Hotel Keihan Tenmabashi

The room was clean and had enough space for luggage and moving around, though don't expect a big room. Amenities are complete, but you have to go downstairs and pick them up yourself, which is fine. The AC knob controls the heater in winter, rather than air conditioning. For cool air, you have to call the front desk to unlock the window, which isn't very convenient. Breakfast had several choices and was good enough to start the day, though Dotonburi food is still the best.

The location worked well for me, close to a subway station with an elevator at the nearest exit. It's an older hotel, but well maintained, and check-in and checkout were easy. I could leave my luggage there when I arrived early, and the lobby has amenities for guests to pick up. The room had what I needed to be comfortable and was fine for a solo traveler, though the bathroom was quite small. I have nothing to complain about and would definitely stay again.

The area gets a bit noisy at night, but the hotel is near a station and well placed for Osaka's attractions. Of the four similar hotels I've stayed in this week in Japan, this one was the best presented and had the best facilities. The staff were particularly helpful and kind. I had left my passport at my previous hotel, and they contacted them, used a copy of my passport to check me in, and stayed cheerful and courteous throughout.

The location is excellent, but so much about our stay went wrong. The rooms were old, stained, and tiny, with an even smaller bathroom and nowhere to put a suitcase. The beds weren't wide enough for two adults to sleep on their backs, even though my wife is only 152 cm. I'm 188 cm and couldn't sit straight on the toilet without hitting my head on the doorways. The shower was tiny too, and its head was at chest level. I had to take off the connection, clean it, and reattach it to stop water spraying everywhere. At checkout, four staff were watching three self-service machines, but everyone checking in needed help, so the machines seemed pointless. If you're close to six feet tall or aren't skinny, this place may be a poor fit. At my height, I could also see all the dust and dirt missed by rushed cleaning, and the carpet left a lot to be desired.