APA Hotel Shin Osaka Ekiminami

We left our bags with the desk staff before check-in, so we didn't have to carry them around all day. The hotel is close to several train lines, making it easy to get around the city. The beds were big and comfortable, but with two people the way they were positioned made getting in and out difficult. The rooms are fairly small. Our main annoyance was the AC, which only offered heat, likely because it was cold outside. Opening the window cooled the room, but cigarette smoke came in. We were on the eighth floor facing south, and the air smelled of cigarettes for most of the day. Really unfortunate and annoying. Breakfast was good and convenient, nothing amazing. We stayed three nights.

The room worked well for one person, with a big TV, kettle, mini fridge, free bottle of water and the basics provided. The bath was very slippery, though, and there wasn’t a grab bar, so take care in the shower. Breakfast was nothing special but enough for a decent, filling start. I stayed one night and was satisfied. There’s a metro station just around the corner, and Shin-Osaka is close enough to walk to with a suitcase, though finding the way isn’t easy. A couple of konbinis are nearby too.

The staff were wonderful and very helpful. This feels like a standard APA in Japan, though my room seemed a bit larger than the ones I’ve had at other APA hotels. The location is the main draw, about an 8 minute walk from Shin-Osaka. A much bigger, taller APA, possibly newer, stands about a block away and makes this one look small.

There’s a small breakfast spread each morning, and it was pretty decent. The amenities were well supplied, and the service was excellent while still giving us privacy. Rooms are cozy, though anyone larger than average might find one a little tight.