S-Dotonbori Hotel Namba

Even though you're right on Dotonbori, the lobby is on the 3rd floor, and it was quiet there with no street noise or chatter coming up from the busy road. The hotel was very clean, the room was a comfortable size for two, and the lobby was spacious and nice. Hotel Forza Osaka Namba Dotonbori is in a really convenient spot, with endless restaurants and cool shops just outside. We stayed 5 days and 4 nights, and all the staff were very friendly and helpful. We arrived before check-in time, but they let us leave our luggage while we went exploring.

The one real hassle was checking in and out with luggage. The street doesn't allow vehicles, so you have to walk a few hundred meters from your drop-off point, and the crowds make that a bit of a chore, especially if you don't travel light like me. Otherwise, the good points easily outweigh it. You're right in the middle of Dotonburi, with restaurants, bars, karaoke and shops all around as soon as you step outside. The rooms are on the small side, as is normal in Japan, but the staff are wonderful, friendly and helpful. You still get a full-sized bed and a decent bathroom with Japanese touches like heated mirrors and toilet seats. I'd recommend it if you want to be in the center of the action and walk everywhere.

Our room stayed uncomfortably hot all three nights, and we were sweating each night. The air conditioning barely seemed to blow, even with the fan on high, and setting the thermostat to its lowest, 20°C, didn't cool it down. We raised it with the front desk several times, but they said there was nothing they could do and had no fans to offer. One staff member even suggested using the humidifier as a fan. If you're coming from somewhere cold or tend to sleep hot, I'd pick another hotel.

With Osaka fully booked during peak travel season, I couldn't move to another hotel and was disgusted at the thought of being stuck here for two more nights. The bathroom vent was filthy too, though the receptionist did clean it, and the carpets were dirty and peeling at the seams. I can't understand the positive reviews. This was the worst hotel I've stayed in anywhere. I checked in exhausted after walking seven miles, which had been normal during my week in Japan, and went straight to sleep. In the morning I could feel dirt on the sheets. Looking closer, I found the sheets, floors, walls and vent above the shower filthy. I went down to ask for another room, something I'd never done before at any hotel, and showed them photos. They were very apologetic and showed me a different room, but its sheets were stained too. I was told all their sheets were like that. At least I couldn't feel dirt in the bed in the second room.