Holiday Inn Osaka Namba by IHG

The hotel is tucked just behind Dotonbori, so there are lots of food options right nearby. This is probably the busiest part of Osaka, which is why we chose to stay here. Even so, the hotel was quiet and well maintained, and it suited us perfectly.

The front desk staff deserve five stars for how they handled things, especially Le Hoang Nam. When I reported the bathroom’s awful sweaty smell and the bad smell from the shower curtain, the receptionist said housekeeping had gone for the day and couldn’t clean it. They still replaced the curtain, then sprayed and wiped down the bathroom themselves to make sure it was at least clean for us and the kids. Housekeeping gets two stars from me. The room and corridors looked a bit shabby and dated, and the bathroom seemed like it hadn’t been cleaned properly. The location is excellent, but I doubt we’ll stay again. Cleanliness is a basic requirement for us, and IHG hotels have usually been reliable. This was the worst IHG hotel we’ve stayed in. Management needs to address the cleaning and make sure some cleaning staff are available for situations like this.

The room was spacious and comfortable, and breakfast was included and amazing. The location was excellent, close to conveniences and just a short walk from the main shopping markets and restaurants. We felt safe there, and taxis can reach the front entrance.

The room’s size was the main drawback. It was meant for three adults, but felt extremely cramped, even by Japanese standards, and was smaller than our previous room in Shibuya. There was barely any floor space to open our luggage. The location was handy, with the Glico Man sign, Don Quijote, and a Lawson just steps away. FamilyMart is a bit farther on foot. The neighborhood is lively and close to the nightlife and red light district, so there’s a party atmosphere nearby. We were warmly greeted whenever we passed by, by both the receptionists and housekeeping staff. The bathroom was well designed, with a nice shower and bathtub. Common areas had a microwave, free ice machine, and coin laundry. Umbrellas were available for guests, which was a lifesaver in the rain.