Having visited a few times now, I always ask myself whether I should stays in Osaka in a full hotel with every amenity or in an apartment where I have more room to stretch out and cook. The truth is: it depends on your trip. For this visit, though, I managed to visit three different accommodations over several stay, and there’s one that I wouldn’t hesitate to book a second time around.
So here’s my breakdown of where to stay in Osaka, based off what mattered to me while I was there.
My Top Picks for Staying in Osaka
Apartment Hotel Comforts 81
Apartment Hotel Comforts 81 was located on a quieter street, the sort where you find little restaurants and convenience stores rather than hordes of tourist.
From the outside, it didn’t look like anything special; your standard apartment block, no frills. We liked it just that way.
The lobby was larger then what I’d anticipated from the outside.
Check in wasn’t rushed at all, there was a bit of local art on the walls and some seating/lounge area. It wasn’t overly showy; they didn’t try too hard to impress me, which I appreciated.
The check-in process was no fuss either. It’s one of those hotels with a self-service key locker system at the front desk (I’ve encountered these in Japan but have never realy taken to them). When we went, there was something nice at the front counter; a little seasonal decoration.
It gave me the feeling they looked after the place.
Right when I walked in, I realized that there is plenty of space. ), plus you can open up your suitcase and not have to play Tetris with it all. If you are staying for an extended period, this would be ideal.
There was plenty of space to maneuver, plus a tv mounted on the wall in the bedroom. They can absorbs standard doubles or the family room style we got, several beds all together. the grey accent wall was a nice change from the typical beige hotel color scheme.
It was clean and utilitarian, yet not cold.
The best part for me was that we had a kitchen. It was a real one with a stove, a sink, a microwave, a mini fridge, and a kettle! We didn’t cook big meals there (mostly because I ran out of time) but it allowed us to reheat some food a couple of nights and make coffee each morning.
it’s the kind of thing you don’t think about until you have it but makes all the difference in making your stay feel much more relaxed.
There is even a washing machine in the room! Yes, that’s right. It may seem like a boring thing, but I did my laundry there one time while we were staying here.
It saved me from having to go to a laundromat, which was a welcome relief after walking around the city for a few days.
There was a nice big tub, separate shower, decent water pressure, and the bathroom was nicely divided (with a vanity area). Normally I don’t like baths, but I tried one here after a long day and I got it. That is why they do it in Japan, and it makes sense.
you could both get ready at the same time without getting under each other’s feet. it was practical. There was enough room for both of us to spread out without bumping into each other.
Overall, it was nice.
Osaka Excel Hotel Tokyu
If I spent more than a few days/nights in Osaka, I would definitely stay here again. This isn’t a luxurios hotel, but that’s what made it so good. Upon entering the lobby, I realized that this felt much more like a traditional hotel.
There were proper reception desks, a seating area that could have been in any business hotel, and even a paper-cut art piece of Osaka Castle.
During our stay (which coincided with the holiday season), they’d set out a few decorations and a small tree.
The lobby itself felt well-lit and clean, with a simple corridor leading down to the elevator that didn’t feel too stuffy or polished, just right. Just beyond the elevators were some shelves where they had tucked away a few pieces of Japanese crafts, adding a little local character. The corridors on the guest floors was straight-forward and quiet, unremarkable though fine.
POLA bathroom amenities, a Toshiba mini-fridge tucked away inside a cabinet, a TOTO washlet complete with the full control panel, and even slippers ready for us on little instruction signs were all waiting inside the room. These are not revolutionary features, but they indicate that the hotel understands what travelers expect in Japan. The Osaka Excel Hotel Tokyu room itself had a queen bed with some teal accents and enough space to move around.
It was clean and comfortable, just the sort of place where you know you can settle in for the night and not have anything to complain about.
There was also a separate shower and moddern bathtub inside the bathroom, both in darker tones that looked more modern than your typical white tile. No problems with water temperature or pressure, everything functioned as it should.
On the outside, the hotel made a good impression on the street. As we went out one night, the boulevard nearby had been lined with those rows of lit up trees that Japanese cities seem to love in winter. There was an easy-to-spot entrance on the ground floor, which came in handy as we returned late one night and simply needed to find the door.
If you’re looking for a standard hotel experience, Osaka Excel Hotel Tokyu doesn’t disappoint. It’s not going to blow you away, but it’s well-located and reliable.
Courtyard by Marriott Osaka Honmachi
The Courtyard by Marriott Osaka Honmachi definitely stepped things up. From the moment you walked in there’s a big seasonal tree, comfortable seats in the lounge area, a modern check-in desk, and more. Without going overboard, it feels welcoming.
There was also a Nespresso machine with various capsules in the lobby, something I took advantage of more than a few times. When you need to wake up early for the day, small touches realy do matter.
The colors were neutral, the modern lighting was used well, and the corridors were well-designed. Walking down the hall to our room, we passed a solid black door with a clean handle, simple, but everything felt well-maintained.
the layout was very thoughtful inside the room too. There’s a queen bed with crisp white linens. There is also a seating area, a desk facing the window, and a stylish mirrored panel on one wall that was not at all gimmicky.
the bed really is comfortable and I slept well each night during our stay.
The bathroom featured a nice vanity with NIRVAE toiletries, which were slightly more upscale than typical toiletry offerings. In fact, I enjoyed it so much, I used their product rather than bringing my own travel size bottles.
They also had a little round table with chairs near the window. This is where I would work on email each morning. It was a nice place to have, unlike the desk or the bed, and being so close to the window made a difference.
Wall-mounted bottles actually dispensed products (not just splash some onto your hand) and there were plenty of them. The water pressure was good too, and everything about the shower was functional and moddern.
The hotel itself featured an obvious entrance outside and it was located next to another restaurant, STITCH (which we did not visit but appeared popular in the evenings). it was a convenient area with several metro stops close by.
Courtyard by Marriott Gym
One morning, after several days of sitting in restaurants and on planes, I wanted to get moving so I checked out their gym. It’s located by the front desk. They had some laundry machines stacked outside with the washer below the dryer.
It was nice to see, though I did not need them. However, if you did, the control panel looked simple enough.
As for the gym: it was nicely equipped with a good selection of cardio machines along with a full set of dumbbells ranging from 8-pounders up to 20s. All equipment is from ZIVA, a brand I’ve never seen, but all seemed to be well maintained and sturdy.
There’s a Matrix functional trainer there as well that offers adjustable settings plus cables. I didn’t try it, but it appeared to be a solid choice for those seeking something beyond treadmill duty.
Most of my workouts were on the stationary bike, which featured an easy-to-adjust Matrix digital console. It felt comfortable (for short bursts at least), and it wasn’t something I had to fight through.
A weight bench, medicine balls, and even a yoga mat was also tucked away inside the equipment area. I wasn’t expecting such a complete gym for a hotel!
The space was nicely lit and clean. Right by the door, there’s a towel spot and a water dispenser with cups (which means I didn’t have to lug my own water bottle down).
Signage for the Fitness Center entrance was clear, and I never encountered crowds when I went. this is actualy a gym that would allow people who need to maintain a workout routine on the road to do just that.
Courtyard by Marriott Breakfast
Their breakfast area is located right next to their dining area. Pricing and hours were clearly written here as well. They even had a notice board with all the dietary restriction and allergy info.
I found this helpful if you are particular about your diet.
The food station was well-laid out, and there were menu boards detailing the options. They had sections for pickled vegetables, hot dishes, and some special items that rotated depending on the day.
Most days I began my meals at the eggs and condiments station: there were raw eggs in bowls that you could cook up yourself, as well as cold sides and pickles presented on white serving dishes. There was a blend of Western and Japanese breakfast choices. You get to choose what you want to eat here.
There was also an enormous cooking pot of some sort of soup or noodle dish being ladled out at a hot station.
There was also a toppings and condiment bar to add whatever you liked into your own bowl. I sampled the soup one morning and found that it was nicely seasoned and warming; just the thing if you’re craving something savory first thing. They also set out the food on steel bowls with tongs: cured meats, cheese, marinated vegetables, olives, etc.
there was a lot to choose from so I never got bored of what I was eating, even though everything was the same type of things. There was also a croissant and pastry basket (more Western) that was always full.
When I needed something quick on my way out, I grabbed one of those a couple of times. For the hot stuff, they had eggs, some grilled fish, and bamboo steamer dumplings which, surprisingly, weren’t bad at all. Hotel breakfast dumplings are usually not something I expect to be anything special, but these were really worth returning for.
For drinks, there was a small high-quality juice station as well, with a few options that was fresher than the typical concentrate. Most mornings I just stuck to coffee but, if you’re feeling it, the juice is there. All in all, the Courtyard by Marriott’s breakfast selection was one of my favorite hotel breakfasts in Japan.
It didn’t try to do anything too crazy, instead providing a good variety of quality items that would appeal to someone craving either Western or Japanese food. The Courtyard by Marriott Osaka Honmachi would be my choice if I had to select one hotel to stay at in Osaka: comfortable rooms, good location, decent gym that I actually used, and a free breakfast buffet that helped make mornings bearable. However, if I were staying longer (and desired a kitchen) then my choice would of Apartment Hotel Comforts 81.
And while Osaka Excel Hotel Tokyu was adequate enough, it really didn’t have much else to offer in terms of what I required.
What about you, do you tend to stay in hotels or an apartment-style accommodation when in Osaka? I’d be interested to know what has worked for you.
