GRAND HOSTEL LDK Osaka Shinsaibashi

We found the location really convenient, within walking distance of the metro. If you've got luggage, head for Exit 1-3 to use the elevator instead of Exit 6 as Google Maps suggests. Dotonbori is a little over a 10-minute walk away. The room worked well for our one-night stay, and I'd consider the hostel dorms next time I travel to Osaka alone. This was a twin room with a private bathroom. It was clean and spacious, though a big suitcase might be tricky. The pillows were the most comfortable of the three places we'd stayed in Japan. There's no eating or drinking in rooms, so for hot water you need to go to the kitchen on the reception floor. The room came with slippers, towels, basic toiletries, a fridge, and two hangers. I believe slippers cost extra in the dorms.

When I arrived, they told me checkout was at 10 AM. I reacted with “oh, that's early,” and they answered rudely, saying it was clearly stated on Hostelworld. My bed wasn't made when I got there, so I had to do it myself. The mattress was old, very thin, and uncomfortable. I was sick with a fever on checkout day and ran late. I apologized when they came to my bed, said I'd leave it right away, and asked to use the shower. They wouldn't let me use the shared shower after 10 AM unless I paid 1,000 yen. I understand needing the bed free for cleaning and the next guest, but refusing me a shower was something I hadn't encountered anywhere in two years of travelling. Luckily, since I was in Japan, I could go to an onsen for 400 yen, wash properly, and enjoy the baths. I don't recommend this place.

The location is great, but this was easily my worst hostel experience in Japan. Everyone in our room, 409, got sick. After about 30 minutes in the room, people would start coughing, and we'd wake up at night with coughing fits, stuffy noses, and sore throats. Every washroom in the hostel smelled terrible, including the lobby and shared ones. There were rules everywhere, including no eating or drinking in rooms, making your own sheets, and expensive charges for stained sheets. Way too many rules.

The location is close to a lot of stations, and there's a Lawsons right across the road. Those are the only positives for me. The hostel setup just doesn't make sense: towels are kept downstairs in the lobby, so you have to remember to take one up the night before. Why not leave them in the shower room? They only have instant coffee, while every other hostel we stayed at had drip coffee or an espresso machine. Staff vacuumed and dragged loud chairs around during the busiest times in the kitchen and eating area. I wouldn't recommend staying here.