Arrow Hotel in ShinsaiBashi

The beds were the real downside. They’re old spring mattresses, and one spring kept poking me in the ribs, so I ended up sleeping on the floor one night. The room temperature was frustrating too: heating or AC is controlled for the whole building, and neither the staff nor guests can switch between them. It got stuffy for me even with the window open. The location is great, the staff are very friendly, and I enjoyed the breakfast buffet. It wasn’t bad, and having vegetables was a nice touch since they’re hard to find in Japanese restaurants. The bathrooms are good, too.

We stayed 5 days and 4 nights as a family of six. The hotel is old, but it worked well for us as long as you’re okay with the drawbacks. It’s near the shinsaibashi shopping area, and there was room to open two large suitcases. The bathtub was a bit bigger than in newer hotels. Breakfast had plenty of variety, including fish, meat, salad, miso soup, fruit, bread, coffee, and juice. The staff were all pleasant and helpful. They also let us leave our luggage in a spare room after checkout while we had time to shop before the airport. Some things could be better: there’s no toilet exhaust, deodorizing spray, or coin laundry, and there are no built-in USB ports. You can borrow plug adapters and cables at the front desk. Sleepwear is provided, but the kimono-style gown was so long on us Asians that we kept stepping on it. The escalator only goes up to the second-floor front desk, where there’s also an elevator. From the upper floors you have to press 1, go outside, then take the stairs down, which is awkward with big suitcases at checkout. Our scale didn’t work, but they had a portable one we could borrow, which saved the day.

I picked this hotel for its location and used Osaka as a base for day trips on my second visit to Japan. It was good value, but I’d think twice before booking here again. JR Namba and Dotonbori are both about a five-minute walk away, with lots of places to eat, shops, konbinis, and other stores nearby. The room was a decent size compared with a standard Japanese hotel room, and the mini fridge worked. It was cheap for a hotel in the heart of Shinsaibashi, especially given that Osaka hotels seem expensive compared with Tokyo’s. Breakfast options were limited, but what they served was tasty. I couldn’t see the two breakfast choices clearly on Booking.com or choose between them, and we were given the cheaper coupon. The room had no view and a strange, unpleasant smell. I opened the window despite a sign asking guests not to. I’m not sure if it was humidity, mold, or something else. The staff seemed to just be there, both at reception and in the restaurant, with no “Omotenashi.” They didn’t speak English, so a translator was essential. As a solo male traveler from Mexico, I didn’t feel the hotel or area was unsafe, but I can imagine visitors from other countries might feel out of place.

The main draw is the location, right in the downtown nightlife, so it’s a fun base for seeing Osaka after dark without having to travel far. Our room had no view, but we didn’t need one. It was small and a bit old, with odd touches like no trash can. The staff were nice, and the free breakfast was decent.