HIPPO Hostel & Cafe Bar

I loved the nearby Korean food street, where you can find really good Korean food. The hostel sits in a quiet residential neighborhood next to Koreatown by Tsuruhashi Station, and it’s only two stops from Namba, so Osaka’s main sights are easy to reach. It was comfortable and had what I needed. Most of the staff were volunteers or other travelers, which made it a good place to stay on my own.

The air conditioning worked well, and it was nice and quiet. Korea Town has a cool feel to it, and the train is less than a five-minute walk away. I didn’t love this hostel, but I didn’t hate it either. It did the job as a place to sleep. It seemed to be run by volunteers from around the world, mostly not Japan, and to me it felt more like a European hostel, without the Japanese hospitality and cleanliness some people expect. If you just want the basics, it’s fine, but don’t expect much beyond that.

The kitchen was great to cook in and super clean, and the showers were 10/10. I stayed with my partner and we had a really nice time. The pods feel cozy and private, and the hostel has a homely look and just the right size. It’s close to the station and central attractions. I’d definitely recommend it.

The café and bar look nice, the lemonade was good, and the metro is nearby. We had a private room as a couple and it was okay, but the shared sinks and toilets weren’t clean by the standards we’d seen elsewhere in Japan. Sadly, this was the worst part of our trip to Japan. The whole atmosphere felt off. The staff didn’t seem friendly or particularly interested in helping guests, and I felt like I was bothering them when I asked about nearby cafés. It seemed like a group of volunteers hanging out together, with nobody clearly in charge. I’d emailed before arriving to fix a booking mistake and got no reply. When I mentioned it at check-in, no one seemed to care. English wasn’t the issue, it was the attitude and lack of hospitality. I was charged 800 for 3 nights tax and questioned why when it was 200, but they just stared at me. I regret booking again. The hotel should be transparent about even small charges and treat guests with care regardless of who’s at reception. Poor service. I wouldn’t recommend it or return. It could be much better with proper management and staff who care about guests.