Castle is the perfect base to experience the gorgeous cherry blossom season. In fact, even major areas like Shinsaibashi are just 10-15 minutes away.
A glass-walled huge lobby with a four-story-high atrium, marble floors, and a smattering of glitzy lights sets the tone for the hotel. Given its massive size, just about everything in the hotel is excessive, like the 10 restaurants serving every cuisine under the sun. In fact, its breakfast spread alone features over 100 dishes! Heck, there are even three bars and a patisserie on-site. Likewise, the hotel has a laundry list of R&R amenities, including massage services, a sauna, an onsen, a well-equipped fitness center, three whirlpools, and outdoor and indoor swimming pools. Phew!
Additionally, rooms at Hotel New Otani are room, at least by Japanese standards. Apart from standard in-room amenities, they feature neutral color palettes and huge windows, of which some have pretty great views of Osaka Castle.
Sakura La An
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There’s nothing about the quaint Sakura La An hostel that you won’t like. Located atop a retro building in a renovated space, the funky hotel’s updated take on Japanese aesthetics is intriguing, to say the least.
So, what’s amazing about this hostel? Well, it’s a lot of things! The hostel has its very own tearoom where it showcases the Japanese art of traditional tea ceremonies called chanoyu every night. It even offers other scheduled cultural experiences like kimono wearing and even Japanese calligraphy. The hostel’s common room in the form of a sun-kissed terrace is an inviting space, where curling up with a book and some free coffee is a cozy way to spend an evening.
What’s more, guests can choose between dorms and private rooms, depending on their needs and budget. Apart from lockers, and privacy curtains in the dorm, each room also has large windows and a mini-fridge. Afully-equipped kitchen is great fr whopping up cheap meals and meeting your hostel mates. Furthermore, the hostel has free Wi-Fi and serves a killer breakfast.
Sakura La An lies just 15 minutes from the buzzing nightlife at Dotonbori. If that wasn’t enough, then the famous Tenjinbashisuji, which is the longest covered shopping street in Japan is just a block away.
Kaneyoshi Ryokan
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What better way to experience Japan’s culture first-hand than staying at a ryokan? Welcome to Kaneyoshi Ryokan which, with traditional digs, decor, and service is the best way to get a real taste of Japanese culture. Located on the scenic Dotonbori river, Kaneyoshi Ryokan boasts scenic river views from most of its rooms!
All rooms at this ryokan feature gorgeous tatami-mat floors, shoji paper screens, and roll-up floor beds and low futon-style beds. However, there are also western-style rooms with traditional, fluffy beds. That being said, all rooms have traditional japanese tea sets and their own private bathrooms, and not a shared one like most ryokans do. So, for those whom ensuite bathrooms are a big deal, then this ryokan is perfect.
Apart from the above, Kaneyoshi has all modern conveniences like free Wi-Fi, local and western meals, TVs, fridges, etc. On the other hand, the interiors are classically Japanese, along with authentic ryokan offerings like yukatas (Japanese robe) and a lovely onsen for relaxing.
Fraser Residence Nankai Osaka
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Fraser Residence Nankai Osaka lies just three minutes from Namba Subway Station and is very popular for its strategic location and spacious rooms by Japan’s standards. In fact, it is so popular that i is often sold out! So, make sure to book your reservations here in advance.
Guests can choose from Studio Rooms and One/Two-Bedroom Apartments with a slew of mod-cons including iPod docking stations, DVD players, and flatscreen TVs. What’s excellent about the Fraser Residence is that all rooms come with attached kitchenettes and washing machines, allowing people to stay longer. Hence, this hotel is very popular with long-term renters and families.
What makes the Fraser Residence so great to stay at is that the staff is not just knowledgable but also attentive, and is ready to solve any queries or issues you might have. The daily Japanese breakfast served at the property is delicious and generous and makes for a great way to begin your day. The Residence Cafe also serves light meals and hot beverages. What’s more, the place even has a cozy library and massage treatments for the relaxation of its guests.
Recommended Restaurants / Bars /Food Tours in Osaka:
- Nightlife Osaka Food Tour: Eat like a local on this unforgettable nighttime stroll through Osaka’s historical food streets.
- Kushikatsu Daruma: This legendary izakaya (traditional Japanese dining pub) is the best in the city for the famous Osaka deep-fried street food of kushikatsu.
Recommended Activities In Osaka:
- Osaka Deep Backstreets Exploration: What is a city’s soul without its lesser-known, non-tourist areas? Explore a different side of Osaka as you tour its gambling dens, retro area, abandoned structures, and more.
- Osaka Cherry Blossom Tour: If you’re in this city during springtime, you just cannot miss this lovely cherry blossom tour of the city.
