Hotel Kanade Kankukaizuka

The big public bath was clean and satisfying, and the gym was there too. I came because I needed to get out of the cold nearby. My room only had a shower. I'd read that check-in could be difficult, but a staff member was there and it went fine. The room was clean, the comforter was really comfortable, and there were plenty of amenities, including a clean kettle and a few tea bags. There was just a table and chair, so working at a desk was awkward, but I could relax and watch TV on the big screen. Check-out at 11 was nice. The microwave is on the first floor.

Big, nice hotel, quiet rooms, comfortable and a good price when I was there. It's next to the train station, so getting into Osaka is quick. A 24-hour gym would make it even better, but still a 10.

The rooms were clean, but I found the rest of my stay disappointing. Hotel Kanade is advertised as close to the city center, yet it's nearly 30 km from Osaka's main attractions. The local train station is nearby, but getting to central Osaka takes almost an hour each day. Train fares add up, so it doesn't feel budget-friendly, and the trip to downtown takes nearly as long as the trip from the airport. The money and time spent commuting make the apparent savings not worth it for sightseeing. Breakfast was also poor. I'd read good reviews, but it was very basic, low quality, and limited, with food that lacked freshness and taste. On the first morning there was one croissant per guest, and on the days after that there were none. The breakfast staff were impolite and unhelpful, and I don't think breakfast is worth paying extra for. With the location, breakfast, and unfriendly, unprofessional staff, the clean rooms weren't enough to make this a good choice for an Osaka sightseeing trip. I wouldn't stay here again and can't recommend it to tourists.

I asked to switch rooms, and the staff were kind and very accommodating. The new room was quieter and much better. If you're a light sleeper, tell them when you check in and they can give you a room away from the noise. That improved things a lot, so I raised my rating for the better experience. Before the move, sleep was the worst part. Guests kept dragging tables around by the balcony doors at night, loud enough to wake me even with earplugs. The beds were extremely hard, even by Japanese standards, and I've stayed in other hotels in Japan without mattresses this tough. The rooms were mostly clean, though there seemed to be dirt and dust behind the top of my toilet. The hotel is average, neither amazing nor bad. It has a balcony, but not one I'd want to sit out on. There's no full-length mirror in the room, just one in the elevator. The buffet breakfast, I think around 7-10 a.m. and about $8 a ticket, was good and pleasant. Amenities were the best part: fresh shampoo, slippers, water bottles and other things each day. The shower's hot water was nice but a bit inconsistent. Staff don't speak English, which didn't bother me; we're guests in their country and could learn some Japanese. Service was fine, they greeted me kindly coming and going, and we used Google Translate and English translation sheets. There's a TV with streaming services, including regional and other Japanese shows. The hotel is close to the station, though I may have misunderstood, but I think you need transfers and buses to reach other stations around Japan. That caused me no trouble. Hope this helps someone.