Ancient Hotel

We had a wonderful special New Year’s breakfast, with such thoughtful attention to detail. The beds were super comfortable, and the bathroom worked perfectly. I was pleasantly surprised by the hotel, especially how kind the service was. Thank you so much, dear Waqoo team. I’d highly recommend it to anyone visiting Osaka.

The Shojin Ryori vegetarian breakfast is my favorite part. As vegans or vegetarians in Japan, it’s some of the best breakfast you’ll find. The manager/owner and staff are lovely, and they take time to explain the hotel amenities and things to do around Osaka. We first stayed here a year ago, loved it so much that we came back to Osaka just to stay here again. The owner/manager recognized us right away, and we recognized him too. 10/10, a life-changing experience. The attached photo is my favorite breakfast so far!

The staff were the best part for me. I got sick during the trip and woke up in a panic in the middle of the night, thinking we might need a hospital. The young man on the night desk was very helpful, even with the language barrier. He showed us medical options nearby and explained how to get there, doing his best to reassure us through Google Translate. Some staff speak English, too, but even when communication is difficult, you can tell they really want to help. The rooms are clean and comfortable, with low beds and tatami mats modeled after the quarters of traveling monks. Most of the floor is tatami, so you can’t put luggage on it. There’s a carpeted strip by the entrance for bags and outdoor shoes. Two travelers with three suitcases managed fine, though more bags could be harder to handle. You get slippers and tabi socks, and I thought the unusual room style was worth it. It’s a quiet residential spot, about 10-15 minutes from the nearest station, with auto shops on both sides. Shitenno-ji and a few other well-known Buddhist temples are nearby, but it’s not right in the middle of things. Shinsekai is a 15-20 minute walk away. We liked the quiet, though it may not suit everyone.

I had a problem late at night and was standing by the entrance when a young male staff member came over to help. His English wasn’t very strong, but he kept trying with a translation app, and after about 30 minutes we got the issue sorted out. He could see I was anxious and stayed kind and helpful despite the late hour. I’m very grateful to the friendly staff, and I’d love to stay here again on my next trip to Osaka.