Hotel New Gaea Tenjinminami

The cafe in the lobby was a highlight for us. The staff there were so warm and kind, and we looked forward to our morning coffee. Tenjin is a handy base, with shopping streets, izakayas and the yatai street all within walking distance. Our room, though, was in the older annex, which showed its age. The website and reviews look nicer, and I think those photos are of the newer main building. Check-in and checkout felt very bare-bones, and a few times the reception staff came across as hostile, like they didn't want to be bothered. We were supposed to stay another night on a separate occasion but chose another hotel.

Plenty of restaurants are nearby, along with a few supermarkets. The room was clean and modern, with a smart TV. You can hear people in neighboring rooms putting clothes on hangers because the walls are a bit thin. The Wi-Fi was on and off, but usable.

The bathroom entrance and exit both have a step, so watch your footing. I was there for three nights in January 2026 and slept well, the bed was good. They left a free bottle of water when they cleaned the room, and breakfast was free too.

The location is great, and the rooms are a little more spacious than in a typical Japanese business hotel. That's about where the positives end for me. We were put in the old annex, and the room looked worn out. The bathroom was tired too, and the shower curtain smelled awful, like mold, which made the whole bathroom stink. The room was too dark, and the carpet looked dirty, with strange stains on it. We tried asking to move to the newer building in our broken Japanese, but the receptionist on duty wouldn't even entertain the request. There are much better hotels around the same price with nicer rooms and service. I wouldn't bother booking here.