Elsereine Osaka

This was our first time staying around Osaka Station, and this hotel ended up being our top choice. For the price, the room was larger than most others in the same range. The bed was comfortable enough for a good night’s sleep, though we spent most of our time out exploring Osaka. One thing to know: they provide a bar of soap, but no shower gel. You can pick some up at a drugstore around Osaka.

I was really pleased that the room was just like the photos, clean and nice. It’s also handy for the station, department stores, and even my favorite Starbucks. My only gripes were the missing washing machine and the tiny trash bin in the room. Otherwise, I was very happy with my stay.

After our first night, we went out for the day and came back to find $700 missing from my suitcase. Reception wasn’t helpful when I reported it. They made us wait nearly two hours to check the camera footage, and the staff were laughing and very rude. We’d booked through booking.com and had been told all taxes were included, but they charged us an accommodation tax on arrival too. Given the theft and the poor service, I strongly recommend not staying here.

Our room was nice and had all the necessities, and the staff were super nice. We arrived before check-in, which wasn’t until 3, and they kept our luggage while we went out to explore. We came back late and it was no problem. There are useful shared facilities too, like microwaves on certain floors. It’s about a 10-minute walk from umeda station, with lots of convenience stores nearby. The second-floor buffet cafe was nice, though I think it cost around 20-27,00 yen, and my memory’s not great. The room had some flickering lights, but it was fine. Shampoo and conditioner came in packets, and there were a few bars of soap but no body wash. The doors and walls don’t block much sound. Kids ran along the corridor on our floor each night, and I could feel every thump of their steps. Still, it was a good place for a holiday.